×

Moving on from football

I’m not sure which was a bigger disappointment, having to watch the Ohio State game with the wife for a full four quarters or West Virginia’s nearly equally inept showing against the Hurricanes from Miami.

Of course, the news wasn’t good late Tuesday night either as the WVU men’s basketball team lost its first Big 12 game in disappointing overtime fashion at Texas Tech. The Mountaineers, who lead the NCAA in forced turnovers at nearly 26 a game, only made the Red Raiders turn it over 13 times.

The worst part about Tuesday evening was how Kansas State got absolutely robbed inside Allen Fieldhouse as Kansas extended its home winning streak to 50.

Many moons ago when the Celtics and Lakers had their heated rivalry, it always amazed me how Kevin McHale could seemingly go from the 3-point line to the basket while taking just one dribble. Jayhawk guard Svi Mykhailiuk certainly topped that after taking the express train from outside the arc, getting away with a no-brainer travel and hitting the game-winning floater.

I guess I know how the Kansas State fans feel because I was hoping to pull off a three-peat in our football picks this year, but came up short.

Evan Bevins finished 12-10 in our bowl picks, but his three-game lead was just enough as my 14-8 effort, equaled only by fellow scribe Ron Johnston, left me at 281-71 while the Marshall University grad Bevins went 282-70. Steve Hemmelgarn finished eight games back in third place.

Wednesday night was supposed to be the home opener for defending Class AAA state mat champion Parkersburg South and second-year head coach Shaun Smith.

The Patriots, who will compete next weekend at the Winner’s Choice in Fairmont, opted to cancel Wednesday’s tri with Independence and George Washington.

“We mainly canceled for precautionary reasons,” admitted coach Smith, whose squad also didn’t go to the Powerade. “There was only a few of them that had any sort of (skin) ailment.”

When it comes to skin conditions, coaches know it’s nothing to mess with. The good news is wherever the Patriots picked it up earlier this year it seems to have just about run its course.

As it currently stands, the West Virginia Duals will be comprised of eight teams as it looks likely this will be the last year of the event. The normal two-day competition will be held Saturday inside Memorial Fieldhouse.

In the current wvmat.com coaches’ rankings, the Patriots sport six top-ranked grapplers in Tucker Windland (106), Luke Martin (126), Zane Hinzman (152), T.J. Lambiotte (170), Hunter DeLong (182) and heavyweight Louden Haga. Justin Allman, who will be out to defend his 195-pound state title, hasn’t competed yet this season but is expected to make his debut Saturday.

“It’s had a lot of good teams over the years and everybody likes a little change in their schedule,” admitted PHS head coach Chris Way, who has top-ranked grapplers at 120 with John Martin Best and 138 with Jared Donahue, of the W.Va. Duals.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

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

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today