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Some good, some bad for Best Virginia in 75-59 exhibition victory to prepare for TBT – WV MetroNews
BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — For stretches of Friday night’s exhibition at Buckhannon-Upshur High School, Best Virginia looked like a team that had practiced only once in advance of its lone tune-up before beginning play in The Basketball Tournament next Saturday.
At other times, Best Virginia looked like a team plenty capable of making a deep run in TBT.
Ultimately, the West Virginia University-alumni based squad overcame a slow start and sluggish third quarter for a 75-59 victory against a team of former college players, some of whom have ongoing professional careers overseas.
“Yesterday was our first practice. We all played for WVU and we have that chemistry a little bit, but these guys are all overseas players and have different roles when they go overseas,” said Best Virginia coach/general manager Chase Harler. “When they come back, we’re still kind of just finding our niche with that.”
Donning BUHS jerseys, the opposing team was largely put together by Buckhannon native Tanner McGrew.
McGrew played for the Buccaneers and went on to have a decorated Division II career at West Virginia Wesleyan. He parlayed that into a professional career and previously played for Best Virginia in TBT, though on this night, he often found himself matched up with former Mountaineers Sagaba Konate and Jonathan Holton.
Both teams struggled offensively in the opening quarter and Best Virginia was scoreless for the game’s first 3-plus minutes, but managed to lead 11-7 through the first of four 9-minute frames.
Harler’s team put together what was easily its best quarter in the second when six of seven players scored, allowing BV to create separation and enter halftime with a 42-20 lead. Five of the team’s 13 field goals in that frame were three-pointers, including one from forward Esa Ahmad as part of his 13-point opening half.
“We have a ways to go, but we had one day of practice before playing the game. We’re still getting a feel for each other, but overall, we know how to play basketball,” Ahmad said. “It’s going to take a couple days, but I feel like we’re going to be good.”
Two of the remaining four triples in the second quarter were provided by Xavier Bledson, the only Best Virginia player present Friday with no WVU ties. Bledson won the Missouri Valley Conference Sixth Man of the Year last season for his efforts with Indiana State.
Guard Marcus Keene is the other Best Virginia player to never play for the Mountaineers, though Keene, fellow guard Tarik Phillip and post player Devin Williams were not with the team Friday, though Harler indicated each of the three will be in Morgantown for practice Monday.
“Devin Williams, Marcus Keene and Tarik Phillip will be huge additions to our team,” Harler said.
Best Virginia saw its lead significantly dwindle within the first few minutes of the third quarter and former Fairmont Senior all-state guard Darhius Nunn was a major reason why.
Nunn played collegiately at Glenville State and Palm Beach Atlantic and plays professionally in France. He started his 13-point frame with a four-point play. After three two-point field goals, Nunn made his second trey of the frame and one of his six for the game as he easily led all players with 29 points.
McGrew chipped in with seven points in the third, while Zakeem Davis, a former Morgantown High player, added five to help cut Best Virginia’s lead to 49-44 at one point, though it grew to 56-47 entering the fourth.
“One thing we could do better with was our defensive IQ,” Harler said. “We gave up a lot of layups and easy shots where defense needs to be our M.O. We have a full week of practice coming up and we’ll work on that.”
The teams agreed to an Elam Ending following the first stoppage of play inside the 4-minute mark of the fourth quarter, at which time Best Virginia led 67-57.
The Elam Ending, which takes place in every TBT game, adds eight points to the leading team’s score as the target score for both teams.
Though the lead was cut to eight moments after the game went to an Elam Ending, Best Virginia finished it off with eight consecutive points, including a triple from Bledson and another from guard Taz Sherman that wrapped up the win.
Ahmad led Best Virginia’s five double-figure scorers with 19 points. Holton added 12 and Bledson, Wesley Harris and Teyvon Myers scored 10 apiece. Sherman and Konate chipped in with eight and six points, respectively.
McGrew scored 11 to provide his team with a second double-figure scorer.
“This was great. It’s tough. I’m the general manager, too, so I’m making decisions and setting up events and what not,” Harler said. “I have a great team behind me. The least stressful thing I have to do is coach. We have a good group of guys that compete. This was the first game and maybe these guys haven’t played 5-on-5 in a while.”
Best Virginia opens TBT on July 20 at 3 p.m. against Brotherly Love at Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In this world of college football, with the transfer portal and recruiting battles, bad blood is present more than ever before between head coaches.
That’s not the case between the Virginia Tech head coach and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, however. In fact, Franklin revealed at ACC Kickoff on Thursday that the two are actually close friends, dating back to their time at the Nike trip that various coaches take over the summer.
“Dabo’s my guy,” Franklin said on Thursday. “We go way back. We’ve been on the Nike trip for a long time. His wife and my wife are friends.”
The long-time Penn State head coach is making the move to the ACC after being fired from the Nittany Lions in October. 12 seasons of being with the program had Franklin hold a 44-21 record against top 10 opponents, an impressive record for a new conference foe of Swinney’s.
