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HUGHES: Marshall shows willingness to win with hire of Charles Huff, ousting of Holliday

HUNTINGTON — Marshall fans had a lot to be thankful for in regard to now-former head coach Doc Holliday. The man racked up 85 wins in his decade-long tenure in Huntington, but the team’s new hire was, to use an analogy from another sport, a home run. Charles Huff was exactly who Marshall needed to hire. The former assistant head coach and RB coach at Penn State and Alabama was hired on Sunday with his contract approved by MU’s board of governors the morning after. Diehard Herd fans may have asked why Holliday wasn’t renewed, citing his bowl record and second-most victories in ...

BENNETT: LKC boys will crown new POY

Everyone in the Mountain State continues to hold out hope a winter sports season indeed will happen. Staying on the positive side this actually will be the case means roundballs on the hardwood should start bouncing soon. I for one am more than ready to cover basketball in West Virginia, but it’s definitely been a blessing to at least be able to take in some action in the Buckeye State. Looking at the Little Kanawha Conference, a new player of the year for boys will be crowned after Braxton County senior Jadyn Stewart earned that accolade a season ago. After talking with a few LKC ...

ALBRIGHT: Sophie Nelson and Ritchie County girls’ basketball are a good match

Sophie Nelson’s overjoyed to be a member of the Ritchie County girls’ basketball team. Good. Good, because she’s often going to be playing in front of her aunt Missy Spangler (aka the school’s all-time leading scorer). So, there’s no pressure or anything waiting for Nelson. Instead, there’s just a local celebrity taking in the games from the stands at many home and away games - how bad can it be? Good, because she’s also going to be playing in front of her grandfather Terry Spangler, who happens to be among the most successful coaches in the history of the school. So ...

BENNETT: Going on with life

Trying to do anything “normal” in this day and age is anything but easy. However, at least it appears there is some hope to have a winter sports season in the Mountain State. Normally at this time of the month we’re in full swing with basketball every night and lots and lots of wrestling to go along with some swimming. Of course, the only time I’ve been to a wrestling match was last month at Waterford for a triangular. I’ve covered some interesting basketball games of late and that includes watching two teams on three-game losing skids who snapped that mark by beating a ...

ALBRIGHT: There’s one more hope to get winter sports back sooner than Feb. 14

The last few months for high school winter sports fans and athletes were excruciating. But, the next month doesn’t have to be so bad. One set of modifications appears able to bring back high school sports way before Feb. 14. One set of modifications can make things way easier on everyone. One set of modifications can put smiles on faces, get basketballs bouncing off rims, roll out wrestling mats, and get goggles ready for the water right now! When we talk about seniors having to choose between spring and winter sports, these guides can eliminate that choice. When it comes to ...

ALBRIGHT: George Washington’s Kalissa Lacy going to be more dangerous in 2021

George Washington’s reigning Mary Ostrowski Award winner Kalissa Lacy’s competitive juices are always flowing. At least start with the obvious. Lacy improved her game against highly talented teams with the AAU West Virginia Thunder. She pushed herself to the breaking point against other Division I talents, giving her additional upgrades to an already well-rounded game over the summer. How much better did she get? Enough to where it was noticeable. And while her improvements unfolded in an impressive display of drives to the basket, step back 3s, and tough defense, it ...