Last season was a tough one for Midland Trail
On top of adjusting to life in Class AAA as a team that plays in Class A in every other sport, the Patriots were shut down for nearly a month due to Covid quarantines. They played less than 12 games and fell short of the sectional championship game.
“Last year we started out pretty good,” Miller said. “We started with Herbert Hoover last year and they beat us in overtime. They ended up going to the state tournament. We started out pretty good last year, but we went 24 days without stepping in the gym last year. That killed us and then we came back from that layoff and we had a week before sectionals started. We’re a single-A team playing in triple-A but last year I probably pouted about it a little too much.
“We played a single-A schedule last year and I’m sure that helps us come tournament time. We’ve pretty much accepted the fact it is what it is and it ain’t gonna change so let’s get ready. I beefed up our schedule this year. We picked up Sissonville, Hoover, Nicholas, PikeView, Independence and Westside so we’ve got some tough games to get us ready come tournament time. But I think we can compete in our section. Our guys have put in a lot of work. I told our guys if we wanted to be successful there’s going to be no more single-A basketball for us. We’re ready to go this year.”
The Patriots graduated starters Indy Eades and Aiden Lesher but still return a solid crop of players .
“John Paul Morrison will be my top returning player,” Miller said. “He averaged 17 points per game last year. He and Aiden were 17 each last year. He’s my leading scorer and leading rebounder. I’d say me personally, I believe he’s one of the better players in southern West Virginia. Last year was his surprise year because nobody really knew about him. I think this year he’ll be one of the better players around. He’s been in the gym almost every day. I expect him to have a monster year. He’s probably one of the better players I’ve coached since I’ve been here.”
“Caden Phipps is coming back at center,” Miller said. “He’s put on a lot of muscle and he’s hit the weights hard this year. He’ll be pretty good. Matt Light is back and he’s started since he was a freshman. Ayden Simms started when he was a sophomore. He did not play last year but he’s back this year and will be back in the starting lineup. All the other spots are pretty much up for grabs.”
So far Miller has been impressed with what he’s seen. The strength of his team, in his opinion, is how well they play together, moving the ball unselfishly.
“The way we play together,” Miller said. “They’re very unselfish and they all get along. That helps when you’ve got a bunch of players that get along. This group’s been together a long time and they don’t care and it helps when you’ve had success in football too. It usually carries over into another sport. A lot of guys who had great football seasons are on the basketball team too. Their confidence is pretty high right now.”
While the Patriots have been smaller in the past, Miller welcomes the addition of a roster the yields more size. It’s helped him move away from guard dominated lineups.
“We have an inside presence this year,” Miller said. “For the last two years we’ve played a lot of five-guard lineups and we had to hide the post. This year I’ve got two or three capable post players which we haven’t had in a long time here. It just changes the dynamic of our team. The last couple years we were just so dependent on if we could make our outside shots and this year I think we can pound the ball inside too. I just think overall we’re a better team inside and out. It’s just been nice being in the gym the last couple of weeks because I don’t think we were in it two straight weeks at all last year. Our record showed that last year. It was hard to get in a rhythm. We just never had chemistry so hopefully we get in a full season this year.”
Despite punching up, the Patriots have aspirations of making it to Charleston. They have their sights set first on a winning record but don’t view a tournament trip as impossible.
“Our goal is to have a winning record,” Miller said. “We try to make our goals obtainable. Our second goal is to win the section and our main goal is to make it to Charleston. It would be kind of cool to be a single-A school that makes it in triple-A. Our girls did it last year so it can be done.”
