×

This week in Mid-Ohio Valley Sports

Hello everyone!

Let me be the first (well maybe not exactly the first) to welcome you to 2017. We have our college football national championship game decided (a rematch I am looking forward to), the NBA is in full swing, the Cavaliers are on top of the East, and of course the Mid-Ohio Valley prep sports scene is hopping once again.

Action is a little scant on Monday but the slate ramps up Tuesday with plenty of good matchups for the avid MOV sports fan. We begin at the Rod Oldham Athletic Center where the Parkersburg South boys will welcome in a red hot and undefeated University squad (6-0) for a 7:30 p.m. varsity tip. The Hawks come to the ROAC fresh off a 30-point whipping of Allegany, Md. University brings a balanced attack to the Patriots home floor with multiple players putting in double-digit scoring efforts on a nightly basis.

Meanwhile, the South boys got back in the win column with an 83-63 thumping of Spring Valley. Like its opponent, South (4-1) has multiple scoring weapons on the floor at any given time. Junior Shane Snider was the latest Patriot to step to the front after he poured in 26 points and grabbed eight caroms for head man Mike Fallon in the win over the Timberwolves.

Another big matchup will begin about 30 miles south of the ROAC at roughly the same time when most-likely Class A top-10 teams St. Marys and Ravenswood do battle at The Pit. Mark Barnhart and his team already have one win over the No. 2 team in Class A this season. The Blue Devils won by three points at St. Marys High School just about two weeks ago. Sam Kincaid drained five 3 pointers on his way to 25 points. SMHS had success turning over the Red Devils in the first meeting, forcing 15 RHS giveaways.

The Red Devils appeared to have taken their frustration out on the last two opponents in their way. Mick Price’s squad annihalated Southern (Ohio) and Lincoln by an average of 43 points and are no doubt amped up to welcome the Blue Devils to their house.

Wednesday we will experience the first of two games featuring the Doddridge County and Gilmer County boys basketball squads. There is little doubt the Titans will have their best defender on the visiting Bulldogs’ Hunter Riffle and look to keep the ball out of his hands especially at the end of the game. The DCHS senior hit not one but two game-winning shots against GCHS last season; both coming with time running out.

Frontier and Fort Frye girls basketball teams will get together Thursday for a battle sure to be full of tough defense.

Friday, Parkersburg South will make the about two-hour trek to Morgantown to take on the defending Class AAA champion Mohigans in a 7:30 p.m. matchup. The Mohigans could come into the game with just one loss depending on the outcome of their game against Wheeling Park Tuesday.

Morgantown’s only loss this season came against the defending state champions from Pennsylvania, Kennedy Catholic, on a buzzer-beater Dec. 29.

Over on the hardwood for the females, rivals Williamstown and Parkersburg Catholic will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. inside the WHS gymnasium in an important Little Kanawha Conference matchup. The Crusaderettes of Marty Vierheller with their tough defense will look to get an early upper hand in the league standings against Fred Sauro and his deep rotation of players. PC point guard Madeline Huffman will get her first chance to defend do-it-all Williamstown point guard Ashley Morris this season in a very entertaining duel. Likewise, Morris will have an opportunity to shut down the dynamic Huffman and her ability to take the ball into the paint and to the rim hard. Both girls share the talent of being able to draw a defense toward them and then find the open player for an easy bucket.

Finally, Saturday will see the last game of the season between Williamstown at St. Marys boys basketball until the LKC Night of Champions or sectional play. The first meeting this season at Williamstown High was an instant classic, the two teams traded the lead back and forth and St. Marys had to overcome an eight-point deficit in the final period of play to force overtime. SMHS’ Evan Lamp then led a 9-0 charge in the extra time with seven points and his team got the win with a 14-8 scoring advantage in the extra period.

Well, that is about all the room I have today to whet your appetite for prep sports this week. Make sure to check out the daily copies of the Parkersburg News and Sentinel for the results of these games and more each day wherever you pick up your paper at.

Contact Joe Albright at jalbright@newsandsentinel.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today