Hunter Given: "Stick-to-it-tiveness"

Quietly, and without much fanfare, former Webster County athletic standout Hunter Given was recognized on Senior Night before the Glenville State College Pioneer basketball game against the West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats.

Hunter Given

Given has played for the Pioneers the past three years along with his roommate and other half of Webster's former dynamic basketball duo, Brett Morris. Accompanying Hunter during the pre-game recognition was his father, Sam, and brother, Logan.

Pioneer Coach Stephen Dye put Hunter in the starting lineup Saturday and the dynamic duo were once again gracing the hardwoods together. During his three years with the Pioneers, Hunter saw limited action, averaging only 2.7 minutes per game this season. Many other players in similar situations would have moved on or resigned, but Hunter stuck to it, always encouraging his teammates during the games and adding a force during practices. He deserves a lot of credit for standing with his team these past three years.

The video link below shows Hunter (#22) during the pre-game recognition and some of his playing time at the start of the game.

Hunter Given Video

Webster Playoff Hopes Dashed Early

The basketball season for the Webster County Highlanders boys' team and its hopes for a run in the playoffs came to a quick end Saturday with their 76 to 69 opening round loss to the Valley (Fayette) Greyhounds.

Valley held leads at the end of each quarter, leading 18-15 at the end of the first, 30-25 at halftime, and 53-46 at the end of the third. Valley's Spencer Dean led all scorers with 27 points. For Webster, Dalton Gray had 24 points, while Bradin Miller scored 16, Hayden Williams 13 and Dorian Groggs 12.

With the loss, the Highlanders finished the season with a 13 win, 10 loss record. Valley advances to play Charleston Catholic next week.

Brett Morris: A Class Act

Webster County native Brett Morris played his final home game as a Glenville State College Pioneer today in front of an appreciative crowd at the WACO Center in Glenville. The Pioneers came up short on the scoreboard 76 to 69 to the visiting West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats.

We placed two of these 3 x 5 foot banners inside the WACO
Center for Brett's final home game.

Brett showed he continues to be a class act both on and off the court. The link to the video below shows Brett being honored on Senior Night prior to tipoff, accompanied by his parents and his little buddy, Cruz Frymier, a two and one-half year old child battling kidney cancer. As to his play on the court, it would be very easy to upload clips of Brett today scoring points, blocking shots, grabbing rebounds, or dishing out assists (he had plenty of all of those). But the single play from today's game included in the video below epitomizes what a multi-talented threat he is during each and every game. Countless unimaginable times opposing players misjudge Brett's defensive prowess and this play is a classic example of Brett's abilities with this steal.

Brett Video

It has been a pleasure and honor following Brett around from his high school days at Webster County through his college career at Glenville. Brett has always put up with my numerous interviews, videos, photos, and requests to meet my relatives (even at times like today when many a player would rather not be bothered after a disappointing loss). During that process, I have also been fortunate to know his parents, Mike and Diane, class acts by themselves (and it is no wonder Brett developed into the person he is today with their guidance and encouragement).

Brett and his team will play in the MEC tournament next Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. at the Charleston Civic Center against UVA-Wise. We wish him well and as to his future, I have a sneaking suspicion we will see Brett back on the court, either as a player in one of the many foreign professional leagues or as a coach here in the States.

Cruz Frymier with his parents.

To donate to the Cruz Frymier Cancer Fund, please visit this link:

Cruz Fund

Brett Morris to Play Last College Home Game Today

One chapter in the storied college career of Webster County High School's most prolific scorer closes today as Brett Morris plays his last home game at the WACO Center in Glenville today at 4:00 p.m.

Morris, a senior at Glenville, will suit up for the home crowd for the last time before heading to the Mountain East Conference playoffs in Charleston next Wednesday.

Glenville senior Brett Morris

Brett on the night he made his 1,000th point in his high school career.

Highlanders Finish Regular Season on Winning Note

It took overtime, but the Webster County Highlanders varsity boys' team beat their arch rival Richwood Lumberjacks 76 to 72 at Richwood Wednesday evening. With the win, the Highlanders finished their regular season with 13 wins, 9 losses. Webster now travels to Oak Hill High School to play an opening round playoff game against the Valley Fayette Greyhounds on Saturday, February 25 at 5:00 p.m.

Webster JV Team Finishes Perfect Season

A force to be reckoned with.

The future is bright for Webster County Highlanders boys' basketball as their JV team finished their regular season this evening with a perfect 19 win and 0 loss record after routing the Richwood Lumberjack JV team at Richwood by a final score of 82 to 37.

Under the guidance of Assistant Coach Eddie Mazzella, the JV team has posted an impressive 44 win, four loss record over the past three seasons. Anyone who has watched this JV team this year knows it is readily apparent that the varsity team will continue to do well in the immediate future years.

Coach Mazzella and the team: congratulations on an amazing accomplishment.

Boys' Playoff Matchup Set

According to basketballnight.com and other sources, the Webster County Highlanders boys' basketball team will play the Valley Fayette Greyhounds in an opening round playoff game on February 25 at 5:00 p.m. at Oak Hill.

The seven teams in Webster's section were seeded as follows: Fayetteville, #1; Charleston Catholic, #2; Webster County, #3; Richwood, #4; Pocahontas County, #5; Valley Fayette, #6; and Midland Trail, #7. All sectional playoff games will be played at the Oak Hill Red Devils' high school. The opening round games are scheduled for February 25. 

Richwood will play Pocahontas County at 3:00 p.m., followed by the Webster-Valley game at 5:00 pm., with the nightcap at 7:00 p.m. pitting Charleston Catholic against Midland Trail. Fayetteville, as the number one seed, will have a bye. 

The winner of the Richwood-Pocahontas game will face Fayetteville on February 28 at 5:30 p.m. and the winners of the Charleston Catholic-Midland Trail and Webster-Valley games will play each other on February 28 at 7:30 p.m, with the sectional championship set for March 2 at 7:00 p.m.

The fact that all playoff games are now to be played at neutral sites changes a long history of higher seeded teams earning by their play during the regular season the right to host playoff games on their own court. The home court advantage is no more thanks to this type of political correctness gone amuck now invading sports. The day will come when during a game you can only applaud at designated intervals, like being at an opera. After all, we don't want to offend someone.