The Insider Magazine vol20#4 December 2017

INSIDER

the

December 2017

A NOVEMBER TO

REMEMBER

www.HerdInsider.com

An emotional month of November found Marshall football battling in Conference USA for postseason bowl placement.

UP FRONT

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VOLUME 20 NO. 4

• The Marshall football team has worn a variety of uniforms this fall with combinations of green, white and black jerseys and pants.

That wardrobe got national attention on the morning of November 11th as it was featured on ESPN’s Sportscenter. The Herd was wearing black jerseys and white pants that day as it faced Western Kentucky. That black-jersey uniform is now the regular outfit for Marshall home games closest to the anniversary of the November 14th, 1970 plane crash that killed 75 Marshall football players, coaches, staff members and fans. The uniform also features a helmet with decals honoring the 75 crash victims on one side and featuring the 1971 “Young Thundering Herd” helmet decal on the other side.

The ESPN exposure was part of a weekly feature which highlights the more colorful or meaningful uniforms being worn each football Saturday.

compiled by Bill Cornwell THE INSIDER contributing writer

and shopping area and that Texas historic icon, The Alamo.

Of course, San Antonio is an NBA city and the hometown Spurs just happened to be in town during the Marshall visit, taking on their Western Conference rivals, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder have two Huntington links...former Huntington High basketball star Patrick Patterson and their coach, former Marshall hoops boss Billy Donovan. Thanks to Donovan generosity in providing tickets, Marshall’s cheerleaders were able to attend the Spurs-Thunder game at the A.T and T Center.

• Herd fans should give a “pat on the back” to Marshall’s cheerleading squad for their work during the football season.

The squad, led by coach Jake Gilliam, puts in a full-day’s work at home games working the tailgate lots prior to the game.

On the road, Gilliam is joined by a mini-squad of four cheerleaders and Marco and despite being severely outnumbered by • Marshall football got its first exposure to a new Conference opposing cheerleaders and fans, the group keeps their Herd USA road venue this season with a November 17-18 trip to San spirit pumping while serving as ambassadors for Marshall and the state of WV. Antonio, Texas to face UTSA. The initial Herd football visit to the south Texas metropolis was Again, a job well-done by Marshall’s cheerleaders and their coach, Jake Gilliam. an eye-opener as the MU travelling party enjoyed the vibrant San Antonio downtown area. The Marshall team hotel was within easy walking distance from the famous River Walk dining

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WHAT WE’VE GOT

UP FRONT

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VOLUME 20 No. 4

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UP FRONT

Contributing writer Bill Cornwell shares some of his experiences as a member of the traveling party for Marshall football. He’s also the PA voice at The Joan.

HISTORY

5

THE OLD MAN

Cam Henderson was the best of two-sport coaches in a time when it was not only common, but expected.

MARSHALL

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TO REMEMBER

November up-and-down affair for Marshall football, with an emotional win over Western Kentucky and an emotional loss to So. Miss.

On the cover: An emotional month of November was reflected in the well-worn Marshall football helmet with the names of the 75 plane crash victims on it, following the win over Western Kentucky.

HIGH SCHOOL

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HOOPS PREVIEW

Here’s a quick look at the high school boys and girls basketball programs, to get you ready for hoops season in 2017-2018.

This page: Ryan Yurachek was embraced by coach Doc Holliday during senior day ceremonies prior to the Southern Miss game in Huntington.

cover and contents photos by Greg Perry/The Insider Magazine 555 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 (304) 523-8401

General Manager Mike Kirtner Contributor Bill Cornwell

Creative Director Greg Perry Contributor James E. Casto

Associate GM Reeves Kirtner First Subscriber Geoff Sheils

Writer Dave Walsh Printing Printograph, Inc.

Web Operations Alex Hackney All contents ©2017 Kindred Communications

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THE OLD MAN Known primarily for his basketball coaching abilities, not many are aware that Cam Henderson was actually the nation’s most successful two-sport coach. And this was in an era when they were considered the norm.

I

by James E. Casto The Insider contributing writer

n 1981, when it came time for Marshall University to dedicate its new $18 million basketball arena, there was near universal agreement that it should be named Cam Henderson Center.

He lettered in all three sports.

In the fall of 1912, Henderson took a job teaching school at Bristol, West Virginia, where he immediately put together a basketball squad. The little school had no gym, so at first the boys

In Marshall’s sports history, no name is written larger than that of Cam Henderson. Henderson was the nation’s most successful two-sport coach in an era when they were common. A basketball innovator, he’s generally credited with originating the zone defense and the fast break, two staples of the modern game.

