The Insider Magazine vol 20 #6 February 2018

INSIDER

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February 2018

Mid-Season

www.HerdInsider.com

MOMENTUM Ajdin Penava and the Marshall men’s basketball team are riding a wave of momentum at the midway point of the Conference USA season.

UP FRONT

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VOLUME 20 NO. 6

compiled by Bill Cornwell THE INSIDER contributing writer

He may not have been a Pennington, Leftwich or Cato, but he filled a role in the continuing development of Coach Doc Holliday’s program.

--------Where’s the Thunder? That is an easy question to answer, Most experts haven’t mentioned Litton’s name among likely quarterbacks to be drafted this spring and with a returning Herd as its clearly at the Cam Henderson Center this season. offense that is loaded in 2018, one wonders why Litton followed Head Coach Dan D’Antoni’s fourth Marshall men’s basketball the more difficult path. team is drawing large and loud crowds to the “Cam” thanks to the combo of exciting basketball and lots of activity, aided by Litton’s 2017 ended well as he led the Herd to a New Mexico Marshall’s game day staff, the “6th Man Band” and Public AdBowl win over Colorado State on December 16th. He threw for over 31-hundred yards on the season with 25 touchdown passes dress Announcer (and my boss) Mike Kirtner. and 14 interceptions. The numbers were good for the Tampa, Herd fans like a good show, and the show is always fun as you Florida junior, but you wonder what they might have been in watch Jon Elmore and C.J. Burks frustrate opponents with great 2018 if he’d stayed. moves and shooting. The pleasant surprise of the year has been Junior Center Ajdin Peneva, who went from a struggling player I think Litton had several reasons for leaving. I think he’s been last season to one of college basketball’s great stories this year as told by some knowledgeable about pro football that he has a he’s become a force as a shot blocker and rebounder. chance to play in the NFL and he’ll honestly tell you that being a pro quarterback is his dream career. I also think that he’d also True freshman Jerrod West has been a revelation as an outside tired of some of the criticism he’d received from Marshall’s fan shooter and ball handler and the athleticism of fellow freshman base and some media voices as, for many, the wins were never Darius George has been unexpected. Marshall’s 2017-2018 overbig enough or the games exciting enough. all performance has been a “year ahead of schedule” for some.

Next year’s team is expected to be among the best in Conference Whatever his reasons, Litton leaves a good record at Marshall, USA, especially if Elmore returns for his senior season. including two bowl triumphs and some big passing numbers.

It was a shocker to many when word went out on January 14th that Marshall Quarterback Chase Litton was forgoing his senior year in Huntington to enter the NFL Draft.

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WHAT WE’VE GOT

This page: Marshall’s football team held up high the Gildan New Mexico Bowl championship trophy during a January men’s basketball game.

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VOLUME 20 No. 6

On the cover: Ajdin Penava and Marshall men’s basketball are in the meat of the C-USA schedule, heading toward tournament time.

cover and contents photos

by Greg Perry/The Insider Magazine staff

UP FRONT

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UP FRONT

Contributing writer Bill Cornwell shares some of his experiences as a voice in the Huntington-area sports media.

Marshall MBK

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MOMENTUM

Marshall men’s basketball is keeping the momentum going as they head toward Conference USA tournament time, next month.

555 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 (304) 523-8401

General Manager Mike Kirtner Contributor Bill Cornwell

St. Joseph’s WBK

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DOMINANCE

Huntington St. Joseph’s High School women’s basketball is on what you might call a successful streak. Almost 10 years in length, to be exact.

Creative Director Greg Perry Contributor James E. Casto

Marshall WBK

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GOING WELL

Marshall women’s basketball recently nothced their first C-USA win, and are looking to keep things going well until the end of the season.

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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COLLEGE

BASKETBALL

C.J. Burks (right, against MTSU) is a key piece of Marshall’s success through the midway point of the C-USA season.

photographs by Greg Perry/ THE INSIDER Magazine staff

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COLLEGE

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Mid-Season

MOMENTUM At the midway point of the Conference USA season, Marshall men’s basketball is riding a wave of forward progress in hopes of a tournament payoff.

