2021-2022 Tucker County Boys’ Varsity & JV Basketball Team. Photo by Dave HelmickBy Dave Helmick
TuckerCountySports.Com
HAMBLETON – The TCHS Boys’ Basketball team will get their 2021-2022 season underway tonight as they host Preston for a JV / Varsity contest starting at 5:45pm.
Head Coach Daniel Helmick returns for his 3rd season as the Tucker County Boys’ Head Coach. Last year the Mt. Lions finished the season with a 12-6 record and a great playoff run. After a return trip to Charleston last season there is some excitement in the air this year. Helmick said, “There is some expectations for us this season, I am anxious to see how the kids handle it.” When ask about practice thus far, Helmick had this to say, “effort in practice has been good, practice has been positive, everyone has been working hard, energy in practice has been good.”
This year’s team will be made up of 22 players overall JV and Varsity. Coach Helmick will return several players who gained Varsity experience from last year’s State Tournament team. Players such as, Ashton Lycilter, Levi Bennett, Maddox Anderson, Trenton Wilfong, Aaron Quattro, Haden Wamsley and Zack Long will be pushing for starting positions. Others that will get Varsity time throughout the season will be Blake Anderson, Dom Mullenax, Owen Knotts, Rory Nestor, Ethan Rosenau and Trevan Bonner to name a few. When asked about the experience of these young players having the opportunity to play in the State Tournament last season, Coach Helmick had this comment, “It was good experience for these kids returning, this has been the best offseason since I have been here, and that State Tournament appearance has motivated them for sure.”
The 4 class system is still in place for this season for High School Basketball in West Virginia. Tucker County will remain in Class “A” with the road to Charleston the same as last season as far as teams they play. The Mt. Lions will again be in the same Section with East Hardy, Union and Paw Paw. The other side of the Region will again feature Pendleton County, Pocahontas County, Harman and Tygarts Valley.
Tucker County’s schedule this season will be challenging once again. The Mt. Lions will open the season with games against 4 solid opponents in Preston, Elkins, Lewis County and Pendleton County. Tucker County will have home and away games with familiar teams such as Gilmer County, Pocahontas County, Pendleton County, East Hardy, Moorefield, Tygarts Valley, Petersburg and Keyser. Then the Mt. Lions will have single games with Preston, Elkins and Lewis County as mentioned above. Tucker County will also play Meadow Bridge at Elkins High School over Christmas break. The Mt. Lions will also play in a Tournament at St Marys in mid January that will feature Van, St. Marys and Ritchie County. This 22 game schedule will be a tough one, but it will prepare the Mt. Lions for the playoff run at season end.
The season will get underway tonight at home for this Tucker County team. If you cannot make it out to the games this season all home basketball games will be broadcast live on Youtube. For more info and a link to the Youtube channel go to TuckerCountySports.Com.