In football, he helped originate the double-wing offense.

His career mark for coaching was 800 wins against just 336 losses and 13 ties, a A radio reporter in Kansas City interviews Henderson following Marshall’s victory in the 1947 NAIB National Basketball Tournament. With the coach are Bill Hall and Andy Tonkovich (with No. 7 on his jersey.) winning percentage of 70 percent. played outdoors when the weather was nice enough. Baskets Little wonder that the word “legendary” is almost always were nailed onto posts at opposite ends of the schoolyard. linked with Henderson’s name. The late Herald-Dispatch sports columnist Ernie Salvatore, writing more than 50 years after Later Henderson and a group of his students built a gym of Henderson’s death, put it perfectly: sorts. They nailed some boards together, built four walls and roofed the structure with sheets of tin.

“Henderson didn’t look like college coaches are supposed to look, according to Hollywood and other fairy tales. He looked But poorly-cured wood and a leaky roof resulted in a sliplike a country boy school teacher, which he was early on. He pery floor. To avoid the slick spots, Henderson began to diswas tall and rangy, with a gentle, almost shy smile and a twinkle tribute his defenders in “zones,” He then developed an offense in his eye that he could turn off instantly – like a light switch. of “breaking fast” off a missed basketball, with two forwards Then what followed was neither shy nor gentle. It was legendtearing down each sideline and a point guard bringing the ball ary.” up the court quickly for a number of options.

Eli Camden Henderson was born in 1890, at Joetown, West Virginia, a wide spot in the road in Marion County. He grew up in Harrison County and in 1911 graduated from Glenville Normal School, where he played football, basketball and baseball.

Leaving Bristol, Henderson briefly coached at Muskingum College in Ohio. He then returned to West Virginia and a coaching job at Davis & Elkins College, where he built the little school continued on page 6

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into an athletic powerhouse. In 12 seasons at D&E he posted a 220-44 record in basketball and an 83-33-6 record in football.

His D&E football teams beat a number of much larger schools, including West Virginia University, Army, Fordham, Villanova, George Washington and Navy.

In 1933, Henderson’s success at D&E prompted “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!,” the popular syndicated newspaper cartoon, to feature him, telling readers: “Cam Henderson coaches all sports at ‘Davis & Elkins’ without assistants, trainers or scouts.”

In 1935, Marshall College lured Dr. John Allen from D&E to serve as president, and Allen in turn brought Henderson to Marshall as athletic director and head coach for basketball and football. Henderson would be a fixture on the campus and in the community for the next 20 years.

Although primarily known for his skill as a basketball coach, Henderson’s gridiron coaching record was equally impressive.

Though his first season at Marshall (1935) was disappointing, the following year Marshall won six games and in 1937 claimed the Buckeye Athletic Conference championship.

onship in 1936-37, 1937-38 and 1938-39, the final year for the league. He won 35 straight home games from 1944-47, started the 1946-47 season 17-0, then went on to a 32-5 mark and Marshall’s only national championship in basketball in the NAIB (today’s NAIA) Basketball Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri.

Returning from the tournament, Henderson and the team arrived back in Huntington aboard the Chesapeake & Ohio’s “George Washington,” and found themselves greeted by a huge crowd of cheering fans – a crowd estimated at 15,000 – who jammed the C&O’s Huntington passenger station to welcome their return.

The success of Henderson’s championship basketball team of 1947 helped spur the move into the new Veterans Memorial Field House, a 6,500-seat arena that would be Marshall’s basketball home from 1950 to 1981.

Henderson’s first All-Americans were Bill Smith for football (1937) and Jule Rivlin for basketball (1940). He sent numerous players to the professional ranks, including Frank “Gunner” Gatski (Marshall 1940–42), who is the Herd’s only member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Gatski went on to play in 11 title games in 12 seasons with the Cleveland Browns and then the Detroit Lions.

The “Old Man,” as he was known to his players, also recruited the first African-American to play at the formerly all-white colleges of West Virginia when he signed Hal Greer in 1954. Greer helped Marshall win the Mid-American Conference title in 1955-56, and led the nation in scoring in 1957-58 with 88 points per game.

