INSIDER
the
December 2018
Valley Juggernaut Spring Valley Football brought lots of joy to Timberwolves fans
HerdInsider.com
WHAT WE’VE GOT UP FRONT
12.18
VOLUME 21 NO. 5
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UP FRONT
Contributing writer Bill Cornwell shares some of his experiences as a voice in the Huntington-area sports media.
6 FINISHING
Marshall FB
STRONG
Marshall Football ends the regular season with a winning November
8 GROWING
Marshall MBB
PAINS
Early-season road woes hit the Marshall basketball team.
High School FB
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VALLEY JUGGERNAUT
Spring Valley Football brought lots of joy to Timberwolves fans
14 HIGH SCHOOL
High School BB
BASKETBALL RETURNS Fairland, Huntington High and Boyd County look to be the best in the Tri-State
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4 / THE INSIDER / December 2018
UP FRONT
12.18
VOLUME 21 NO. 5
compiled by Bill Cornwell THE INSIDER Editor
The Holiday season is considered a “time of miracles” and that was in full view at the W.Va. Class AAA Football Championship game in Wheeling on December 1st. Spring Valley lost that game to Martinsburg 31-7, but Timberwolves fans know that a great victory occurred that day as a youngster wearing number 91 on his white Spring Valley jersey walked to midfield with others for the pregame coin toss. That young man wearing “91” was Wade Smith. If you aren’t acquainted with Smith, you’ll be amazed by his story. Wade Smith was a 5-6, 130-pound freshman who looked to get experience on the Timberwolves’ 9th grade team this fall until a virus forced him off of the field. In fact, the virus was so intense that it weakened his cardiovascular system.
Smith was out of bed and walking only two days after the transplant and he spent November Friday evenings listening to streamed broadcasts of Spring Valley’s playoff games. Smith was eventually moved to the Columbus Ronald McDonald House as he continued rehab and treatment after the transplant. Fast forward to championship day in Wheeling, as doctors determined that Smith was well enough, with precautions to attend the game. With multiple masks covering his mouth, a rain poncho and plenty of clothing, Smith joined the captains for the coin toss, then moved to a sideline wheelchair to cheer on his teammates. Spring Valley lost to Martinsburg in the championship game for a third straight year, but that’s not important, because we ALL won when we saw a walking miracle on that December Saturday in Wheeling!
Smith was taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio for treatment. Doctors there determined Smith’s illness was so severe that he would need a new heart. The search for a new heart began for Smith, lasting several days and finally ending with a successful transplant on November 7th.
PHOTO BY WANDA WILLOUGHBY
December 2018 / THE INSIDER /
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bility on November 10th in a win over Charlotte.
Marshall’s athletic department lost one of its true veterans recently when Volleyball Coach Mitch Jacobs announced his retirement from Division One coaching after 17 years of leadership. Jacobs made that announcement prior to the start of the Conference USA Volleyball Tournament, which was hosted by M.U. at the Cam Henderson Center.
Marshall and Virginia Tech had both cancelled regular season games on September 15th due to Hurricane Florence. Marshall was to have played at South Carolina on that day, while the Hokies were to have hosted East Carolina.
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Jacobs last Marshall squad finished 10-19, 3-11 in the league. The Herd failed to make the top 8 in the conference, which would have allowed it to play in the tournament on its home floor.
When it became clear that Marshall would not make the Conference USA Championship game on December 1st, the wheels went in motion to make the MU-Virginia Tech game a reality, but the Hokies had to beat Virginia on November 23rd or there would be no game the next week.
Jacobs final Marshall coaching record was 298-236 and he led Marshall to Conference titles in 2005 and 2007 (regular season). He was a two-time conference coach of the year.
Virginia Tech beat Virginia in overtime, giving the Hokies five wins and the need for that extra opportunity to gain that sixth bowl-eligibility win.
His most lasting contribution has been the growth of volleyball in the region as coordinator of the River Cities youth volleyball program. That program has produced young talent which has gone on to play in college (many at Marshall).
