BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — The Kermit Blue Devils won the Mingo County Middle School Boys Basketball championship Thursday 53-45, beating the defending champion Williamson Wolfpack at the Williamson Fieldhouse.

Kermit is coached by former Tug Valley All-State guard Mikey Newsome in his first year as coach of the Blue Devils.

“I watched a group of young men embrace a first-year head coach that wanted to bring a culture change to Kermit basketball—and did we ever bring a culture change,” Newsome said. “It was a culture change of winning, but winning the right way!”

“I wanted them to become coachable kids so that one day they could be employable adults, holding a standard in the classroom to go above and beyond, not making excuses when things go wrong. But responding to mistakes when they happen, and not settling for average, but going above and beyond every single day,” Newsome stressed.

“Most importantly I watched a vision come together with my coaching staff of wanting to cut down nets at the end of the year. It came together just as we had planned it,” Newsome concluded. “I watched as Williamson’s coaches and players shook our hands, how respectful they were towards our players and coaches. I watched two teams compete and battle it out hard, shake hands at the end of the game, win or lose like men.”

Alex Skeens led Kermit in scoring with 17 points, while Darian Vance was close behind with 16. Bryson Richardson added eight, while Kooper Sturgill and Bryson Richardson both chipped in six.

For Williamson, Jackson Jewell led the way with 20 points, while Greg Williams scored nine, Malachi Phillips seven, Griffin Beckett six and Caden New had three points.

Kermit finished the season with a fine 21-5 record.