Marshall was invited to play in the Tangerine Greer signed with the SyraBowl on January 1, 1948, at In 1933, Henderson’s success at D&E prompted “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!,” cuse Nationals of the NBA, but the popular syndicated newspaper cartoon, to feature him. the same time the Marshall went on to his greatest glory with basketball team was set to the Philadelphia 76ers. He was play in the Los Angeles Invitational Tournament. Henderson inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. traveled with the basketball team and sent assistant coach Roy After a 6-4 season in 1949, Director of Athletics Luther Straight to handle the football game. The basketball team won Poling asked Henderson to resign his football position. Henderits tournament, but Marshall lost the bowl game, 7-0. son reluctantly agreed. He would remain at Marshall as head basketball coach until 1955. His final team in 1954-55 posted a With Henderson at the helm, Marshall basketball teams record of 18-4. won 368 games and took the Buckeye Conference champi-

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Irvin Dugan, a long-time artist at the Huntington newspapers did this pen and ink sketch of Henderson in 1938.

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He said he hoped to be “able to enjoy the days remaining to me.” Those days proved few in number. He died peacefully in his sleep May 3, 1956.

The late Sam Clagg played for and coached with Henderson. Clagg was a longtime chair of Marshall’s Geography Department and served as interim MU president from 1983 through 1985. In 1981, he wrote a biography of his former coach, “The Cam Henderson Story: His Life Henderson in 1936, one year after coming and Times.” to Marshall as athletic director, football and basketball coach.

In 2007, Huntington documentarians Deborah Novak and John Witek produced a video biography, “Cam Henderson: A Coach’s Story,” for West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

James E. Casto is the retired associate editor of The Herald-Dispatch and the author of a number of books on local and regional history. INSIDER the

The 65-year-old Henderson’s failing health from diabetes and heart disease forced him to step down after the 1955 season.

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COLLEGE

FOOTBALL

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November To Remember Ryan Yurachek’s one-handed touchdown catch against So. Miss. was one highlight in an up-and-down month for Marshall football, headed into the bowl season.

photographs by Greg Perry/ THE INSIDER Magazine staff

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Chase Litton threw downfield against Southern Miss in the last bit of sunlight on a Saturday afternoon in November.

ll was well in Marshall University football land on Oct. get on an assistant coach for non-imaginative play calling and 20. That Friday night, the Thundering Herd won at certain players. Some indicated they would boycott the finale Middle Tennessee, 38-10, to become bowl eligible at 6-1 against Southern Miss. and sit atop the Conference USA East Division at 3-0. Becoming The positive first and there are many. The Herd wore all eligible for the postseason after enduring a 3-9 campaign just black tops-and-pants uniform combination for the first time, a year earlier showed a hoped-for turnaround and the players’ white helmets had tributes to story by Dave Walsh was in progress. the 75 people lost in the worst air disaster in THE INSIDER writer Then FIU showed up in Huntington on college sports. There was a `75’ decal on one Oct. 28 and, helped by getting 17 points off side of the helmet; a green stripe down the midturnovers, knocked off the Thundering Herd, 41-30, at Joan dle with the names of each person who perished; and individual C. Edwards Stadium. That outcome started what would turn decals on 75 different helmets of the players, coaches, pilots into a late-season slide for Marshall. Southern Miss, thanks and community members who died. A solemn tribute played in to the Herd botching an extra point attempt late, edged the the minutes before kickoff, and the coaches and players locked home team, 28-27, on Senior Day to leave the Herd 1-4 down the arms and slowly walked from the end zone to midfield together stretch, 7-5 overall and 4-4 in C-USA East. There is a bowl game as the crowd cheered. to play and Marshall learned its opponent and destination on “This really is an emotional game for us,” Doc Holliday, who Dec. 2. coached his 100th game at Marshall and recorded his 60th win, Eventual C-USA East winner FAU cashed in on 16 points off told the media after the game. “I’m happy for our fans and I’m turnovers and beat the Herd, 30-25, on Nov. 3 in Boca Raton. happy we were able to honor the `75’ the way we did.”

On Nov. 18, UTSA got a field-goal with two seconds left to edge Marshall had lost three consecutive games to WKU, and the Marshall, 9-7, in San Antonio.

Hilltoppers had averaged 58.7 points in those meetings. “That The one shining moment happened on Nov. 11 when wasn’t a rivalry because we never beat them,” Holliday said.

Marshall toppled Western Kentucky, 30-23, at home for its first “Now it is a rivalry because we won this game.” victory over the Hilltoppers since they joined the league. It also “That’s a team we wanted to get a win against,” senior tight was significant because the game was played three days before end RyanYurachek said. “With everything that’s going on here the 47th anniversary of the memorial service to honor the 75 the next three or four days (leading up to the anniversary of the people who died in the Marshall plane crash on Nov. 14, 1970. crash), it was a special night, for sure.”