If you see Marshall men’s basketball coach Dan D’Antoni seated on the bench with his fingers crossed, it’s understandable. He’s most likely hoping to see the rest of the season go the way it did on Jan. 18 and Jan. 20. The Thundering Herd fielded a full healthy roster for the first time since its game Nov. 9 at nationally-ranked Xavier and the team picked to finish seventh in the Conference USA Preseason poll pulled off a sweep at Cam Henderson Center against two perennial league heavyweights. story by Dave Walsh THE INSIDER writer

Marshall handed two-time defending C-USA champion and pre-season favorite Middle Tennessee its first road loss of the season (73-63) and followed with an 86-78 overtime victory over UAB in front of a season-high home crowd of 6,740.

“We did not back down. We’ve been sick and hurt for a while. You can see the potential we have. Just keep on building,” D’Antoni said after the Middle Tennessee contest.

That night, 6-foot-9 Ajdin Penva returned to action as did 6-7 Darius George. Penava suffered an injury to his right foot early in the Jan. 6 home against against Western Kentucky. He recorder four blocks in five minutes. George missed six games with a stress fracture. With Penava and George absent, the Hilltoppers rolled to a 112-87 victory.

Penava’s return to the starting lineup, guard C.J. Burks completely over some health issues and George

Ajdin Penava (pictured against UAB) is a shot-blocking machine in Conference USA.

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Jon Elmore (pictured against MTSU) continues to cause fits for Conference USA defenses.

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available for duty, combined with the play of guard Jon Elmore, the Herd proved too much for Middle Tennessee. The same storyline played out against UAB. Elmore said he hopes that will become the trend the rest of the way leading up to the C-USA Tournament.

“We’ve been beat up, sick, injured, hurt,” Elmore said. “You see what we’re capable of when we have all the pieces. I think we’re going to be really good if we keep progressing like we should and everybody stays healthy.”

It’s true Marshall is one of the highest scoring teams in C-USA (nearly 87 points a game). Middle Tennessee, UAB and remaining opponents have to be aware the Herd can play defense, too.

Opponents averaged 81 points a game prior to the Jan. 18-20 sweep. D’Antoni got word that Middle Tennessee coach Kermit Davis talked about the Herd’s defense in the pre-game interviews.

“He was talking about how we don’t like defense,” D’Antoni said. “I think he found out we’re pretty good full and healthy.

We get a little bad rap for that. The kids obviously are capable of playing defense.”

Davis said the rest of the league must understand the Herd can perform at both ends of the floor.

“We’ve won a lot of games in this league on toughness and rebounding,” Davis said. “They out-toughed us. Penava is one of most improved players in college basketball. I like the depth of their team. That’s the best Marshall’s played ever (against MT) since they’ve been in the league.”

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Elmore, Penava and Burks were the only three regulars back from a year ago. The trio combined for 61 of the Herd’s points against the Blue Raiders. Not only is the Bosnian Blocker a force down low (nation’s leading shot blocker), he had 19 three-pointers after the UAB win. Burks with 113 careers threes is tied with Markel Humphrey for No. 17 in school history. Elmore is No. 16 in career scoring (1,500 points-plus) and sixth in career assists (over 500).

“It felt great,” Penava said of his return. “I was excited; I was happy to be back on the court with the guys and compete.”

“We’re super ecstatic to have him back,” Elmore said. “You see the kind of plays he’s capable of making.”

About Burks, Davis said: “He understands what Dan wants.”

D’Antoni added: “He’s been huge for us. He’s taking that leadership role. He showed early how good he could be.”

With the early injuries and health issues, the Herd had other players step up. Milan Mijovic, Rondale Watson, Jannson Williams and Dani Koljanin have been key performers off the bench. And don’t forget freshman starter Jerrod West.

