BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
BELFRY — West Virginia Class A state champion Tug Valley has been staying busy with camps and scrimmages this summer. The Panthers staff is taking full advantage of the three-week summer practices now allowed in West Virginia.
Tug Valley only loses one starter from last season, graduating senior Buddy Marcum, who started at center the last couple of years.
The 6-foot-4 Marcum averaged 8.2 points and was Tug’s top rebounder at 8 per game. The stocky low-post threat also played good defense for TVHS. That is a big slot to fill.
Tug Valley returns first-team All-State point guard Braydun Ferris, who led the team in scoring and was one of the top assist players on the team.
Ashton Davis and Brady Brewer, a pair of forwards, can play down low for Coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson. Brewer came off the bench last season but could start this coming year.
Kaden Hale, a 3-point specialist, is another returning starter, along with guard Bryson Elia. Cameron Slone, who will be a sophomore, gave the Panthers great minutes off the bench.
Hale was a second-team All-Stater and Davis was on the honorable mention list.
TVHS has several young players vying to get into the rotation this season by working hard this summer.
The Panthers have had a busy early summer in the month of June.
After the Tug Valley youth basketball camp, the Panthers headed to West Virginia University in Morgantown for a team camp June 7-9.
Then, on June 11, Tug Valley traveled to Belfry, Kentucky, for a scrimmage. On June 14 they participated in a multi-team camp at the Williamson Fieldhouse, where they were able to scrimmage several schools, including Belfry, Mingo Central and St. Joe.
Coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson, along with assistants Tyler Hodge, Dr. Jerry Mounts and Curt Fletcher, watched intently as their squad got in some good workouts.
Tug Valley hopes to repeat as Class A state champs in the Mountain State and give the Panther fans a lot to cheer about again this coming season. But it all starts with working hard during the offseason.
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