The jet bringing the team, coaches, athletic department officials This game continued a positive trend for young players, and fans home from a 17-14 loss at East Carolina earlier in the including freshmen and former walk-ons. Freshman Tyler King day crashed short of the runway at Tri-State Airport on a rainy rushed for more than 100 yards. Freshman Willie Johnson Saturday evening. caught four passes and so did former walk-on Nick Matthews.

There was plenty of emotion on the positive side on display They stepped up after top receivers Tyre Brady and Marcel for the Western Kentucky game. On the flip side, emotions kind Willams went out early in the first period. The offensive line of got out of hand after the UTSA loss. Some Marshall fans took had three freshman starters as well. Freshman Nazeeh Johnson continued on page 15 to social media to voice their displeasure with that outcome and

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Emotional Entrance‌ Marshall coach Doc Holliday and his team entered the field at Joan C. Edwards Stadium arm-in-arm to take on Western Kentucky on the anniversary of the plane crash. photo by Greg Perry/The Insider staff

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returned an interception for a TD. King, in this setting for the first time, let emotions show during his post-game address.

“I’m not going to say it was surprising, but a lot people were counting on us to get the win, because that’s what matters towards the 75 people that were on that plane crash. It’s interesting,” King said. “This is my first year and just seeing how the people in the community, the fans and the coaching staff, just to see how serious it is and hearing all the different stuff we have heard all week with what happened, it will give you chills.”

The Herd defense has been one of the best in C-USA all season. Special teams have performed well led by punter Kaare Vedvik, who is No. 1 in the league, and Keion Davis, one of the best in the league in kickoff returns.

Marshall hoped for shining moment No. 2 on Senior Day, but misfortune struck again late like it did against UTSA and the Herd was denied a memorable exit. Yurachek was one of 13 players suiting up for the final time at Edwards Stadium. As a freshman, the Herd won the C-USA championship. A year later, Marshall went to a bowl again. Then came the disastrous 3-9 mark a year ago.

Coaches counted on Yurachek to be there in good times and bad and he delivered. He faced the media numerous times during the tough 2016 season. When Hurricane Harvey hit his family’s town in Houston in August, it was Yurachek who set up

a GoFundMe account and raised more than $10,000 for relief funds. His father is Hunter Yurachek, athletic director at the University of Houston.

At UTSA, the Herd offense had a trying evening, but did score with 1:31 left to take a 7-6 lead only to see quarterback Dalton Sturm move the Roadrunners into position for Sackett’s winning field goal to make their Senior Night a success. Marshall failed to score in the first half for the first time this season.

The Herd’s first drive of more than 40 yards came in the third quarter when it took nine plays to cover 41 yards. That drive also ended in a punt. For the game, UTSA had 355 total yards to 229 for the Herd.

Marshall’s offense has been ranked in the middle of the pack in C-USA all season and that’s gotten fans riled up, sparked outrage on social media and prompted the boycott talk after the UTSA game. They remember the high-octane offenses of past years led by quarterbacks Tony Petersen, John Gregory, Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich who threw to the likes of Randy Moss, Troy Brown and Mike Barber to name a few.

Enter Yurachek again. He turned to social media to plead for Herd fans to be reasonable.

“When y’all think about ‘boycotting’ the game Saturday, think about. ... us seniors, who gave our blood, sweat and tears to this football program for the last 4 years, rarely see our families, and spend countless hours working for this program and continued on page 16

Marshall continued from page 15

this community. Think about that,” Yurachek said through his Twitter account.

Joining Yurachek for that final special walk to prior to kickoff to meet Holliday and family member were C.J. Reavis, Hyleck Foster, Rodney Allen, Vedvik, Dontrell Johnson, Tony Pittman, D’Andre (Chocolate) Wilson, Davon Durant, Blake Keller, Sandley Jean-Felix, A.J. Addison and junior Eli Gates, who is forgoing his final year to pursue a career outside of football.

On his final radio show, Holliday offered praise for the seniors.

“We struggled a year ago, but these seniors have laid the groundwork to get us turned around. Now, our goal is always to win the conference, but these guys are first-class. You can go right down the line. They do so much off the field that people don’t always see. I’m so proud of all of our seniors.”