In exchange, Hamrick was able to get a $300,000 financial guarantee from Virginia Tech and a future home-andhome series which will see the Hokies come to Huntington in 2023 and Marshall return the visit in 2024.
Jacobs plan to continue his involvement with the River Cities program. Thanks for 17 great years, Mitch! He’ll now have time to continue one of his favorite activities--watching Marshall basketball from his front-row west bleacher seat at the Henderson Center and being quite vocal about it. ----------------Marshall Athletic Director Mike Hamrick pulled off a major win for the Herd football program by working out a 12th game late this season. That game was played at Virginia Tech on December 1st and was won by the Hokies 41-20, putting them in a bowl for the 26th straight year. Marshall had reached bowl eligi-
The Herd tried to keep Tech out of the bowl hunt, but early mistakes and an effective Hokies offense helped Tech to that needed sixth win. Still, Marshall’s athletic department (and Herd fans) came out of the experience with lots of future benefits. The 2023 season can’t come soon enough.
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Finishing Strong Marshall Football ends the regular season with a winning November compiled by Bill Cornwell THE INSIDER Editor photos by Adam Gue
Marshall’s football team had hopes of winning a Conference USA East Division title this season, but the last month of the campaign did allow the Herd to dictate who did eventually win the division. Marshall’s shot to remain in the divisional hunt came on November 3rd at Southern Miss. The Herd was coming off of its bye week and the early performance in Hattiesburg, Mississippi showed some off-week “rust” as two second quarter turnovers helped erase a 10-3 Marshall lead on the way to a 26-24 Golden Eagles victory. Isaiah Green returned to quarterback Marshall late in the 2nd quarter following an Alex Thomson interception, but Green fumbled on his first play behind center in more than a month following a leg injury. That fumble was turned into a Southern Miss touchdown and a 17-10 halftime lead. Marshall tied the game in the third quarter, but the Golden Eagles scored nine unanswered points to earn the win. Marshall scored late on an Artie Henry touchdown catch but the Herd could not recover the ensuring on-side kick. The Southern Miss loss effectively ended Marshall’s division title hopes, but a strong league finish was possible with upcoming C-USA home games with Charlotte and UTSA. Marshall took care of business in both contests, coming away with a 30-13 win over the 49ers and a 23-0 victory over the Roadrunners on Senior Day.
The win over Charlotte made Marshall “bowl-eligible” and came just days before the 48th anniversary of the 1970 plane crash near Tri-State Airport which took the lives of 75 Marshall football players, coaches, administrators and fans. Marshall’s defense was impressive in the Charlotte game, giving up only 185 total yards on the day. After Charlotte tied Marshall 13-13 in the third quarter, the Herd scored 17 unanswered points and it’s offense became a rushing juggernaut behind the effort of freshman Brenden Knox, who was forced to play due to injuries to backs Tyler King and Keion Davis. Knox finished the game with 116 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in his first significant playing time for Marshall. Senior wide receiver also had a strong game with six catches and 95 yards. In the UTSA game, Marshall’s defense was stifling to a struggling Roadrunners attack. The Roadrunners had minus-26 rushing yards on the day and managed only 137 total yards. The shutout was Marshall fifth in nine seasons under head coach Doc Holliday. The performance included five sacks totaling 39 lost yards. Offensively, Herd quarterback hooked up with receivers Tyre Brady and Artie Henry for touchdowns and Justin Rohrwasser kicked three field goals. Marshall headed for Miami, Florida and meeting with FIU
on Thanksgiving weekend. A Panthers win would give it the Conference USA East Division crown. Before Marshall and FIU, the Herd learned that it would play the next week at Virginia Tech after the Hokies beat rival Virginia in overtime for a fifth win. Tech needed a sixth win to gain bowl eligibility for a 26th straight year and since Marshall and the Hokies lost games on September 15th due to Hurricane Florence, the schools decided to meet on December 1st if Tech still needed a bowl-clinching win. In exchange, Marshall received a financial guarantee and a future home-and-home series with the Hokies. Against FIU, Marshall was able to utilized much of its Florida-recruited talent on the way to a 28-25 win that ruined the Panthers’ divisional title hopes. Largo, Florida’s Brandon Drayton blocked a punt and covered the ball in the endzone for a touchdown, while Homestead, Florida’s Tyre Brady had two touchdown catches while Largo’s Frankie Hernandez, Port St. Lucie’s Omari Cobb and Punta Gorda’s Ty Tyler made key defensive plays throughout the day. Offensively, Isaiah Green was able to make plays with both his arm and feet for Marshall and Brenden Knox put the game away with key runs in a clock-eating drive, finishing with 109 yards on 19 carries.
