February 22, Tug Valley

OK I'm not much at putting words together but I have to say something about the Basketball game I just saw between Tug Valley(West Virginia State Class AA Number One Team) and Oceana(West Virginia State Class A Number One Team) Even though we(Oceana) had beaten previously Number Two Class AA Wyoming East the week before nobody outside of Wyoming County West Virginia gave us a chance of beating Undefeated powerhouse Tug Valley. Well I'm here to tell you that we DID!!!!!!

It was one of,if not the, best High School basketball games I have ever seen and I didn't think the victory over Wyoming East could be topped. It was...

The game was the last game of the regular season for both teams. That isn't the whole story though. It was also senior night when they honor all graduating seniors. There is only one senior on the team, Matt Price. More on him later. That isn't the whole story either. Oceana and Baileysville are consolidating next year and will become Westside High. This was the LAST game to be played, not only by Matt, but by the entire team. It was also the last home game for six senior cheerleaders Leann Asbury, Amber Smith, Holly Belcher, Candace Toler, Dena Walker and Cassie Lusk. To say it was a big night for Oceana is a large Understatement. The gym was packed to beyond capacity, standing room throughout. I arrived before 5PM for the 5:30 JV game and the gym was almost full at that time. A quick note about the JV game. A very good game until the last few minutes when Oceana let the game get away. The JV team had a great year and the future is bright for Westside High.

Back to the Varsity game. This was a classic game. David against Goliath. Big school against small school. The seniors were honored before the game with plaques and roses. Yes even Matt got some roses. The game was close the entire way. We led by 3 at the half, the game was tied after three quarters and the fourth quarter was something to behold. Wish I could remember every basket, steal, foul, non call, everything, but my memory isn't that good. I was doing too much cheering and whatever to remember everything.

With 57 seconds left we were losing 59-56 and Tug Valley had the ball. A spectator next to me started to leave saying "It's all over". We couldn't let that stand as he was an Oceana fan so Larry and I said hey pal it's not over don't you remember the Wyoming East game?? He stopped and stood for awhile. Tug Valley inbounded the ball and Ryan Maynard stole the ball and took it in for a lay-up and we were only down 59-58. After a series of fouls their best shooter, Kyle Gillman was on the line for a one and one. He missed the front end and we rebounded. Tug valley fouled us twice so we had the ball out of bounds with 10 seconds left on the clock. We inbounded the ball after a time out, the ball went around the key and ended up in Matt Price's hands, he took the shot from the key and the ball rolled around the rim and fell through with .3 seconds left. Before a time out could be called the .3 seconds ran off and we had beaten the number 1 Class AA team in the state 60-59...... To say that the crowd went wild is another one of those understatements. You could not have written a better script for an ending to a basketball home program. The last regular season game, the last game in the Oceana High Gym, on senior night, playing the number 1 team and to have Matt Price the only senior on the team score the winning basket at the buzzer. People it doesn't get any better than that... I firmly believe that the only team that can beat Oceana during the up coming Sectionals and State Tournament is Oceana themselves.

One last statement. Matt Price has been mentioned a few times here. This victory against Tug Valley was a TOTAL team effort. Matt Cook had a great game, Ryan Cook, Ryan Maynard, Joey Allen, Michael Asbury, Brent Prichard, Robert Repass and the entire team. Total effort. And last but not least the fans in the stands. Very loud, my ears are still ringing.

Now on to the Sectionals and State Tournament

""GO INDIANS"""