Oceana's Win Over Tug Valley a Keeper, a article by Dave Morrison of the Register Herald
Oceana--By sheer theatrics alone, Oceana's incredible 60-59 win over Tug Valley friday rates as one of the top games I've seen.
The stage was magnificent:
Some 1,200 people packed like oysters around the 51-year-old floor that has seen some great ones-like Joe Pendry, now an NFL assistant coach with the Washington Redskins, who was in attendance friday night.
The game was better, with 14 ties and nine lead changes, so much of that coming in a wild fourth quarter.
And yes, that ending, that improbable, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable ending topped off anything you'll see anywhere.
When Matt Price hit a leaner just inside the free throw line as time was expiring, the scene was pandemonium. Or maybe that's fandemonium.
WOW!!! That's about the only way to describe it.
In a town that prides itself among the best in hoops-mad Wyoming County, it was by far a fitting end. Subplots abounded in this one:
**You had the top two teams in their respective classes playing, a fact alone that would have made it a must-see. Class AA Tug Valley was undefeated at 21-0, which included wins over Parkersburg, Chapmanville and Tolsia. And Oceana owned two wins over defending Class A Champion Williamson and a win over Class AA No. 2 Wyoming East.
**You had the last home game being played in the history of Oceana High School, another fact that would draw the fans.
**It was Senior Night for Oceana's lone senior, Matt Price, who shared the floor with six Indians' cheerleaders. Price had volunteered with the Red Cross over the summer, helping with flood relief in ravaged Wyoming County. His station was the Oceana gym. And on the very court where he helped victims, he made Tug Valley one with his historic shot.
**You had Tud Valley coach Roger Harless returning to the school he attended for two years before his family moved to Kentucky. He played on the very floor where his Panthers suffered what could be their only loss of the season. Tug is favored to win the Class AA title.
**And there was Kyle Gillman, Tug Valley's four-year starter who is being touted as the state's best by his production team. There's even a Gillman pamphlet being sent to media outlets. He was dogged by Oceana's tough defense all night and finished with 11 points, only five after the first quarter.
With those plots in place, what played out was the season's Number 1 thriller.
I've seen some great games. For the sheer wild way in which Marsh Fork beat Wyoming East last year in a game involving the top teams in A and AA, that remains the king of the best.
And Woodrow Wilson's three-overtime loss to Wheeling Park in the state championship game will always be among the top games I've seen.
But Oceana vs Tug Valley certainly fits comfortably into that pair of thrillers. They just don't get any better than that. Especially for the cast and crew gthat made up the Oceana side.
Unfortunately, Tug Valley's Brett Brewer was hurt in pre-game warmups, which gave some of the Panther faithful an alibi. An John Marcum got himself in hot water early, drawing a technical foul after arguing a foul call in the first quarter. That earned him about eight minutes of bench time. In the end that was huge because he finished with a game-high 20 points.
But you know what they say about excuses. You still have to play the game. Alibi or not, the scoreboard read 60-59 Oceana when it ended.
And then it was done. Dave Morrison