The eighth win and sixth league win allowed Marshall to tie FIU for second in C-USA’s East Division, giving the division title to Middle Tennessee State. The Herd lost the next week at Va. Tech 41-20 in a game played in chill and fog at Lane Stadium. Marshall’s offense moved the ball effectively most of the day against the vaunted Tech defense, but Marshall’s defense was shredded for 454 yards. Offensively, Marshall was outgained by only 2 yards and Brenden Knox had his performance of the season with 204 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. Isaiah Green had 220 passing yards against the Hokies with one touchdown pass and one interception. Marshall learned on December 2nd that it would face South Florida in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl on December 20th at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The game, actually being played on South Florida’s home field, would serve as a reward for an 8-4 Marshall team that overcame injuries and some uneven performances to complete another successful year under ninth-year head coach Doc Holliday.
8 / THE INSIDER / December 2018
Growing Pains
Early-season road woes hit the Marshall basketball team. compiled by Dave Walsh THE INSIDER writer photos by Adam Gue
Starters Jon Elmore, C.J. Burks, Jarrod West, Jannson Williams and Rondale Watson and sixth-man Darius George more often than not deliver what Marshall University men’s basketball coach Dan D’Antoni is used to seeing. What has D’Antoni on edge as the Thundering Herd approaches Conference USA play is the performance of the new men in the middle. Redshirt freshman Iran Bennett (6-foot-9) and junior college transfers Ante Sustic (6-10) and Mikel Beyers (6-9) are the new, tall faces trying to master what D’Antoni expects from big men. When the former Marshall guard checks the stat sheet after a game, he sees some alarming numbers, numbers that contribute to wipeouts at the likes of Maryland (10467) and Ohio University (101-84) as well as at Duquesne (93-82). Williams has been the lone wolf in the pack, so to speak, and it’s not easy to carry the load by himself. Against Maryland, the Terrapins enjoyed wide margins in rebounds (52-30) and points in the paint (46-30). Against Ohio, the Bobcats ruled in rebounds (49-29), points in the paint (52-40), second-chance points (25-8) and bench points (42-24). D’Antoni again addressed that issue after Ohio fiasco. Playing small is not easy. “We’ve got to get the bigs going if we’re to make a run
at the end of the year,” D’Antoni said. “We’re not where we need to be at the moment.” That run in 2017-18 ended in Marshall winning its first C-USA championship, making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1987, going in as No. 13 seed and beating No. 4 seed Wichita State in the first round. The Herd’s up-tempo, bombs-away style, along with the pick-and-roll offense make opponents either pick up their pace or get lost in the transition shuffle. Nothing’s changed except the big men running the floor now are not producing needed numbers. Low totals in points, rebounds, minutes and blocks are noticeable. D’Antoni needs the bigs to be mobile, set screens quickly, finish as a trailer and just get the ball and go. “We’ve got to get the big people able to play at the speed we just played,” D’Antoni said after the win over William & Mary. “I told Iran, Beyers and Sustic that we play in a league where big men have to play like guards. If they do that, they
December 2018 / THE INSIDER /
