After two years of heartbreaking title losses, Shady Spring finally conquered the Polar Bears of Fairmont to claim its second title in four years with an overtime victory in the Class AAA title game.
The Tigers graduated key starters and all-staters Gavin Davis and Ammar Maxwell from that team but aren’t ready to see the run come to an end.
Returning are key standouts Jalon Bailey and Jack Williams as well as Brody Radford, Braedy Johnston and Khi Olson.
“We start with three seniors,” Shady Spring head coach Ronnie Olson said. “We have Jack obviously. He’s arguably one of the best players in the state. If you look at or teams we have three top players that can play and can lead. They know what you’re really doing and they’ve been down there. They’ve played an extra season getting down there. You look at some of the minutes and they played a ton in the state tournament. I don’t feel like they’re going to waver when they’re put in those situations. When you return your top five out of seven, any coach would be happy with that. Khi played a ton of minutes, Braedy, he could’ve played anywhere but he’s back here and starting. Brody, I could say I feel like I have the best defensive backcourt in West Virginia.
“With Jack, I feel like he steps on the floor and I have one of the best players in the state and he approaches the game like that. Jalon, I thought he kind of got wronged last year but the ultimate accolade is a state championship and he approached the game with a chip on his shoulder. They got something to prove and I like our chemistry.”
The returners highlight the team but Olson has a few incoming players he believes will be key in Eli Sexton and Gabe Short.
“They are going to be a huge part of our success and how far we can make it this year,” Olson said. “I can argue they’re the top two freshmen in the state.”
The Tigers don’t project to be very big but they do have a ton of talent at the guard position. It reminds Olson of his 2020 team that could go five wide and spread the floor.
“I feel like everybody can handle the ball,” Olson said. “There’s going to be games where I’ll be upset with the pressure and turnovers but I feel like every single person on the floor can handle the ball and their IQs are high. I don’t get into comparing teams but this is one of the smartest, if not the smartest I’ve had. They’ll make the extra pass and they see it before it happens. I keep telling them I get tired of having six different coaches out there at times but they have a high IQ and that’s our biggest strength for sure.”
Despite nearly half a decade of top end success, Olson is aware of the pitfalls that come with it.
“We’ve got to keep a chip on our shoulder,” Olson said. “The media does a good job of that. We’re reminded by that and social media that there are other good teams out there. Our guys, it’s 2024, we see social media and different things. We know who everybody thinks is the best team in the state. We don’t think everybody is picking us to win again this year. I feel like they practice like that. Everybody is talking about the other teams up north and I’m not even going to say who they are but we don’t want to be thought of now. We want to be thought of in March. I think it takes care of itself. We approach the game the same whether we’re No. 1 or 5. I feel like this team feels like it has something to prove with Ammar and Gavin gone.”
Despite that mentality, the goal is clearly defined, unchanged.
“It’s simple. I’ve talked to you the last five years and it’s always been to win a state championship,” Olson said. “That’s our only goal. Obviously you want to win the region but states is the main goal. Our goals, and how we approach it is the same. Obviously I’m a believer in if it’s not broke you don’t fix it.”