Yurachek, as one might expect, caught seven passes to match a career high for 56 yards and three scores, his second three-TD game of the season. The third came with 1:15 left to get the Herd within one at 28-27 and excite the 18,361 fans in the Joan. In the end, though, the miscue on the extra point denied Yurachek, teammates, coaches and fans the hoped-for miracle ending.

“I would have rather have caught five balls for negative-100 yards and negative touchdowns and had all my stats swept away than to lose that game,” said Yurachek, the disappointment still on his face for all to see. “There’s absolutely no satisfaction in how I played. It doesn’t matter. I wanted to win this one not only for myself, but for the 12 other guys I was fortunate enough to take the field with one last time today. It stings.”

Litton was disappointed by the way Senior Day ended.

“He’s a senior. He’s a guy who’s won a lot of games here and done everything for this program. That’s a guy who will always be remembered here,” Litton said of Yurachek. “Ryan, Tony (Pittman), they’re my best friends. When I first came in, I was the fourth-string. I was a freshman who people really didn’t expect much from. I stuck with them. I came in and studied film with these guys and lifted with them. They believed in me.”

“I hurt for them. We wanted to send them off with a win and it’s a shame that we didn’t get that done,” linebacker Chase Hancock said. “We win as a team, we lose as a team. I hurt for them because those are my brothers. I wanted nothing more than to get the win for them.”

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Owen Porter

Spring Valley (WV) High School Football/Wrestling photo courtesy of Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch

Marshall University football fans have a lot to look forward to in the future based on the play this fall of Spring Valley Timberwolves Fullback/Linebacker Owen Porter.

Porter announced his intentions last summer to continue his football career as part of the Thundering Herd program.

The 6-3, 220-pounder led his Spring Valley team to an 8-2 regular-season record and a second-straight appearance in the WV Class AAA football title game in Wheeling against Martinsburg following post-season wins over George Washington, Cabell Midland and Huntington.

During the regular season, Porter was a statistical standout on both sides of the football, racking up 512 yards and nine touchdown on 71 carries. He also had a catch for 13 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Porter had an even larger impact, leading the Timberwolves with 93 total tackles, including 61 solo stops. He had 22 tackles for loss and three-and-a-half sacks.

Porter’s impact was shown in the Huntington High semifinal playoff game as he forced a first half fumble that flipped field position and led to Spring Valley’s lone touchdown in a 10-7 win over the Highlanders.

Avenging a loss to HHS to start the regular season.

Porter isn’t a one-sport star, as he is standout on the wrestling mat in the winter as he claimed Spring Valley’s first individual state wrestling title last March in the state meet at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

Porter defeated Riverside’s Brice Pomero to claim the state championship.

And, he won’t be among strangers at Marshall, as Spring Valley teammate Jacob Cassidy also committed to play for the Herd.

Don’t be surprised if you see Owen Porter starting at linebacker for Marshall in a couple of years, following in the footsteps (and mold) of a former linebacker who also hailed from northern Wayne County... none other than Buffalo’s Larry McCloud.

—compiled by Bill Cornwell, The Insider contributing writer

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by Dave Walsh The Insider writer HUNTINGTON: The Highlander boys basketball team enters the 2017-18 season as defending champion in West Virginia Class AAA. Coach Ron Hess has two starters back in guard Jadon Hayes and forward Mikal Dawson. There’s other talent available, too.

The catch is the seven to eight players he’ll have to call on got on the floor later than normal due to the success the Highlanders had in football. Those players helped Huntington reach the semifinal round, leading to the delayed debut in basketball.

So Hess worked with the younger players to help them learn his system.

“We’ll be pretty deep,” Hess told Ron Elmore of The Herald-Dispatch. “I think this is the most depth we’ve had since I’ve been here.”

The Highlanders start the season Dec. 15.

CABELL MIDLAND: The Knights have a new coach in Rick Chaffin. He takes over a program that shows just five wins in the past two seasons. Chaffin told the players to forget the past.

“It definitely is a difficult situation. It’ll be a challenge. But I enjoy challenges,” he said.

Two players to watch are guard Jovaun Light, who got a late start due to football, and Adam Smith, a 6-6 shooting guard who

High School Basketball Preview is a transfer from Dallas, Texas.

SPRING VALLEY: Coach Cory Maynard has several key players back, but they had a late start because they’re on the football team and the Timberwolves advanced to the West Virginia Class AAA title game for the second straight year.

“We’ve got experience which should give us quite a bit of depth,” Maynard said. Derek Johnson, quarterback on the football team, is back and averaged nearly 10 points a game.