become great players. We’ve got to keep working on building their speed, building quicker decision making they do. Iran comes out the first 2-3 minutes and looks good, then he has a rough patch. We’ve got to stay out there and he’s pretty quick. We have to keep working on that. “I can use Jannson and George now, but I need one of those other three, somebody to get up, give us 10 minutes a game so we can stay in the things we do. None of those three have ever played at this level. It’ll take time to work them out and make sure it gets done.” Another reason opponents find it easy to operate inside is the Herd is missing a big component from its success a year ago. Ajdin Penava, the 6-9 standout from Serbia, led the nation in blocks (134) and was voted C-USA Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 15.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. When a frontcourt teammate got beat on a play, Penava was there to provide cover. He elected to enter the NBA Draft last year and bypass his senior year. The current free agent is playing in Europe. “We had those lapses last year and had Ajdin wiping off a few,” D’Antoni said. “We don’t have that this year right now. I’d like to say Jannson is good, but he’d be a lot better with Ajdin beside him. Add his two or three (blocks) with Ajdin’s 5 or 6 and that’s a lot during a game. He’s in there by himself getting 2 or 3 chances. If we’re going to make big noise, we’ve got to get one of those three bigs to step up.” Be it a blowout at Maryland or Ohio or a big win at the Cam Henderson Center, D’Antoni quickly files those moments away. No dwelling on the past. The motto is on to the next opponent. “Here’s how I am. You take nothing with you either way,” D’Antoni said. “Maryland, that’s over. Other than that bus ride back, getting in at 5:30 in the morning. That was the tough part of it. I’ve been in this business a long time. I try to teach that to the kids. Our style of play is a roller coaster. Our mental philosophy going into games is a merry goround. Just going to stay solid. Don’t expect this game to teach us anything for that (next) game. This loss makes this harder, this win makes us closer to a loss. I don’t know all that stuff.” Elmore, 6-3 guard from Charleston, had 26 points in the win over William & Mary to become the third player in program history to reach 2,000 points, joining John Taft and Skip Henderson. “It’s a cool little thing. I’ve put in a lot of work over the years, a lot of time in the gym alone, had people pushing me to get better,” Elmore said. “Some of that hard work is paying
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off. I’ve got bigger goals and more things to keep doing. Danny pushed me. He’s done a phenomenal job just having my back. He’s the kind of guy you want to go out there and play for. Play freely. You go out there and don’t have to second guess anything. He just lets me play.” Elmore and D’Antoni said players must focus better at practice, walkthroughs, pre-game shootarounds, warmups and once in action. Any shortcomings and a Maryland experience happens. “We got hit in the mouth and didn’t respond,” Elmore said. “Walk through not great. Pregame warmup not very good. Energy was terrible. The game was even worse. It was kind of like quicksand, you keep fighting and it got worse. We had a fresh mindset. We came out with energy (vs. William & Mary). I think we have a chance to be really good. I don’t think we’ve touched the surface on what we can do. We showed glimpses tonight defensively. When we shoot the ball, I think we can play with anybody. We need to replicate this on a daily basis.” Home games with Morehead State and Akron made up part of the Herd’s remaining non-league schedule. Also included are trips to nationally-ranked Texas A&M and Virginia. Marshall opens C-USA play Jan. 3rd and 5th with games at Old Dominion and Charlotte.
