WVSSAC State Basketball Tournament Crowds Charleston, Crowns Champions

The WVSSAC state basketball tournament turned Charleston into the center of high school sports this month, drawing thousands of fans, and creating a stage unlike any other for players across the state. The two-week tournament crowned four boys state champions, generating a huge economic impact for the capital city and highlighting the role high school sports play in communities across West Virginia. The event wrapped up this weekend, and WVSSAC Director Wayne Ryan said the energy inside the arena was unmatched. "The atmosphere was great. We had great matchups. We had great crowds. That was like the old times," said Wayne Ryan, Director of WVSSAC. "Anytime we have spectators in the upper deck, you know, there's a lot of excitement." For players, the state tournament provides an experience that differs from the regular season. "Literally the lights are brighter," said Rick Greene, Head Coach for George Washington High School, the now AAAA State Champions. "Literally the lights are brighter, and then you look, and you know we play in some pretty big arenas at different times and really nice gymnasiums, but you look, and there's press row, you know it's just it's just totally different," Greene said. Coaches also pointed to the role of fans in creating that atmosphere. "You know, they treat those kids like rock stars. We eat good, we stay there at the embassy all week. So, you know, the crowd is our sixth man," said Garland Thompson, head coach of Tug Valley High School, the Class A three-peat state champions. Beyond the excitement, oaches said the exposure and pressure of the tournament can help prepare athletes for life beyond sports. "I mean, it's preparing them for jobs and businesses in ways people don't realize. You sit in front of a camera and are interviewed, and you have to deal with the emotions. That's just invaluable, that experience," he said. For programs like Tug Valley, Coach Garland Thompson says their success starts with their roots. "I tell them a lot of times on Monday, you know, just like your daddies, put your hard toes on, put your hard hat on, we're going to work today," he said. In a state without professional sports teams, high school athletics often draw widespread attention. "There's not really a pro team in West Virginia. So I think it's people kind of bond with that, these are our kids," Greene said. And that support means everything for Tug Valley, which won its third consecutive Class A state championship this year. Thompson said the pressure followed them each game. "Lakers in the 70s, the Bulls in the 90s, you know, when you're on top, everybody wants to beat you, they want to knock off, the champion, and you know, we were back-to-back champions here now two years in a row," he said. Despite the focus on winning, coaches said the long-term impact of the tournament is what matters most. Thompson said the most important outcomes are not always measured by the final score. "You know, state tournament last, you know, day or two, you know, they might remember some of those experiences, hopefully, you know, but it is really what you do after high school, that's important, I'm sure that will precede them well in life later on," he said. With the championships now over, WVSSAC officials said planning is already underway for next year's tournament.