“Those three (Elmore, Penava and Burks) are quality players.

We’ve got help around them. I think you can see the potential,” D’Antoni said. “You’ve got to put it on the floor every game. You don’t get so high because you beat Middle. You don’t get so low because you got beat by Middle. It’s the same. Put it on the floor, try to get better. Make sure you put in on the floor in February to give us a chance to get into March.”

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Decade of Dominance N

ames on the back of the jerseys do change. Results, though, pretty much stay the same when it comes to girls basketball at Huntington St. Joseph High School.

Under coach Shannon Lewis, the Irish have been the force in West Virginia Class A from the 2007-08 season until now. Wheeling Central edged St. Joe in the 2008 state title game (41-37) in Charleston. Starting a year later, it’s been the Irish cutting down the nets to indicate state supremacy except for the stunner in 2016 when Gilmer County prevailed (42-41).

St. Joe returned to the top last season and looks to be the team to beat next month and in position to go on another championship streak considering the roster features many top freshmen, sophomores and juniors.

“The girls know what they’re getting into,” Lewis said. “Some of them choose to come here for that reason.

They want to be a part of it. They want pressure put on them. They keep

photos by Greg Perry/The Insider Magazine staff

Dena Jarrells (10), launched a three-pointer against Wyoming East in late January.

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Since 2007-08, St. Joseph’s High School has ruled the girls’ basketball roost in West Virginia. pushing themselves. They try to take their game to another levsectional tournament play. el. It’s a good fit for some. For others it doesn’t work out.”

“It’s understandable,” Lewis said.

Lewis rarely is short on talent. The same can be said for many Now, just say the Irish schedule is loaded. How else could St. Joe schools under the parochial banner. be ranked No. 1 in the state at the end of January with a 9-5 reDusti Chapman, Brooke Keeton, Jill Pulley, Stephanie Dorsey, cord? Class AAA and Class AA schools from the Mountain State Brittany Moore, Sara Sang, Stephanie Sang, Mychal Johnson, take their shot at St. Joe along with nearby schools in Kentucky Griffin Dempsey, Asia Petitte, Rachel Lee, Mychelle Johnson, and Ohio such as Boyd County, Ashland, Russell, Chesapeake Alexis Hall, Tyesha Tyler, Dena Jarrells, Bailee Adkins and Paige and South Point.

Shy. Then there are the tournaments to face big-time opposition.

Shy’s made a commitment to Marshall and JarThis season it was off to Fairmont, Cincinnati, story by Dave Walsh THE INSIDER writer rells to Tennessee-Chattanooga. They’re a few Louisville and New York. in a long line of players who have contributed “We’re all over the country,” Lewis said. “We to a run similar to what UConn’s women have done in NCAA win some hardware. I’m around a lot of the young kids (grades Division I. The Huskies hoisted the championship trophy in 3-7). The kids have drive, want to be good players. After that it’s 2009 and 2010, and after a short break, ascended to the top from eighth grade and Scott Johnson takes over. They do even more 2013-16. They’ve made the Final Four every year since 2008. great stuff. In AAU, there are D-I players all over the place. We “I’ve heard that,” Lewis said of his Irish being described as get similarities to our schedule.We want to be pushed. We’re UConn-like. “We’ve been on a nice run. We’ve been pretty dom- in with some nice tournaments. At Louisville, there were 11 inant. We’re sitting right there again. When you get to CharlesMcDonald’s All-American nominees. We see some of the best ton, the message is one and done. Teams come after us, they players in the country. bring it every night. If you drew St. Joe, they play loose. They’re Lewis is familiar with the addage it’s tough to get to the top and supposed to lose. After a while it got to us. You get scared. You even more difficult to stay there. He’s been at both ends. play not to lose instead of play to win.”

