Nicholas County was one win away last year from a state tournament berth. Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, eventual Class AAA state champion Shady Spring was standing in their way in the regional co-final.
“The whole time I have been here, my mantra has been, we want to make sure we are the next boys team from Nicholas County High School that participates in the state tournament,” Nicholas County head coach Brian Phipps said. “The last time we did that was 1964.”
This season Nicholas County is hoping to build on last year’s success, but Phipps is well aware that it will not be an easy journey.
“Our section and region are really tough. We have Shady and on that same side you have Independence who has almost everybody back. Westside is always basketball tough and PikeView has the one kid back that can really play,” Phipps said. “On our side, Sissonville has most of their players back and (Herbert) Hoover is just reloading. Curtis Miller at Midland Trail is one of the most underrated coaches in the area. They play hard from tip to finish.”
Although the mountain is a tough one to climb, the veteran coach likes the group he has on the floor this season.
“I get excited every year, but with this bunch, I am really excited,” Phipps said. “They are really playing for each other. I think we have some of the best talent we have had top to bottom in a long time.”
Nicholas County will need to replace three seniors lost to graduation, two starters and a key contributor off the bench.
“They were really great kids and really good ball players. We are going to miss them, but right now I think our seniors are doing a really good job of leading our bunch,” Phipps said. “Our guys are getting after it every day in practice which is awesome.”
Heading up the returning starters will be the senior duo of guard Colby Pishner and post man Bryson Phipps. They will be joined by a pair of juniors that saw varsity time last year in Wes Hill and Austin Altizer.
“Jaxson Morriston, Ethan Collins and Braxton Bell are all sophomores that saw varsity time last year,” Phipps said. “I also have a freshman newcomer, Trey Stump that will play some varsity for us this year.”
Junior Brycen Morriston is coming off a solid season on the gridiron and gives Nicholas County a key defensive weapon, along with senior Hayden Morris.
“Brycen is a guy that I can put in if I need someone stopped on the perimeter. He can get up under them and draw charges,” Phipps said. “Hayden Morris is a really good shooter that takes more charges than anybody in the country. He does it in practice all the time. He will really help us.”
Phipps is also sees some promise in the return of senior Travis Smith and junior Gage Groggs.
“Travis is back after not playing last year due to some Covid issues with his family and Gage is a transfer from Webster County that will play varsity for us,” Phipps said.
One of the key factors in Phipps’ optimism has to do with the amount of heart and desire that he sees in his team.
“The defense is really good right now and I think we have some of the best shooters that we have ever had. We have six or seven guys that can shoot the 3-ball. They can all penetrate and pull up, or get to the rim,” Phipps said. “We don’t have any real head-toppers, but they get in the right position. They hustle and go hard the whole time. We have to defend like crazy, rebound, make layups and free throws. if we can do those four things, we will be fine and we have a shot.”