8 / THE INSIDER / September 2018
December 2018 / THE INSIDER /
Valley Juggernaut
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Spring Valley Football brought lots of joy to Timberwolves fans compiled by Bill Cornwell THE INSIDER Editor
The scoreboard at Wheeling Island Stadium said that Martinsburg beat Spring Valley 31-7 on December 1st to claim a third straight win over the Timberwolves in the WV Class AAA title game, but the score doesn’t tell the story of a season for Spring Valley football. It was a season in which history was made..history that may be difficult to repeat in the future. A 13-1 record isn’t something to regret, but proudly mark and remember. Coach Brad Dingess and his staff knew as practices began last summer that the Timberwolves had potential to make another run for a possible state championship if returning veterans played to their potential and some newcomers grew into their positions. The season had an interesting beginning on August 24th as in-county rival Wayne paid a visit to the Wolves Den. The two clubs hadn’t played since 1998 and the game was only scheduled due to maneuvering among past county schools administrators. Wayne returned a solid team from 2017 and eventually reached the 2018 Class AA playoffs but the Pioneers were no match for Spring Valley as the Timberwolves throttled their county neighbors by a 49-8 score. The Timberwolves were up 49-0 at halftime, piling up 386 yards of offense in 24 minutes of playing time, holding Wayne to only 10 yards and no first downs. Wayne had only 89 yards of offense for the entire contest. It only took two plays for the Timberwolves to score, a warning of the quick-strike capability of the offense. The only negative on the night was something that would occasionally plague the team during the
photos by Wanda Willoughby
season as Spring Valley was flagged for 13 penalties. Spring Valley remained home in week two as the Hurricane Redskins invaded northern Wayne County. Past games between the two schools had been close, but not in 2018 as the Timberwolves huge offensive line created big holes in the Hurricane defense on the way to a 27-3 win. An example of that physical presence was shown in a touchdown drive to begin the second half that took over half of the quarter time off of the clock. The only bright spot for the Redskins was Christian Hill’s 159 rushing yards. After the 2-0 start, Spring Valley faced a difficult stretch of the schedule with four consecutive road games. The first of those games was against rival Cabell Midland. Senior Graeson Malashevich was the star in this 35-7 win in Ona as he beat the Knights with his feet, arm and defensive ability, intercepting a pass and running the Spring Valley offense in the second half out of “wildcat” quarterback formation. The Timberwolves defense held the Knights to only 129 total yards of offense. The win was Spring Valley’s most dominant performance ever over Midland. The first of three straight games in the Kanawha Valley came on September 14th at South Charleston. The game may have been the sloppiest so for the Timberwolves with three first half fumbles and a narrow 13-7 halftime lead. The second half was a more Valley-like effort on the way to a 42-14 win over the Black Eagles. The Timberwolves were in Charleston the next week and came away with a dominant 62-21 road win over the George Washington Patriots. Spring Valley showed that it wasn’t only a rush-only offense in the game as the Timberwolves senior quarterback Will Adkins completed nine passes for 302 yards and five touch-
12 / THE INSIDER / December 2018 downs, four of them caught by Graeson Malashevich. Adkins actually outpassed GW’s talented senior quarterback and Marshall commit, Grant Wells. Week Six brought a showdown at Laidley Field between Spring Valley and a familiar foe, the Capital Cougars, then the top two teams in the Class AAA rankings. A tight game ended in favor of Spring Valley by a 21-13 score. The Cougars had a 7-6 halftime lead, but the Timberwolves defenders slowed the athletic Cougars in the second half and Spring Valley ended the game in typical fashion, eating the last 7:13 off of the clock while maintaining the winning margin. Spring Valley had a pair of 100-yard rushers in the game in Malashevich and Owen Chafin on the way to a 341 to 205 total yards advantage. Spring Valley returned home for the first time in a month in week seven and easily dispatched Riverside by a 42-21 score, rolling up a 42-0 halftime lead. Malashevich set the tone for the night with a 66-yard punt return for a touchdown after the Warriors had a three-and-out on the game’s opening possession. Coach Brad Dingess pulled his starters before halftime, giving reserves plenty of live game action. Yet another Kanawha County opponent became another Timberwolves victim in week eight as St. Albans came to Spring Valley and suffered a 60-6 thrashing. Malashevich scored on the first play of the game, a 57-yard run and the rout was on from there, even though the Timberwolves suffered three first quarter fumbles. Defense was again dominant for the Valley as the Red Dragons didn’t record a first down until the 7:30 mark of the third quarter. After eight weeks and eight wins, it was time for some rest for the Timberwolves enjoyed their bye week on October 19th. It was back on the road the next week and a meeting with Class AA standout Point Pleasant on a rainy Mason County evening. The Big Blacks were prepared for the Timberwolves and outplayed them in the first half on the way to a shocking 27-14 halftime lead. Point Pleasant quarterback Cason Payne was especially effective against Spring Valley’s defense with both his arm and feet. The second half was another story as Spring Valley scored 44 straight points on the way to a 58-34 victory. Nate Ellis and Owen Chafin combined for 398 yards and five rushing touchdowns in the game.