“We could see it coming,” Lewis said. “Back in 20008 we Early on in this run, St. Joe had a fair share of area Class A West thought we had a chance to get a run started, Wheeling Central Virginia schools on the schedule. Over time, that number has did not. We thought we had a chance at the next one and with dropped considerably mainly due to the lopsided scores. About what it looked like in middle school we thought we were set up the only time the Irish see state small schools is when they start continued on page 13 St. Joseph’s coach Shannon Lewis.

February 2018 / THE INSIDER /

Blurry and in a hurry…

St. Joseph’s players warmed up at a fast pace prior to their late-January game against Wyoming East. photo by Greg Perry/The Insider Magazine staff

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Hannah Roberts fought for a loose ball against Wyoming East.

February 2018 / THE INSIDER / 13 to win a few more. Mychal came in, we stole one her freshman year. Against a good St. Marys team, everybody thought they were a lock, we got that one and we had a lot of freshmen on the floor and we knew we had a chance to win a few more. They were fabulous. We lost one, had some talent back, and hopefully we’re back.”

During the state streak, the Irish had to fight complacency “It’s been kind of a motto. ‘We don’t want to be the ones who get beat,’ “Lewis said. “When Mychal and Griffin left, that kind of carried us. When we got it and forgot to keep it, that got us beat.

We let the shield down. You didn’t want to be the one to lose it.

Teams starting hanging with you and it scares you a little bit. I think the kids panicked (2016). I probably did a little, too. When we started back last year, we definitely had some kids with fire from losing. We had a great state last year (seeded No. 5). We beat Gilmer along the way (first around).”

Once basketball is over and time for college and beyond, Lewis believes what they learned in basketball will benefit them wherever they land.

“We’re building the program for the kids,” Lewis said. “Basically give them a opportunity. I’ve been blessed with good people. On and off the court, you go down the list and you see good kids.

Character kids. College basketball, medical school, it doesn’t surprise me.”

“When they walk out of here, they’re pretty well prepared.

Ready for the world.”

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COLLEGE

Kristen Mayo (23),put up a shot against WKU in late January.

photos by Greg Perry/The Insider Magazine staff

BASKETBALL

February 2018 / THE INSIDER /

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Getting To Where

THINGS GO WELL Marshall women’s basketball has struggled this year, but recently notched their first Conference USA win and hope to continue the winning as the season goes on.

Marshall Sports Information release— Shayna Gore registered the first double-double of her threeyear career in late January, lifting the host Marshall women’s basketball team to a 78-75 win over visiting FIU at the Cam Henderson Center.

The victory was the Thundering Herd’s first in Conference USA action (1-6) and seventh overall (against 13 losses). The Panthers dropped to 6-14 and 3-4 in the league.

Gore, a Logan, native, tallied 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Talequia Hamilton (19), Kristen Mayo (11) and Kate Zhibareva (10) all finished in double digits. Gore, Mayo and Mychelle Johnson had 14 of the team’s 17 assists, while Hamilton and Zhibareva had three blocks and three steals, respectively.

FIU’s tandem of Kiandre’a Pound (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Callie Cavanaugh (11 points, 10 boards) had double-doubles for the second time against Marshall this season. Kristian Hudson held top scoring honors with 24 (and five assists) and Kayla Rogers added 14.

The Panthers raced out to 12 point lead (31-19), built largely on a torrid first-quarter shooting clip (11-for-16, 68.8 percent). The Thundering Herd, though, answered with a 60 percent effort (9-for15) of its own in the second quarter to trail by just one (44-43) at the half.

Marshall grabbed a six-point lead (74-68) with 3:47 left on a Zhibareva 3-pointer from the corner, but FIU responded with a Cavanaugh layup and a Hudson triple to pull within one on its ensuing possessions. The Panthers then came up dry on their next four trips down the floor and Hamilton got a putback to give Marshall a 78-75 lead with 32 seconds left.

FIU’s Pound got a stickback of her own on the other end, before Gore drilled two free throws for a 78-75 Marshall advantage with eight ticks left.