But when that trip comes around, there’s a camaraderie between Swinney and Franklin and both of their wives. In fact, the two hang out with each other instead of the other coaches at times. It simply comes to an “edgy” time in college athletics that raises tempers.
“I’m going to be honest, I wouldn’t say we’re necessarily like the type of people that love a lot of other coaches and a lot of other programs,” Franklin said. “It’s hard when you just compete year-round.”
On Swinney’s end, there are a few who could immediately come to mind among Clemson fans. Perhaps the most recent would be Ole Miss coach Pete Golding, who played the most significant role in the tampering of former linebacker Luke Ferrelli.
It’s a select list of coaches who make the good side of the Tigers’ head coach, and Franklin is certainly on that list. On the other hand, Hokies’ head coach has Swinney on his own shortlist.
“Obviously, tremendous respect for what he has built at Clemson and what he’s done at Clemson, and what he’s done for the ACC,” he said.
The two will see that close relationship face off at Memorial Stadium this upcoming season. Clemson will host the Hokies on Oct. 24 in what could be a potential title-eliminator for the ACC Championship.
Of course, the last game that we’ve seen the Tigers play in was against Franklin’s former team in Penn State at the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. That game ended in a 22-10 contest that saw a foundation of Franklin players end Clemson’s season in disappointment.
Swinney will see many of those players once again in October, including starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, in that contest. The anticipated Hokie starter recorded 260 yards and two passing touchdowns on the Tigers in the Bronx that day.
Although friends become foes, another ACC coach has given Swinney his flowers for what he’s been able to do for the conference. In the upcoming moments, Franklin will look to prepare his team to prove itself on one of the biggest stages in the ACC, while Swinney looks to put his team back at the top of a conference he’s dominated for over 15 years.
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MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WSET) — Extreme drought conditions in parts of Virginia have prompted an emergency drought warning for a wide swath of the region, including Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Roanoke counties, along with the cities of Danville, Roanoke, Salem and Martinsville.
The governor has warned that if conditions worsen, she will activate mandatory nonessential water-use restrictions.
In Martinsville, city leaders have issued a voluntary water conservation notice and are urging residents and businesses to cut back where they can. The request comes as local businesses that rely heavily on water say the drought is already affecting day-to-day operations.
SEE ALSO: Botetourt County residents adjust daily routines as voluntary water restriction continues
John Hughes, owner of John’s Car Wash, said the dry conditions have hit his business hard in recent weeks. “For the last 3 weeks, it’s been hitting pretty hard. We done three yesterday and haven’t done anything today with the drought and hot weather. Yeah, I’m really concerned about it,” Hughes said.
Restaurants are also feeling the strain. David Kitzmiller, an owner of Be Wiched, said water is essential for routine tasks such as washing dishes and preparing some menu items.
“We use a lot of water for washing dishes and some of our recipes if they limit us in anyway defiently can’t produce and its a scary aspect,” Kitzmiller said.
Kitzmiller added that cutting back is not always realistic for businesses that must meet sanitation needs. “Not really feasible for a business that depends solely relies on water to wash their dishes, so that can’t definitely be an impact there,” he said.
City leaders emphasized that the conservation request is voluntary for now, but they are encouraging everyone to do their part by taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet when it is not in use, washing only full loads of laundry, and limiting outdoor watering whenever possible.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Five people were charged after Virginia Beach Police conducted a two-day human trafficking and vice operation on July 3, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.
The department’s Special Investigations Bureau conducted the operation, which was aimed at identifiying human trafficking victims, reducing the demand for commercial sex and targeting individuals seeking to exploit or recruit children for prostitution.
Detectives used many investigative techniques to proactively identify individuals involved in criminal activity related to prostitution, human trafficking and offenses against children. The operation was conducted in Virginia Beach, involving personnel from all of the bureau’s squads.
As a result of the operation, five people were identified and charged with offenses ranging from solicitation of prostitution to sex trafficking and crimes involving minors. Two vehicles and U.S. currency were seized during the operation. Other people were connected to victim services through Samaritan House.
The operation led to the following people being charged:
- Shane Carter, 28, of Norfolk, was charged with solicitation of prostitution.
- Robert Harris, 64, of Virginia Beach, was charged with solicitation of prostitution and assault and battery.
- Larry Pittman, 53, of Portsmouth, was charged with sex trafficking and use of electronic devices to facilitaate certain offenses involving minors.
- Kenric Frazier, 46, of Portsmouth, was charged with sex trafficking, use of electronic devices to facilitate certain offenses involving minors and solicitation of child pornography.
- Cameron Lewis, 24, of Norfolk, was charged with solicitation of prostitution.
Investigators also developed leads about people who are suspected of trafficking and exploiting others for commercial sex. Those are now active and ongoing investigations. There may be more charges and arrests pending further investigation and consultation with the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
If you’re a human trafficking victim or know someone who is, you can report it to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
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