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December 2018 / THE INSIDER /
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The final regular season game was a showdown with rival Huntington High at the Wolves Den. Spring Valley won the game 28-16, clinching the Mountain State Athletic Conference title and a #2 seed in the playoffs. Malashevich had another huge night with a fumble recovery and interception turned into touchdowns as well as catching a scoring pass from Will Adkins. The Timberwolves had to hold off a Highlanders rally after bolting to a 21-3 third quarter lead. Playoff time had arrived and the opening game was the football equivalent of a “knockout” as the Timberwolves overwhelmed overmatched Spring Mills by a 77-7 score. The Cardinals could only muster 56 yards of total offense. Will Adkins had three touchdown passes in the game and Owen Chafin had two scoring runs. The next week provided rematches with Huntington and Capital. Both games ended the same as the regular season contests--Spring Valley victories. The Timberwolves shut out Huntington 36-0 in the Class AAA quarterfinals as Will Adkins threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Graeson Malashevich caught seven passes for 185 yards and two scores. Owen Chafin had 127 rushing yards and a touchdown. Huntington had negative running yards in the game and only 50 passing yards. The semifinal game against Capital was another dominating performance, a 56-14 Spring Valley victory. Adkins and Malashevich again had big games as they were responsible for six touchdowns. Owen Chafin had 140 rushing yards against the usually stingy Cougars defense. Spring Valley’s defense frustrated Capital’s senior quarterback Kerry Martin, as he was intercepted four times. The Martinsburg “curse” again hit the Timberwolves in the state championship game in Wheeling as Spring Valley’s potent offense finally met its match in the Bulldogs’ defense, holding the Timberwolves to only 88 rushing yards. Malashevich was held to only a combined 76 rushing and receiving yards. Special teams also hurt Spring Valley with a blocked punt and shanked punt. 10 penalties for 96 yards also didn’t help the Timberwolves’ cause.
Scoop up the latest looks for the new season!
No title, but no tears. This Spring Valley football team was truly special and the team and individual honors it gathered will be testimony to a year of greatness along Spring Valley Drive in Wayne County.
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14 / THE INSIDER / December 2018
Boys High School Hoops Returns Fairland, Huntington High and Boyd County look to be the best in the Tri-State compiled by Dave Walsh THE INSIDER writer Fairland High School will have a new lineup in boys basketball in 2018-19. The group of players which helped the Dragons rule the Ohio Valley Conference, Ohio sectional and district tournaments the past three years has moved on. Luke Thomas, Kollin VanHorn, Ty Staten, Keedrick Cunningham, Isaiah Howell are playing on the college level now. Chance Short was a factor for two years before transferring.
aspect,” Speed said. “A lot will depend on how quickly the younger guys learn. Game situations are different. The young guys have to grow up quick.” Fairland won its opener at South Webster, 51-38. Gallia Academy, which features 7-foot center Zach Loveday, is viewed as the team to beat in the OVC. Speed said don’t count out Ironton either.
Not all faces on this Fairland team are new. Instead many of them are going from part-time to full-time.
“Gallia’s tough,” Speed said. “If Ironton stays healthy they can compete. Our schedule is tough again. When the seniors we lost were young, they had to grow up fast. That’s what has to happen now.” Here is the outlook for the remainder of Tri-State teams.
“It was a heck of a run,” Dragons coach Nathan Speed said about the four years with those players who won won three OVC titles, three sectional titles, two district crowns and reached the Ohio State Tournament in Division III in 2017. “Good timing. I was fortunate enough to be part of it. Guys who are seniors now practiced against those guys every day. They know what it takes. They’re focused and ready to go. I think it’ll be that next level. Who’s going to step up.”
