Ross Scaggs was a joy.
The former Huntington St. Joe High School boys basketball coach died Tuesday. A jovial and charitable person, Scaggs was a terrific coach and superb strategist who coaxed the most out of his players.
In 2016, Scaggs led underdog Huntington St. Joe to a Class A state championship, making the Irish one of the lowest seeds ever to win it all. Fifth-seeded St. Joe pulled off upsets in all three games, edging No. 4 Clarksburg Notre Dame 54-50 in the state tournament opener, beating top seed and defending state champion Magnolia 70-62 and stunning No. 2 seed Wheeling Central 67-65 in overtime in the final, an instant classic.
Deaundra Murphy, John Dawson and Keith Clemons led the way.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe talked to our kids about just getting there ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” and seeding does matter,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Scaggs said after the championship game. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œBut we thought if we could get (to the state tournament), we were confident enough that if we did what we were supposed to and play the way we knew we were capable, that good things could happen. Thankfully, they did.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Scaggs coached St. Joe from 2010 through 2019, also working as a financial adviser in Huntington.
He was one of the best players in the history of Logan High School, one of the stateÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s legendary programs. Scaggs went on to play at Marshall University.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s coaching from the bench today, pacing, clapping and watching his team,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ said ScaggsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ wife, Pam. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHe was my biggest win in life. I was honored to be his cheerleader.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Amazing Stats of the Week
Wayne basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Isaac Meddings scored his 1,400th career point to become the PioneersÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ all-time leading scorer, passing former major league pitcher Jon Adkins.
Ironton trailed Rock Hill 20-0 in boys basketball before rallying to win 48-47. Raceland basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Nim Maynard scored her 2,000th career point, as did MinfordÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Myles Montgomery. South Gallia basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Emma Clary scored her 1,000th career point, as did Green basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Jon Knapp.
Boyd County has beaten Fairview 31 consecutive times in boys basketball. Former Ashland girls basketball player Jaidyn Gulley of Indiana Tech grabbed 14 rebounds in a game last week. Boyd CountyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s boys basketball team made a program-record 21 shots from 3-point range in a 109-82 victory over Fleming County.
Wayne girls basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Brooke Adkins, a Youngstown State University signee, turned in a triple-double of 19 points, 10 rebounds and 12 steals in a triumph over Woodrow Wilson. Former Rock Hill track standout Jaina Bailey broke the Shawnee State University weight throw record, flinging it 14.83 meters (48.65 feet).
South PointÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Derick Taylor, who just committed to the University of Tennessee, is No. 1 in Ohio and No. 2 in the nation in the shot put at 66 feet, 9.5 inches.
FairviewÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s girls basketball team went 19 for 76 (25%) from the floor, 0 for 8 from 3-point range and 10 for 32 (31.2%) at the free throw line against Elliott County and won by 21 points. Madison Loving scored 17 points and grabbed 20 rebounds for the Eagles.
Coach Speak
Rowan County boys basketball coach Shawn Thacker won his 500th game. Thacker has won 339 at Rowan County after 161 at Somerset.
Rock Hill girls basketball coach Eric Bailey resigned, as did Sissonville football coach Jeremy Hairston and Princeton football coach Keith Taylor. Former Huntington High baseball coach Danny Harbert has been hired as an assistant at two-time state champion Cabell Midland.
Former Boyd County football coach Dane Damron is the new coach at Paris (Kentucky) High. Oak Glen hired T.J. Miller as football coach.
Recruiting roundup
SIGNINGS: WayneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Addie Adkins (Concord volleyball). Winfield footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Tre Tanner (West Virginia State). River Valley bowlingÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Keerstin Shaver (Rio Grande). South Point track and fieldÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Emma Layne (Marshall).
COMMITMENTS: Spring Valley footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Will McClure (Marietta) and Braeden Booth (University of Charleston). Ironton footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Tyler Roach (Pikeville). Huntington High footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Jordan Price (Morehead State).
OFFERS: Huntington High footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Gabriel Watts (Bethany, Dakota Wesleyan). Ironton footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Zayne Williams (Army).
Notes, Quotes, Anecdotes
Former Cabell Midland soccer star Olivia Charles of Husson University was named to the North Atlantic Conference all-academic team. BuffaloÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s girls basketball team won the Wayne County championship. HuntingtonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s boys captured the Cabell County middle school basketball title.
Cheyanne Maggard, Riley Mahan and Vivian Moyer became the first female wrestlers in Ashland history to qualify for the state tournament. Ironton won the Ohio Valley Conference wrestling championship, edging Gallia Academy 36-33. Six South Gallia girls scored in double figures in a 92-18 victory over Western Pike.
Former Spring Valley offensive lineman Wyatt Milum of West Virginia University was invited to the NFL Combine Feb. 24 through March 3 in Indianapolis. Rock Hill linebacker Brody Simpkins transferred to Ashland. FairlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s boys won the Ohio Valley Conference basketball championship.
Former Cabell Midland track star Isaiah Hagley won the Appalachian Athletic Conference indoor shot put championship and was named the leagueÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s indoor track and field athlete of the year.