WAYNE: The Pioneers have three starters back, added experience, but being in the Cardinal Conference makes it a challenge. The starters back for veteran coach Sam Cochenour are Cory Marcum, Gunner Daniels and Devin Hall. Cochenour had 30 players try out and needed two cuts to settle on a roster.

HUNTINGTON ST. JOE: Coach Ross Scaggs has two starters back in Isaac Bias and Garrick Hopkins. After that Irish coach Ross Scaggs has work to do to settle on a rotation with so many younger players on the roster. St. Joe won the West Virginia Class A title two years ago and made it back to Charleston last season.

OHIO FAIRLAND: The Dragons, who move up to Division II this year, return nearly all of their starters from last year’s team that finished 25-2 and reached the semifinals in the Ohio Final Four.

Coach Nathan Speed’s team faces a challenging schedule.

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They play in the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (alma mater of NBA star LeBron James), Centerville (Ohio), Waverly and Waterford to name a few.

“It’s a experienced team and we want to play the best teams possible,” Fairland coach Nathan Speed told Tim Stephens of The Herald-Dispatch.

Four senior starters back are 6-8 center Kollin Van Horn, Isaiah Howell, Luke Thomas and Ty Staten. Football standout Keedrick Cunningham should round out the first five. Providing depth are Ty Wilcoxon, Chase Fisher and Joel Lambiotte.

SOUTH POINT: The Pointers return three starters led by guard Tayshaun Fox, who averaged 15 points a game last season.

Coach Travis Wise has depth and a promising freshman group.

“The effort’s been good so far,” Wise said. “We have to keep playing that way.” Wise said the Ohio Valley Conference will be competitive and teams once again will be chasing Fairland.

COAL GROVE: The Hornets have all five starters back and have dropped to Division IV. Jeb Jones leads the way along with Aaron Music and Sam Angelo. Coach Kevin Vanderhoof has just two seniors on the roster.

CHESAPEAKE: The Panthers, coming off a 4-19 season, have one experienced senior on the roster in Cole Mills. Coach Ryan Davis has no juniors, seven sophomores and eight freshmen. “We have a bunch of little puppies,” Davis said. “I hope we can mature by the end of the season.”

ROCK HILL: The Redmen won two games last season. New coach Gordy Collins does have experience in Jaret Bacon and Logan Reed. However, Mason Darby transferred to Oak Hill.

IRONTON: The Fighting Tigers have Charlie Large and

December 2017 / THE INSIDER / 19 Ethan Wilson back. Right now coach Mark LaFon needs his team to get healthy. Another veteran, forward Ryan Bryant, transferred to Ashland.

GALLIA ACADEMY: The Blue Devils feature 7-foot sophomore Zach Loveday, who’s been offered by Ohio State and has drawn interest from Purdue and Michigan. He already has the school record for blocked shots with 121.

“We have experience and depth,” coach Gary Harrison said.

“What you normally teach and coach you now refine.” Gallia Academy is Division II. PORTSMOUTH: Three starters return for the Trojans led by guard D.J. Ely. Reese Johnson and Daniel Johnson join him along with Isaac Kelly, a transfer from Lewis County, Ky. “We can play a lot of different styles and combinations,” coach Eugene Collins said.

GREEN: Junior Tanner Kimbler returns. The 5-8 guard averaged 18 points a game last season.

IRONTON ST. JOE: The Flyers have senior Chase Walters back. He averaged 17.2 points a game last season.

SYMMES VALLEY: Chad Coffman, former football coach at South Point, is the new boss for the Vikings. Top returnee is Jordan Lucas, who averaged 12 points a game last season.

WHEELERSBURG: Tanner Holden, a 6-7 forward whose father Rodney played at Marshall, leads the Pirates. However, he got a real late start because the Pirates played for the Ohio Division V state title the first weekend in December. He’s a wide receiver. He’s getting college offers from major schools in both sports.

KENTUCKY ASHLAND: Senior guard Chase Villars is one of three

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Basketball continued from page 19

starters back for the Tomcats. Ryan Bryant, a transfer from Ironton, should provide a boost.

BOYD COUNTY: The Lions have three talented guards back led by Reese Robinson. They also get help from Gunner Short, a transfer from Fairland.

GREENUP COUNTY: The Musketeers have one of the top players in the area in Gage Hughes, who averaged 28.6 points a game last season. He excels in baseball, too, and already has signed with the University of Cincinnati.

RUSSELL: Senior Bobby Hale is one of the leading players back for the Red Devils. He scored at a 14.5 clip last season.