West Virginia HUNTINGTON: The Highlanders have a new coach in Ty Holmes, who takes over from Ron Hess. Huntington reached the Class AAA State Tournament last season and lost to eventual champion George Washington in the first round.
The top seven Dragons starting the regular season include Jacob Polcyn, Aiden Porter, Joel Lambiotte, Matt Mondlak, Austin Gartin, Ian Chinn and Clayton Thomas. Lambiotte, Mondlak and Chinn are seniors. “These seniors are competitors. We’ll surprise some people in that
CABELL MIDLAND: The Knights have a young impact player in freshman Chandler Schmidt, a transfer from Huntington St. Joe. He had 23 points in Cabell Midland’s opening win over Grace Christian. Isaiah Collins also is scoring threat for the Knights. SPRING VALLEY: Graeson Malashevich and Caleb Fowler are back for the Timberwolves along with Doug Nester. Malashevich and Nester got a late start since the football team reached the Class AAA state title game in Wheeling on Dec. 1. HUNTINGTON ST. JOE: Hunter Eplin, Noah Bolton and Bronson Parker are the sparks for the Irish. WAYNE: Colt Adams and Nick Bryant led the Pioneers in scoring in their game at Logan. GRACE CHRISTIAN: Isaac Perry is expected to be the top point producer. COVENANT: Covenant started off with a 78-44 win over Ohio Valley Christian. TOLSIA: Senior Jacob Mollett returns after averaging 11 points a game last season. He has good range and can rack up assists, too. William Spaulding and newcomers Peyton Watts and Braxton Watts will provide depth. LINCOLN COUNTY: Hunter Hill, Tanner Walls and Kadin Beckelheimer are top scoring threats for Lincoln County. POINT PLEASANT: The Big Blacks try to rebound from a 3-18 campaign a year ago under coach Josh Willams. HANNAN: Dalton Coleman went over 1,000 points for his career in a win over Ohio Valley Christian to make coach/dad Shawn Coleman proud. He’s the eighth Hannan player to surpass 1,000 career points. Ohio
December 2018 / THE INSIDER /
IRONTON: Plenty of experience back for coach Mark LaFon’s Fighting Tigers led by Charlie Large, Ethan Wilson and Reid Carrico. Large had 28 points and Carrico 25 in season-opening win over Spring Valley. CHESAPEAKE: Four starters back for Panthers led by sophomore Eli Archer, who had solid freshman year, and Austin Jackson. SOUTH POINT: Pointers have two standouts back in Tayshawn Fox and post player Austin Webb. Fox, back from a knee injury suffered last season, had 17 in the opening game at Cabell Midland. GALLIA ACADEMY: The Blue Devils feature one of the region’s top players/ college prospects in 7-foot junior Zach Loveday. Ohio State, Purdue, Xavier, Ohio University and Louisville are schools on Loveday’s recruiting radar. He had 35 points in a 63-61 loss to Columbus Africentric in Portsmouth. ROCK HILL: Kadin France netted 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the Redmen’s win at Wellston. COAL GROVE: Aaron Music is a threat to score and on the boards for the Hornets. Casey Borders returns, too, but they have some key positions to fill. PORTSMOUTH: Leading scorer Matthew Fraulini returns and 6-3 Miles Shipp transfers in from Notre Dame. Trojans lost four starters. Watch for Danny Lattimore, Myquel McKinley, Devin McLaurin and Michael Duncan. WHEELERSBURG: The Pirates feature one of the area’s top inside players in 6-foot-6 Tanner Holden. The son of former Marshall University standout Rodney Holden already has signed a letter of intent to play college basketball at Wright State. He averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds per game last season. J.J. Truitt is another player to watch. IRONTON ST. JOE: The Flyers have a new home in the Parish Life Center gym and new coach in Chris Barnes. Ryan Payne hit for 20 points in win at Symmes Valley. Keep an eye on J.C. Damron as well. SYMMES VALLEY: Jack Leith netted 30 points for the Vikings in their opener against South Gallia. Luke Leith had 13 points in loss to Ironton St. Joe. GREEN: Tayte Carver hit for 25 