January 31, 2005
PREP BASKETBALL: Mountain State Coal Classic is Underway
by Brian Boyle
Huntington News Network Sportswriter
Huntington (HNN) — Ask anyone in southern West Virginia and they will likely tell you that the Mountain State Coal Classic is the premier basketball event of the season. On Sunday Jan. 30, 2005 the annual banquet was held to welcome the players. They were treated to a highly motivational speaker and West Virginia (Follansbee) native Lou Holtz. WVU fans will never forget the time his Notre Dame football team thumped WVU for the consensus NCAA football championship in the 1988 Fiesta Bowl. It still smarts for us loyal WVU football fans.
This year's field is loaded: In the National Division Oak Hill Academy returns to defend its championship. They will see competition from Eastern Commerce, Mt Zion, National Christian, and Dunbar.
In the AAA boys division Woodrow Wilson returns to defend its championship. They will see competition from Capital, Robert C. Byrd and, Huntington.
In the AA Boys division West Side returns to defend its championship against Winfield, Independence, and Wyoming East.
In the A boys division Charleston Catholic returns to defend its championship against Greenbrier West, Mt Hope and Valley.
In the Girls Division last year's champion Mt De Chantel will not defend. However the field is loaded. It includes Wyoming East, Greenbrier East, Huntington, Woodrow, Burch, Westside and Shady Spring.
There are 5 top ten ranked teams in the girls division: No. 4-Huntington, No. 10-Greenbrier East in AAA, No. 2- Wyoming East, No. 3-Summers County in AA, and No. 7 Burch in single A. Anything can happen.
This week's Mountain State Coal Classic Schedule: