Aside from doing a few more all-state volleyball duties, it's time to start turning the page to winter sports.
It was good to get out Tuesday and cover my first basketball game at Ohio Valley University, but the focus is quickly turning to our annual winter sports tab.
Before we get to that, there are still meaningful football games left to be played. While most of our area gridiron teams had a rough go of it last week, St. Marys, Magnolia and Wahama are still alive in Class A.
I honestly can't recall covering a football game at Alumni Field in New Martinsville, although I've watched my fair share of contests there back in the Dave Cisar era. I'm anxiously looking forward to the Blue Eagles taking on East Hardy come Saturday night.
Last weekend, the dominance of the Little Kanawha Conference was yet again on display at the West Virginia state volleyball tournament. In particular, kudos go out to LKC North Division foes Tyler Consolidated, Williamstown and Ritchie County, which actually comprised half of Saturday's state championship tournament teams.
During the regular season, the Silver Knights won the LKC crown while Williamstown was ousted by Wirt County in the semifinals. Ritchie County, which was state runner-up in Class AA for a second straight season, was the third best team in the LKC North and had to settle for fifth place.
When it came to the Class A finals, I was asked before the match who I thought the favorite was. I said it was hard to discount Williamstown and its group of seven seniors, not to mention the fact the Yellowjackets had the experience of being state runner-up to the Tigers in 2011. Of course, the Silver Knights had a victory versus WHS in their only battle in the regular season. Thus, I called it a football game tossup pick'em.
I found it a little eerie, perhaps sort of like some kind of omen, something which took place after the Class AA finals and before both of the Class A programs took to the floor for the final match of the season. On the scoreboards throughout the Charleston Civic Center, all of them were showing Williamstown and East Hardy. It stayed up until just a few minutes before both teams came out for warmups.
The Yellowjackets, who actually defeated Class AA state champion Oak Glen this year, wasn't the only school in Williamstown to win a state net crown this fall.
Wood County Christian posted the best record (27-2) in school history, winning a decisive 15-9 fifth set versus Teays Valley Christian to capture its first W.Va. Christian Athletic Tournament state crown since 2005.
As much hard work as WHS head coach Rachelle Pallini and her staff put in this year, I'm sure the Wildcats of head coach Mike Conaway worked just as diligently.
It's great to see two local teams have such great success, not to mention the fact Wildcat Kristen Lord was honored as the MVP and teammates Jenni Menear and Rachel Ruble earn all-tournament accolades.
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com