GIRLS

Huntington St. Joe has plenty of firepower on the court as the Irish seek to repeat as girls West Virginia Class A state champion and collect its ninth overall in the last 10 years.

Three starters return and two have made Division I commitments. Dina Jarrells has committed to Tennessee-Chattanooga and Paige Shy is a Marshall commit. Bailee Adkins, a sophomore, has an offer from Marshall.

Coach Shannon Lewis has no shortage of talent as he seeks to finalize a starting lineup and player combinations. He can choose from Abby Lee, Haylee Hunter, Errin Kay, Essence Sims along with some promising freshmen.

HUNTINGTON HIGH: Veteran coach Lonnie Lucas has one returning starter from last year’s West Virginia Class AAA state championship team (24-3). That player is sophomore Madison Slash. Lucas had many choice to make to settle on a lineup prior to the Dec. 5 opener against Parkersburg.

GO HERD!

SPRING VALLEY: The Timberwolves have four starters back in twin sisters Maddy and Morgan Vaughn, Peyton Caldwell and Haley McComas. Coach Bo Miller has his girls facing a difficult schedule.

“I wanted to try to make it as hard as we can,” Miller said.

Spring Valley’s first home game doesn’t come until Jan. 3.

CABELL MIDLAND: Coach Matt Adkins welcomes four starters back in Sierra Womack, Kirya Kingery, Faith Craddock and Morgan Bennett. “With four seniors in the lineup it’s good leadership,” Adkins said.

WAYNE: Everyone is back from the Wayne team that finished 14-10 a year ago. Returning starters are Aeriel Adkins, Maddie Wilcox and Nakayla Elliott. Pioneers coach Wade Williamson has plenty of depth. That’s needed as Wayne competes in the Cardinal Conference.

OHIO FAIRLAND: The Lady Dragons have all five starters back from their 21-3 team a year ago. The veterans are guard Emily Chapman, Alesha Simpson, Allie Marshall, Taylar Wilson and Kelsie Warnock. Coach Jon Buchanan has great depth as usual, too. Fairland and Ironton should battle again for the Ohio Valley Conference title.

IRONTON: The Fighting Tigers have two talented players back in sophomore Lexi Arden and senior Lexi Wise. Arden averaged 13.8 points a game as a freshman.

“We’re pretty tall, with some thickness, and have some girls who can finish around the basket,” Ironton coach Doug Graham told Tim Stephens of The Herald-Dispatch.

COAL GROVE: Emily Compliment, who averaged 16 points a game last season, is back and the Hornets get a boost

from the return of Alexis Hall. The senior transferred back from Huntington St. Joe. Coach Rick Roach likes his team’s depth, too.

CHESAPEAKE: Senior guard Natalee Hall, who is 5-5, led the team in scoring last season and she’s a force on the boards as well. Brooke Webb and Karli Davis bring height and athleticism.

Harley Stapleton is a player to watch at guard.

SOUTH POINT: Madison Kearns and Leah Lawson, both 5-9 seniors, are the scorers and rebounders for the Pointers.

ROCK HILL: The Redwomen have experienced players back in Maddie Scott, Abbi Kline, Taylor Hall and Kyleigh Noel.

GALLIA ACADEMY: The Blue Angels are counting on junior Hunter Copley, who averaged 10.9 points a game last season.

PORTSMOUTH: The Trojans need Jasmine Ely and Hannah Hughes to step up.

GREEN: The Bobcats face a tall task as they won just once last season.

IRONTON ST. JOE: The Female Flyers are counting on sophomore Kaitlin Sheridan and seniors Grace Miller and Faith Mahlmeister.

SYMMES VALLEY: Jensyn Shepherd is back for her senior season. She averaged 17.3 points a game a year ago. The Vikings also can count on Kaitlyn Crabtree.

WHEELERSBURG: Abbie Kallner, a junior who averaged

14 points a game last season, has committed to Shawnee State.

The Pirates also can look to Ellie Ruby.

KENTUCKY ASHLAND: Senior Mykassa Robinson returns to action for the Kittens after playing in two games a year ago before suffering a knee injury. The Louisville signee averaged 18.8 points and 6.6 rebounds as a sophomore. Ashland also features sophomore Julia Parker, who hit for 14.5 points a game last season.

BOYD COUNTY: Junior guard Savannah Wheeler, who has committed to Marshall, returns for the Lions. They won the 16th Region title a year ago, advancing to the Girls Sweet 16. Twins Charity and Peyton Shears are attracting interest from NCAA Division II schools.

