Strong Start For Pocahontas Boys Basketball

Dunmore, WV – The Pocahontas County Warriors boys basketball team faced some tough competition in preseason scrimmages and Warriors fans should be encouraged by the results. PCHS defeated Liberty, a tough double-A squad out of Clarksburg, and narrowly lost to state single-A finalists Trinity Christian.

Head coach Bob Sheets says the Warriors lost some size, but have good experience.

“Well, we certainly lost a lot of size,” he said. “We’re a much smaller basketball team than we were last year. We graduated five seniors and two of those guys were six-three and over. This year, we’re a senior-dominated team again. I’ve got eight guys on the varsity team that are seniors and six of those guys are lettermen, coming back from last year. So, that makes us experienced but we’re just not very tall.”

The coach says the team’s strengths became apparent during the scrimmages.

“Our strengths are our speed and our quickness and our ability to get out and guard,” he said. “In our two scrimmages, so far, we have really seen that become our strength. And another strength, that we’re really counting on, and which we featured here Saturday in a scrimmage against Liberty, is our ability to shoot the basketball. I’ve got five guys on the floor who are really, really capable shooters.”

Sheets talks about some of his standout players.

“Steve Halterman, of course he’s an outstanding baseball player,” he said. “Really good athlete. Excellent defensive player because of his wingspan and his foot quickness. But Steve’s turned into a real good shooter.

“Dillon Kelley, a good shooter for us last year. He put up a lot of points. I think he had four threes on Saturday. My son Jed, at the point. Jed’s a good shooter. Since he’s at the point guard position, he’s more of a distributor. He did a good job on that. He found Dillon. He found Steve. He found Skylar Knisely, who’s a good shooter. And Jesse taylor, who gives us a left-handed presence on the floor. He shot the ball very efficiently.

Dillon Kelley says the team can make it to the playoffs – if they have good discipline.

“I think we have what it takes,” he said. “It’s just going to take a lot of discipline. You develop self-discipline by working hard all the time. Every chance you get to be in the gym. Every second of practice. And just having one goal in your mind – to win.”

Jed Sheets says the Warriors can prevail with teamwork and determination.

“We’ve been playing together for – shoot, I don’t know – since we were in fourth grade and we just work really well as a team. We’re not really tall, but I think, if we play hard and work as a team, I think we’ll be alright.”

Skylar Knisely says the team gained confidence from the scrimmages.

“Oh, I think it’s going to go pretty well this year,” he said. “The team’s looking good in both of our scrimmages. We put up a lot of points and playing pretty good defense.”

Steve Halterman says he expects the team to score a lot of points.

“Well, I think we should do pretty good because we can use our quickness and speed ,” he said. “All the starters can shoot pretty good, so we should be able to put up some decent points.”

The Warriors play their first game on December 13 at Greenbrier West.

Allegheny Mountain Radio will broadcast the the Warriors first home game against the Bath County Chargers on December 19, starting at 5:45 p.m.