Parkersburg South's boys basketball team was struggling.
In Mike Fallon's second year as head coach, South was off to a 2-5 start and appeared to be going nowhere.
Not only had the Patriots lost four of their last five, but they also had suffered back-to-back double-digit losses to Two Rivers Athletic Conference rivals University and Morgantown, the latter at home.
Things didn't look to get any easier as next up was a visit to Parkersburg High -which already had handled the Patriots on their home court by 15 points - and a meeting with state powerhouse Wheeling Park.
Then, as Fallon puts it, the light bulb went on.
South started executing what it has been wanting to do all along.
The results were a pair of stunning wins that virtually no one saw coming.
First, South gained revenge against its arch-rival by beating the Big Reds by 11 at Memorial Fieldhouse, a 26-point turnaround from the result less than three weeks earlier.
While that was a much-needed and a nice win, there was little time to celebrate with Wheeling Park coming to town following a 68-63 loss at Logan the previous evening.
But a game that looked like a potential mismatch on paper turned into a triple overtime thriller with South pulling off a 94-89 stunner. All of a sudden that struggling 2-5 team had righted its season. It had recorded back-to-back wins over strong opponents.
Every member of the South basketball camp should share in the turnaround.
Start with Fallon, who has impressed followers of the program with his dedication, enthusiasm and passion for the game. Then there's his assistant coaches, Chris Hyson and Bill Marshall, upon whom Fallon heavily relies not only for moral support but for their experience.
Most of all, the credit must go to the players, who may have been down, but refused to go out.
"We still have a long way to go,'' said Fallon.
But one could feel the excitement as the Patriots worked out on Monday, the eve of tonight's home game with Winfield, yet another team on which South will seek revenge for an earlier loss (70-61 in the season opener).
This team has talent. It has a pure shooter in Doug Dennis, a talented freshman starter in Cody Monroe and a pair of standouts that represent the junior class that dominates South athletics - Logan Cox and Wes Mitchem.
Plus, the addition of another junior -Tyler Bolen -to the starting lineup has given South a major boost. Then there's Matt Goldsberry, who has had three double-digit games, and Joe Holland, a state tennis champion who has added his athleticism to the mix.
Fallon is relentless in his pursuit of excellence. He had noticeably lost weight during the losing streak, which was taking a toll on him. That's how much he cares. It's good to see smiles at South.
Contact Dave Poe at dpoe@newsandsentinel.com
