Remembering Prep Basketball the way it was!!

[steelerfan87 10]

Well its about that time of the year again. The time of the year that I am reminded of the so-called "new and improved" and the "it'll be better for the comunity" consolidation lines. Well it was neither better or improved. Yes , i am talking about class 1a basketball in southern WV. Consolidation has single handedly wiped out everything good about high school basketball.

 

Remember whenEverybody in the comunity came out to watch there local high school and the gym was packed.

Remember when the start of the season was kicked off with the Mercer County Christmas tournement at either Brushfork Armory or Concord College because these were the only places big enough to hold the crowd. Remember when you as a player new everyone on the opposing team not just as a number but new them off the court as well. Remember when Charlie Maynard would ring his towell all night on the wildcat bench to the likes of Jerry Tarkanian. Remember Danny gaither on the Matoaka bench all calm and collected. How bout Carmen Stauffer "hootin" and holerin' at the owls down in Oakvale and later on down at Peterstown on the Pirate bench. Remember Cy Jefferies at Athens Or how bout Robert Wray over at Bramwell. Remember when every school in the area was a contender for the state title but yet every one new they couldn't get past Mullens in the early 80's or Bramwell in the Later part of the decade.

 

Those were the days that it meant something to the people. When there was school spirit. Now it seems like Basketball is just something to pass the time while everyone waits for the next football season. If you dont believe me go check out a Pikeview game. Take your pick at the seat you want, they are all empty. Why is this? Pikeview was made up of 4 schools that were always topnotch basketball schools. Spanishburg, Mataoka, Athens, and Oakvale. Back in the day if you wanted a seat at any one of these schools you had to be there early in the j-v game.

 

I'm sure some of you can remember way further back than I can. I would like to see what some of you think about this topic. It is something that has bothered me ever since consolidation took over. let me hear some of your memories. Lets share some stories. Can't wait to see what comes up from this.

[SW_VA_boy 492]

I can say that us on the VA side of the border are lucky in that regard. About the only situation like that over here happened in Bland Co with the consolidation of all sports. Although I'm fairly sure most people saw it coming sooner or later when Bland Co. started up a football program in the late 80's - early 90's. Luckily, fan support hasn't seemed to change very much at all in comparison with old Peterstown and Oakvale High's. Hopefully, it will stay that way.