During an academic year when fans have stormed out of the bleachers to attack coaches, spectators have assaulted officials and nearly as much time has been spent in courts of law as on basketball courts, some good news is welcomed.
More than good. Heartwarming even.
Friday, Tolsia was scheduled to entertain Belfry in boys basketball. Because of flooding in the Belfry, Kentucky, area the Pirates schedule had been altered and the teamÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Senior Night canceled. Or so they thought.
Tolsia graciously moved its home game to Belfry so the Pirates could have their Senior Night celebration. The teams played at the middle school because the high school gym was being used as a shelter for those displaced by the flooding.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re giving back,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Rebels coach Brian Stacy. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAs long as you do something good for others, good things will happen to you.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Tolsia won 59-54 in what was the least-important aspect of the game.
Another twist of heartwarming news was five Ironton football players helping the cityÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s fire department run hoses while fighting a blaze Saturday night. The players ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” Drayden Edens, Jacob Hughes, Bubby Keys, Bubby Kidd and Lance Wetzel ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” were kept far from the house fire for their safety but helped save a second structure.
CONDOLENCES: Prayers are asked for the family and friends of South Gallia Middle School basketball and volleyball player Chloe Hardy, who died Saturday.
AMAZING STATS OF THE WEEK: FairviewÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s girls basketball team took 92 shots, making 23, in a 67-52 victory over Hannan.
Spring Valley won boys and girls Mountain State Athletic Conference basketball titles for the first time in school history. The girls championship was their first since 2014. GreenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s girls basketball team won its first district championship since 1993.
Federal HockingÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s girls won their first district title since 1989. According to MaxPreps, Green sophomore Abbie Knapp leads Ohio girls basketball players in scoring at 26.8 points per game. She also averages 13.6 rebounds per contest. Russell girls basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Kennedy Darnell netted her 1,000th career point.
Former Boyd County basketball star Jasmine Jordan set the University of Rio Grande freshman scoring record with 518 points. She also set a URG record with 21 double doubles and season rebound record with 392. PortsmouthÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s girls 23 victories tied the 1984 Trojans for the most in program history. The team can break the record with a victory over Tuscarawas Valley Wednesday in a region semifinal.
River Valley girls basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Kallie Burger scored her 1,000th career point. Wheeling Park girls basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Alexis Bordas scored her 2,500th career point. SissonvilleÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Kynna Britton became the girls basketball programÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s all-time leading scorer, with 1,828 points, passing Madison Jones, who set the mark in 2016.
Wayne girls basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Jacelyn Sammons made her 100th career 3-point basket. Former Rock Hill girls basketball star Hazley Matthews scored 32 points to lead Kentucky Christian to a victory over Pikeville for the first time since 2012. Ashland basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Zander Carter needs 14 points to reach 3,000 for his career.
Hurricane basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Carson OÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™Dell scored his 1,000th career point. Mingo CentralÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Addie Smith made a program record 366th career 3-pointers.
COACH SPEAK: Cayden Ross was hired as head golf coach at Wayne.
When Martinsburg played Woodrow Wilson in boys basketball last week, it brough together coaches with a combined 1,277 victories. The BulldogsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ Dave Rogers has 848 wins. The Flying EaglesÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ Rodd Kidd has 429.
Recruiting roundup
SIGNINGS: Huntington High footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Josiah Stratton (Rio Grande), Taviun Chandler, Jamari Tubbs and Avonte Crawford (Fairmont State) and Jordan Price (Morehead State). Ironton footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Tyler Roach (Pikeville). Portsmouth trackÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Lukas Bradley and Kingston Littlefield (Shawnee State).
COMMITMENTS: Ironton footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Nick Sites (Pikeville).
NOTES, QUOTES, ANECDOTES: Cabell MidlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Jason Bankston is the MSAC athletic director of the year.
Ironton won the Ohio Valley Conference boys bowling championship. Former Cabell Midland girls basketball standout Rylee Allie of WVU Tech entered the transfer portal.
AshlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Kenleigh Woods was named KentuckyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 16th Region girls basketball player of the year. Lawrence CountyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Sophie Adkins claimed the honor in the 15th Region. Both are Miss Basketball finalists. RussellÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Mandy Layne was named 16th Region coach of the year.
Rock HillÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Myles Bailey and GreenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Abbie Knapp were invited to play in the Bill Moss Memorial Dayton Underclass All-Star Basketball Game March 26 at Edison State College in Piqua, Ohio.
Ironton released its football schedule, which features games with out-of-state teams Shelby Valley (Kentucky), Liberty Christian Academy (Virginia), Canisius (New York) and Cabell Midland (West Virginia). Ironton also will play Cincinnati McNicholas, Jackson, Wheelersburg, Fairland, Gallia Academy and Portsmouth.
The MSAC voted Parkersburg South back into the conference, starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, except for football and soccer, each of which will be worked into the league later.
