BENNETT: Sports and Hoops

March 4, 2021

It’s been a crazy time in the sports department to say the least. The calendar has reached March already, but the Mountain State is just now starting basketball season, and the crazy part is spring sports will be upon us quite soon. Wrestling finally got going, and it was definitely weird covering the Parkersburg High and Parkersburg South annual city dual Wednesday night to begin the schedule. I was talking with Parkersburg Catholic head girls basketball coach Marty Vierheller about the upcoming Mary ‘O’ Crusaderette Classic, which will be held this Friday and Saturday. Robert ...

BENNETT: Excitement builds for youth golf in the MOV

February 25, 2021

It was a tough one for the golfing world on Tuesday when news broke about Tiger Woods’ car accident. Forget the fact he already was debating about skipping the Masters because of recent back surgery. Following his plethora of leg injuries from the Tuesday morning crash, it’s safe to say Woods is going to be out of action on the PGA Tour for a good length of time. Although far from the PGA Tour, the Mid-Ohio Valley Junior Golf Tour received some interesting good news. The MOVJGT, which is designed to allow junior golfers from ages 7-18 to compete locally in a series of golf ...

ALBRIGHT: Riley Fitzwater’s senior season proves she deserves an All-Mountain East Conference first-team nod

February 22, 2021

Concord’s Riley Fitzwater is an All-Mountain East Conference women’s basketball first-team player. Well, not officially. At least not yet. While we won’t know for a few more weeks whether that designation has been realized, it is mostly beside the point. Being selected by the coaches as one of the top players in the league isn’t necessary. No matter where she falls in the overall postseason accolade list, her reputation has never been more clear. She’s the player capable of utilizing her six-foot-four frame to cause havoc all over the court, as well as leading a team. ...

HOLLAND: Final moments of Tigers’ sectional win

February 18, 2021

Every basketball player dreams of being in the scenario Jessica Smith found herself in Saturday. It’s all up to you — tournament game, score tied, almost no time on the clock, and you’re at the free throw line with a chance win it. Facing Uniontown Lake in a Division I sectional opener at Sutton Gymnasium, Marietta trailed by as many as 11 points but had it tied at 48-all with six seconds left. Smith took the ball all the way to the basket, put up a shot off the glass that hung on the rim for a second before falling to the ground. It was no good. However, there was a ...

ALBRIGHT: Aleea Crites’ big first impression at Rio Grande going to help both down the road

February 11, 2021

This was part of head coach David Smalley’s plan. Aleea Crites was supposed to be in these situations, right away. On a team stuffed with returning seasoned players like Lexi Woods, Haley Jordan, and Chyna Chambers along with other big time freshmen like Braxton County grad Jocelyn Abraham ...

BENNETT: No escape from here

February 11, 2021

Honestly, I’m trying to keep a positive outlook on the big picture. With that being said, when one gets locked inside their own townhouse it’s sometimes hard to keep the faith. I could go into great lengths, but I’m not sure it matters. Anyway, I’ll continue with a personal aside. What should’ve been a routine Saturday last weekend turned into anything but. Why? Let’s just say I’m not going to blame my landlord or Warren’s Josh Welch. I’m not sure when it all started or who had the first one. However, for some odd reason there sure seems to be an insane ...