FIU, however, couldn’t answer on the other end and the Thundering Herd emerged victorious.

Gore, who is already the school’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made (176), now was 1,246 points, good enough for eighth on the school’s all-time scoring list.

Hamilton now has 125 blocked shots, good for third all-time at Marshall.

“Obviously that feels really good ... I’m proud of our team,” said Marshall head coach Tony Kemper following the victory. “They (FIU) started the game really hot and I didn’t think our defense was Talequia Hamilton (right) sits at third on the alltime blocked shots list at Marshall with 125.

awful. We were in the neighborhood, so to speak ... they just hit them all. We stayed level-headed and that’s good because we haven’t had a lot of things go well for us for a while. We were calm, didn’t panic on offense and just kept playing the right way and got good shots. That gave us a chance to win.”

“I’m proud of how our team handled coming in today after what happened Friday night (versus Middle Tennessee), where nothing really went right. They went back to work and the result today feels good.”

Prior to that, Anna Jones registered game-highs in points (21), rebounds (six) and steals (three) as visiting Middle Tennessee knocked off Marshall 73-57 in the Cam Henderson Center. continued on page 16

The Blue Raiders improved to 12-8 overall and 4-3 in Conference USA, while Marshall fell to 6-13 and 0-6 in the league.

Abbey Sissom also added 18 points on four more 3-pointers with a game-high five assists. Jess Louro chipped in 11 points and Gabby Lyon tied Jones with six boards.

Marshall was paced, once again, by Shayna Gore’s 17 points to go with her team-high six rebounds. She shared top rebounding honors with Talequia Hamilton, who also contributed 14 points on a 7-for-7 effort from the free throw line. Mychelle Johnson notched a team-best four assists.

Middle Tennessee connected on a season-high 13 3-pointers in the victory and shot 54.2 percent (13-for-24) from deep.

The visitors also held double-digit advantages in points in the paint (20-10), points off turnovers (22-10) and bench points (27-13) and pushed the margin to as many as 24 (60-36) near the end of the third quarter.

Both teams exhibited excellent accuracy at the free throw line. Marshall went 15-for-16 (93.8 percent), compared to Middle Tennessee’s 8-for-10 (80.0 percent) showing.

“You have to give credit to Middle Tennessee,” said Marshall head coach Tony Kemper. “They do a nice job of getting you out of your offense and they did that to us tonight. They put you in positions where you have to make good decisions when your stuff breaks down and we certainly didn’t do that enough.” the

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Marshall coach Tony Kemper

February 2018 / THE INSIDER /

Kollin Van Horn Fairland (OH) High School Basketball

photo courtesy of www.hudl.com

The Fairland Dragons have high hopes for another run to Columbus and the Ohio Boys High School Basketball Final Four in Division 2 thanks to a lineup filled with veteran performers. One of those veterans is Kollin Van Horn.

The 6-8 senior is a three-year starter for the Dragons and recently passed the 1,000-point mark in a 9152 Ohio Valley Conference home win over Ironton at the Carl York Center.

Van Horn brings the muscle to the Fairland attack, routinely recording double-doubles in points and rebounds. He also is a threat as a shot-blocker as he heads towards 250 for his career.

He reached the rebound milestone of 500 near the end of 2017 in a 58-45 road win over Huntington High, the defending W.Va. Class AAA champions.

There is some hunger for victory this season among Van Horn and his teammates after they reached the Division 3 Final Four at Ohio State last fall before falling to Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph 93-50. Van Horn scored 10 in that loss to the Vikings as Fairland finished with a Southeast Region Championship and 25-2 final record.

Now competing in Division 2, the Dragons and Van Horn are still getting plenty of statewide attention.

Van Horn scored 33 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a mid-January 81-79 loss in the Flyin’ to the Hoop Classic in Dayton against perennial power Akron St.Vincent-St. Mary, the alma mater of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James.

