Press Box

The WV state basketball tournament finished up on Saturday in Charleston, and as usual it was a great event. The girls tournament a week earlier saw Cameron high school win their second straight Class A championship as the top seed Dragons took care of business with a comeback win in the semi-finals over Webster County and then defeated 2nd seed Tucker County 53-46 for the trophy.
It’s not an easy task to win a state championship, let alone two years in a row, and from what I can see things look good for the Dragons again next year barring an upset along the way.
With the boys tournament last week, it made me back 50 years ago when Paden City came from 12 down to claim the title 60-59 over a very good Oakvale team who had defeated the Wildcats in the finals the previous season.
The Wildcats landed three players on the all-tournament team, Randy Slider (his 2nd in a row), Bill Goots and Norman Trowbridge. They also won the best cheerleaders award and the best cheering section award. The team coached by Bob Burton was 12-8 during the regular season including two losses to Cameron. But, as many of Burton’s teams did, they caught fire at the right time to win six more games upsetting some good teams to make it to the finals. It’s hard to believe that was fifty years ago.
Magnolia also sent a great team to the state tournament that year. They finished the regular season with a 14-6 record and went on a run in the playoffs winning four straight before falling in the championship game to Gary high school.The Blue Eagles landed three players on the All-Tournament team, Fuzzy Filliez, Dave Forbes and Tim Shepherd (his 2nd in a row). Magnolia also won the best Cheering section award. Itás never easy to win the best cheering section award but for Paden City and Magnolia it was there second year in a row. When you send as many fans to the tournament as these two communities did it made a difference as they combined together to help cheer each other on.
That was 50 years ago and many of these guys are still around cheering for their old schools. Hopefully in the near future we can get back to state and show them that Wetzel and Tyler County still produce good athletes who can compete with the best in the state.
Wildcat Coach Bob Burton had quite the experience with this team once they arrived in Charleston and went to check into the hotel. When checking in they were told the tournament officials had overbooked the hotel and there were no rooms reserved for the Wildcats. The Cats ended up staying in St. Albans at Norm Trowbridge’s aunts 12 room house. Coach Burton took on double-duty and cooked breakfast for the team on Friday morning. Friday night they ended up staying at the Holiday Inn and spent a normal evening and night.
None of that bothered this team as they were bent on avenging the previous year loss. Making up the squad 50 years ago was a fine group of athletes. Seniors Bill Goots, Randy Slider, Norman Trowbridge, Larry Tyler, and Steve Kendle. Juniors Richard Gatian Robert Gatian, and Rick Cecil. Sophomores Dave Gallo, Dave Tallman, Bob Cline, and Joe Anderson. Coach Bob Burton, Assistants Jack Starcher, Ron Renner and Bob Clark. Cheerleaders Rhonda Wetzel, Barbara Hickman, Sharon Landers, Linda Healy, Connie Billiter, Karan Nicholson, and Brenda Slider.
The Mountaineers couldn’t quite finish over Maryland last week in the opening round of the NCAA mens basketball tournament. They had the lead on several occasions, but the score at the end is all that matters and they fell two points short. It was a tough season against extra tough competition and at times it looked like they would be left out of the tournament, however they beat some good teams down the stretch and had a chance to make a run, but it wasn’t to be. Let’s hope for some quality recruits for next season.
We’re now into spring sports, let’s get with the program and send some teams and athletes to the state baseball, softball and track meet later this spring. Good Luck all!