in win over Clay and Gage Sampson added 13. Watch for Tanner Kimbler, too. OAK HILL: 6-5 Mason Darby runs the show for coach Norm Persin’s Oaks. 6-4 Chase Hammond key player, too, on the inside. Persin will work to have the team at its best by tournament time. SOUTH GALLIA: Rebels opponents have to focus on Nick Hicks, Braxton Hardy and Eli Ellis. Kentucky ASHLAND: The Tomcats have a new head coach in Jason Mays. Players to watch include left-hander Devaunte Robinson, Hunter Mays, Ethan Hudson and Justin Bradley. Freshman Cole Villers, who started as an eighth-grader, suffered a knee injury over the summer and hopes to be back by mid-January. BOYD COUNTY: The Lions look to develop new contributors this season as the senior class that featured MVP Gunner Short led them to the 16th Region title and spot in the Sweet 16. Senior Talbott Taylor can score inside or perimeter. Blake Stewart, who made some noise in the Sweet 16 last season, is back, too. RUSSELL: The Red Devils have a makeover to do. Tristan Miller leads the way at shooting guard. Brady Bell, 6-foot-3 freshman, could be impact player. GREENUP COUNTY: Robert Amis is the new head coach of the Musketeers, who lost seven players from a year ago. Brady Nelson and Brady
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Burchett must step up and eyes are on 7th-grader Zander Carter. FAIRVIEW: Noah King, 6-foot-3, is one of five returning seniors. Junior Terrick Smith shot 41.2 percent from 3-point range last season. RACELAND: Guard Kirk Pence and perimeter player Greg Mershon are two key players for the Rams this season. They also get help from Kyle Adkins, a transfer from Ironton. ROSE HILL CHRISTIAN: Juniors Kenny Wilburn, Trey Phelps and Stephen Barker are the leaders for the Royals.
Owen Chafin
Spring-Valley High School photo provided by Wanda Willoughby When Spring Valley began it’s 2018 football season, names like Graeson Malashevich, Isaac Howard, Nate Ellis and Will Adkins were mentioned as key components of the Timberwolves’ offensive attack, but one other weapon emerged as the season progressed and that emergence opened the door for a future at the next level of football. Owen Chafin, a 5-10, 198-pound senior, ended the regular season with 977 yards and 8 touchdowns on 134 rush attempts, meaning he averaged just over seven yards on each carry. He added another 433 yards and four touchdowns in Spring Valley’s four postseason games. Chafin’s work allowed the Timberwolves to go 13-1 on the year, win a Mountain State Athletic Conference title and finish as state Class AAA runner-up to Martinsburg for a third-consecutive year. He also played on the other side of the football as a defensive back. Chafin was honored as an MSAC 2nd team All-Conference selection. Chafin’s season-opening performance showed what he was capable of with 112 yards and a touchdown in a 49-8 win over in-county rival Wayne. He followed that up with 87 yards in a 27-3 win over Hurricane and 78 yards and a score in a 4214 victory at South Charleston. More damage came in Kanawha County with 153 yards and two touchdowns in a 62-21 thrashing of George Washington and 121 yards and a touchdown in a 21-13 showdown win over Capital. Chafin had a quiet 40 yards and a score in limited play in a 42-21 win over Riverside and only 28 yards in a short effort in a 60-6 pouding of St. Albans. Chafin returned to form with 171 yards and a touchdown in a 58-34 come-from-behind win at Point Pleasant and 70 yards to end the regular season in a win over Huntington. In postseason wins over Spring Mills, Huntington and Capital, Chafin had games of 94, 127 and 140 yards along with four touchdowns. He picked up 55 yards in Spring Valley’s state championship game loss to Martinsburg. Chafin’s numbers caught the attention of a lot of colleges and universities, including West Virginia University, who offered Chafin an invited walk-on spot for 2019 which he has accepted.
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