Several college coaches were in the audience at the Dayton event and weren’t shy in talking to Van Horn and his family after the St. Vincent-St. Mary’s game. He also received notices in several Ohio prep basketball websites, including Ohio Prep Hoops, which called Van Horn the “winner” of the event filled with top-notch high school basketball talent. Ohio High Schools writer Kurt J. Stubbs said Van Horn is one of his favorite big men in the state.

—compiled by Bill Cornwell

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Chase Litton against So. Miss. in November 2017

Litton’s Departure Leaves Void For Marshall In 2018

by David Walsh The photo and headline on the January 2018 issue of “Thundering Herd Illustrated” seemed appropriate.

There’s a photo of the team with the headline, “MORE IN STORE ... Returning Talent Has Marshall Football Thinking Big in 2018.”

The official magazine of Marshall University Athletics surely based the optimism on an 8-5 overall record in 2017, a win over Colorado State in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque and the high numbers of players back who helped sparked the turnaround from a 3-9, bowl-less season a year earlier.

“We’re getting ready for 2018,” Thundering Herd wide receiver Tyre Brady the magazine’s editor Chuck McGill after the team’s bowl win. “We’re coming.”

Lo and behold a monkey wrench has since been thrown into Brady’s optimism. The team’s offensive boss Bill Legg would resign, defensive coordinator Chuck Heater would exit to Maryland and veteran quarterback Chase Litton would opt to skip his senior

February 2018 / THE INSIDER / 19 selections.

Legg, who is from Poca, directed some successful offenses during his time with Holliday. However, he got heat from fans the past two years for putting a product on the field that was far from explosive and often predictable. He shared the offensive coordinator title with Todd Goebbel in 2017.

“After much deliberation, I feel that it is time to step down,” Legg said. “It has been a difficult decision because of many meaningful relationships.”

Holliday once coached with Legg on Don Nehlen’s staff at West Virginia.

“I thank him for his contributions to our program and wish him and Kelly nothing but the best,” Holliday said.

Heater, who had directed Marshall’s defense since 2013, is the new safeties coach at Maryland, a Big Ten member. The Thundering Herd had one of the top defenses in the nation in 2017, ranking No. 28 in total defense (341.7 yards allowed per game), No. 17 in scoring defense (19.9 points allowed per game) and tied for 10th in red-zone defense. The unit was among top three in Conference USA last season.

Heater once worked with Maryland coach DJ Durkin when they were assistants at Florida. The Terps had one of the worst defenses in the Big Ten in 2017.

“Chuck’s record speaks for itself,” Durkin said in a university release.

the

year and enter the 2018 NFL Draft. That should peak fan interest for spring practice in March-April at Joan C. Edwards Stadium/ indoor facility at the Chris Cline Athletic Complex in case of bad weather as head coach Doc Holliday’s two new coordinators and untested quarterbacks take the field.

Litton’s departure leaves a major void. Other signal-callers on the Herd’s 2017 roster were untested Garet Morrell, Jackson White, Isaiah Green and Christian Shaw. There’s been talk Holliday should pursue a graduate transfer.

Litton, a 6-foot-6 junior from Tampa, passed for 3,115 yards this past season (all of the team’s passing yards) and 25 touchdowns. He had made 34 straight starts and steadily moved up the passing charts each week. He ranks No. 4 all-time in completions (727), No. 5 in passing yards (8,332) and No. 4 in touchdown passes (72). He is one of four Marshall quarterbacks with at least 8,000 career passing yards and 70 touchdown passes.

He joins all-time yardage leader Rakeem Cato (14,079 yards), Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich.

“My time in this prestigious program has readied me for this challenge and I will carry the ‘M’ around with me forever,” Litton said.“I am because We Are. This was an extremely tough decision. Marshall has a ton of talent on both sides of the ball coming back for 2018, and there’s no doubt this coming season will be a special one. There will be high expectations for my brothers, and I will be their No. 1 fan.”

The 2018 NFL Draft will take place April 26-28 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. There are seven rounds and 256

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