GREENUP COUNTY: Junior guard Gracie Heywood is back for the Musketeers. Greenup County also counts on Madison Hill and Holly Bryant.

RUSSELL: The Red Devils return plenty of firepower.

Senior guard Madison Darnell averaged 17.1 points and six rebounds a game last season. She’s joined by Rachel Michael, Ty Mitchell, Lakie Sanders and Aubrey Hill.

the

Basketball continued from page 19

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/ December 2017

COLLEGE

BASKETBALL

Replacing Talent Key For Marshall Men’s, Women’s Basketball in ‘18

the first year that everybody on the team will be someone we recruited. Our depth is untested. I like our athleticism. I like our activity … it’s a much quicker, faster team. That will allow us to do more things.”

On the women’s side of Marshall basketball, the man who played a big role in reshaping a program that increased its win total over a four-year stretch is now in charge of that program.

Tony Kemper, who had been associate head coach for Marshall University women’s basketball under head coach Matt Daniel during that stretch, got elevated to head coach after Daniel stepped down after last season.

“It is such a privilege to continue working with student-athletes who I have had a hand in recruiting to Huntington, a community that my family values greatly,” Kemper said. “”There are many good people and players here now, and also on the way, who can help make us a consistent winner.”

Marshall fans got their first look at the Kemper product on Nov. 10 when the Herd raced past Longwood, 90-45, at Cam Henderson Center. Kemper had a look of relief after the game ended.

Hamilton “I told our team right before we hit the floor that they were ready, that they just needed to calm down and do what they’ve practiced,” Kemper said. “I thought, for the most part, they did a really good job of that. I thought we competed pretty consistently across the board and I liked that a lot. A lot of different people contributed and I hope that becomes consistent with how we do things.”

During the four-year run, the Herd increased its win total from 9 to 11 to 17 to 21 wins in 2015-16 and earned two post-season tournament berths. Marshall dropped off to 13-17 a year ago and Kemper, in his sixth year overall with the team, wants no part of that trend. The Herd’s 2017 recruiting class, ranked No. 34, features the talent to help the Herd get back on track.

Marshall returns nine players and features five newcomers.

Leaders are junior Shayna Gore and senior Talequia Hamilton.

Gore, named to the Conference USA All-Conference Preseason Team, is fast approaching 1,000 points for her career. Hamilton blocked 54 shots last season to bring her career total to 92. the

by Dave Walsh The Insider writer On they first day of practice, Marshall men’s basketball coach Dan D’Antoni said holdovers Jon Elmore, C.J. Burks and Ajdin Penava would have a major say in how the Thundering Herd would fare in 2017-18.

Opening night November 10, it was obvious why D’Antoni felt that way. Elmore, a preseason All-Conference USA pick, totaled a career-high 38 points, Burks 23 and Penava 20 along with 10 rebounds in a 101-91 win over Tennessee-Martin at Cam Henderson Center.

The Herd trailed by 15 at the half, saw the visitors his a three-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime, then went on a 9-0 run to start the extra session on the way to victory.

“We’re going to ride the three,” D’Antoni told Herdzone.com’s Chuck McGill.

“They’ve got to step up.”

The above players are the only ones back who started a game last season when the Herd went 20-15 and reached the championship game in the C-USA Tournament. Reigning champion Middle Tennessee is the pick to repeat and Elmore the Herd came in at No. 7 in the preseason poll.

“The big question for this year’s team is not so much talent and not so much experience, but it’s more about how they’ll play together and the chemistry they develop,” said D’Antoni, who is 70 and in his fourth season. “This year’s team, with a bunch of new players, will have to develop that chemistry. I think we’ll be OK talent-wise; I don’t see a big drop off there. But there is a big drop off in the chemistry we’ve developed.”

Back are sophomores Christian Thieneman and Phil Bledsoe and senior Milan Mijovic. Redshirt freshman Jannson Williams, is ready to go after sitting out last season. Junior guard Rondale Watson, a transfer from Wake Forest, will eventually join the squad. Newcomers include junior Dani Koljanin and freshmen Jarrod West and Darius George.

With Taylor and Thompson gone, there is a void down low.

“Obviously, we’ll have to manufacture some stats there, but I think Ajdin will lead that charge,” D’Antoni said. Elmore and Burks form a dynamic backcourt combination.

“Our depth chart is filling up,” D’Antoni said. “This will be

INSIDER