South starting something brand new

December 17, 2017

When Parkersburg South boys basketball coach Mike Fallon told me neither the girls program nor his squad had ever hosted a tournament at the school before I was shocked. Supporters of the Patriots love the hardwood game. Not to mention, a student fan base known throughout the state as the Southside Psychos takes pleasure in making Rod Oldham Athletic Center an uncomfortable place to play for visiting teams. Adversity stands as something all coaches want their teams to go through during the season, and let’s be honest. The Psychos do a good job of cheering and making more than just ...

Big Red girls in the spotlight

December 16, 2017

No. 1 vs. No. 2. Top dog against second banana. Great taking on really, really good. Any way you wish to call a matchup like this there is no denying it is going to be special. While a contest of this caliber usually would come toward the end of the year during state tournament time, fans in attendance at 6:45 p.m. today at the IOGA tournament inside Glenville State’s WACO Center have a chance to catch a good battle early in the season. Top-ranked Buckhannon-Upshur and second-ranked Parkersburg High girls’ basketball programs face off in a possible matchup to come March ...

PHS boys have a big game tonight

December 15, 2017

The 2017-18 hardwood season may be a few days old, however this fact doesn’t mean teams are scheduling easy opponents to give them a chance to warm up. Parkersburg High School’s boys basketball program already has been hard at work against a number of tough foes. Through the first three games, Jeff Mennillo’s squad (2-1) already faced Musselman and Morgantown. The level of competition grows higher still this weekend. After a home-slate opening win over the Mohigans, the boys welcome reigning state champion Huntington for a 7:30 p.m. varsity start today inside Memorial ...

The joy of basketball

December 14, 2017

I suppose, like any sport, the reason one plays something is because they like or love the activity. As we quickly approach winter, that means my favorite sport will be heating up on the hardwood. I’ve already been able to take in several different basketball games in the early going, but one I wish I could’ve made and covered was Roane County’s annual beginning of the year trip to Elizabeth. Last season, I only had one opportunity to watch then-Raider junior standout Lucille Westfall and that came against Wirt County. This past Saturday, Westfall and her Raider teammates ...

Stanton is now a Yankee

December 13, 2017

Oh man... Why couldn’t it all have been just a bad dream? Did Giancarlo Stanton really put on the dark blue pinstripes at an introductory press conference Monday at the Winter Meetings? Could it be true the reigining National League Most Valuable Player joined the team with the reigning American League Rookie of the Year, who could have been the junior circuit’s MVP if not for a post-All-Star break slump? Surely the nightmare of joining the league leaders of home runs the previous season in one tower of power lineup, which led the league in round-trippers last season, ...

Don’t forget about the Winter Tab!

December 12, 2017

The Super Six was something else this season. All three games were good for a while, which isn't always guaranteed to happen. All the exciting action almost made you forget the temperature outside at Wheeling Island Stadium. It was pretty cold, except for a few glorious moments during the Class AAA game where the sun peaked out from behind the clouds to provide an instant warming sensation. But those three games of the football year marked the conclusion of the fall sports season and the start of the winter campaign. This means everyone can be warm, dry, and inside for the next ...