Mountaineers sweep Buckeyes in OVAC 2023 Basketball Finale

By Ed Banks Harrison News-Herald Sports Writer WHEELING, W.Va. —

The 2023 Ohio and West Virginia boys’ and girls’ basketball teams bowed out of the season during the 45th Annual Samuel A. Mumley Ohio Valley Athletic Conference’s (OVAC) All-Star Classic.

Though West Virginia would sweep both ends of the girls’ and boy’s contests, the reason and meaning of the games provided both a highlighted and much-appreciated stage for all of the All-star players.

In the boy’s contest, Harrison Central’s Jace Madzia scored six points. Those six points came from his aggressive playing style coupled with the desire to score and win. However, as reflected in the final score, a total of all points coming from the Ohio’s bench, could not overcome West Virginia’s winning score of 105 to 86.

The Mountaineers would capitalize their scoring by spreading

Butler All-Times Leader 2023

By Ed Banks

News-Herald Sports Writer

Harrison

CADIZ — With only a slim number totaling 16 players listed, the roster for the 2023 AllTimes Leader’s girls’ basketball team was released this weekend.

Union Local’s Reagan Vinskovich drew the team’s captain honors and was joined by three fellow teammates.

With four players total coming from Union Local, the school yielded the largest contingent of players on the ’23 squad. River Local sent three players, and Martins Ferry, Buckeye Local, Shadyside, Bellaire, Monroe Central, Harrison Central, St. Clairsville, Barnesville and Linsly each had one player selected.

Harrison Central’s Maddy Butler was the lone Husky to be named to the team. Butler, a senior, played all fouryears of her varsity eligibility with the Huskies. Her presence on the floor was what kept the team’s wheels turning. Her accolades for her play during the 2022-23 season stretch from the Buckeye 8, to the District.

Over the year, Butler averaged 12 points per game, grabbed 6.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and pickpocketed the opposing offense for an average of three steals a game. Those accolades previously mentioned include All-Buckeye 8, Third Team All-Eastern District, and First Team District VI.

“Maddy was our catalyst all season,” said Harrison Central’s Head Girl’s Basketball Coach Chase Smith. “When she wasn’t on the floor, we had difficulty handling any type of pressure. She did a little bit of everything for us on both ends. Maddy was our floor general for four years and an extension of the coaching staff. Our success for the season is directly related to the standard she set for the team!” the wealth around and collecting points from several different contributors. West Virginia led throughout the first half and took a 52 to 43 upper hand to the locker room with them. Garrison Kisner and Brett Philips scored 10 points each to pace the Mountaineers.

The Buckeyes would rally for their first lead during the second half to make the score 67 to 65. That lead would soon be overcome by West Virginia who quickly responded with a quick scoring three-ball.

Shadyside’s Elijah Brock would score 13 points and Buckeye Trail’s Garett Burga would score 12 to pace Ohio. Steubenville’s Phaeton Hill would be the game’s highest scorer with 18 points. There would be a total of 21 bonus field goals scored in the contest. Ohio would own nine of the total and West Virginia the balance. In the girl’s contest, Harrison Central’s Maddy Butler was not able to score. However, she could have scored 20 points and it would not have influenced the game’s outcome. River Local’s Rylee Knight passed Ohio with a team high of 13 points.

West Virginia would capture their third win over the Buckeyes over the last four games by a final score of 83 to 51. Sophie Abraham led the Mountaineers with 16 team-high points. There were 16 bonus field goals in the contest. Five of the bonus goals went to Ohio, and the balance to the Mountaineers.