BLACKSVILLE — A new name but a familiar face will take charge of the head girls’ basketball coaching position at Clay-Battelle High School. Assistant coach Sherry Patterson was named the new head coach of the Cee-Bees last week.
Patterson is a Blacksville native who graduated from Clay-Battelle in 1992. She then attended and played basketball at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa., where she also earned her bachelor’s degree.
“I came home to complete my master’s at WVU,” Patterson explained. “My entire teaching career has been with Monongalia County Schools, mostly here at Clay-Battelle. I also taught at Daybrook Elementary prior to its closing and Mason Dixon Elementary.”
Patterson holds some of her most precious memories as a little girl being around the program and said holding this position feels like she’s come full circle.
“Clay Battelle is home to me and being named the head coach means so much,” she said. “During high school, I played for Coach Karen Skiles and Coach Frank Skubis. However, before Coach Skubis was her assistant, my mother, Sharon Harker, was the assistant of Coach Skiles. Some of my best and earliest memories are being a youngster, attending their practices, and being the manager and water girl; it was so much fun. Looking back, I learned a lot, and it pushed me to be a better player.”
Patterson has assisted former head coach David Joyce on the sidelines for the past four seasons and said having worked under him will help with the change.
“Coach Joyce has been so successful in his tenure here as coach and I’ve had the privilege of working alongside him for the past four seasons,” Patterson said. “I think that will help ease the transition. However, there’s always a little pressure to succeed.”
Team goals are something Patterson said she will emphasize to her players first and foremost.
“We want to create a positive culture from day one,” she said. “My goal is for these ladies to be successful both on and off the court. I would also love to see our numbers improve. On the court, we want to be able to work hard to get better at our game every single day.”
Being able to hold the head girls’ basketball coach position is something Patterson knows she could never take for granted and will remember to appreciate every time she steps on the court with her team.
“I look forward to being able to give back to the players, the school, and the community,” she said. “It has given me so much. It is my home. I am fortunate and excited for this opportunity. I take great pride in being a Cee-Bee and want to instill that same pride into my players for years to come.”
