MORGANTOWN – When the Morgantown High School boys’ basketball team takes the floor for the first time this season, it’ll do so as three-time defending state champions but will also be without the 2023-2024 Bill Evans award winner, now University of Akron guard Sharron Young.
Head coach Dave Tallman and his staff are no strangers to losing talented players each year. In the last four years, the Mohigans have seen seven players who earned first-team all-state honors leave the program.
Despite losing impactful players like Young, Izzy Everett, and Jacob King from last season’s championship team, Tallman and the Mohigans bring plenty of talent back to their roster this season.
Players like seniors Marty Johnson and Brady Savage played vital roles during last year’s title run. Senior transfer Demarcus Bandy joins MHS this season as well, an athletic guard with all-state potential that will certainly add another threat on both sides of the ball.
“Brady was all-tournament last season and Marty was a lockdown defender every night,” Tallman said. “It helps having them around. They’re like having two extra coaches on the floor. Everyone else has limited experience. They are very capable but it’s going to take some time. Demarcus missed last season with an injury, Waylon (Colistra) played a limited role, and Max (Frey) was only a freshman. But we’re expecting some guys to fill some big shoes.”
Colistra, a 6’6 junior, had a strong offseason and Tallman says the combination of he and Savage looks strong early on.
“I think that is one of our strengths, Brady and Waylon look great so far,” he said. “They’re really feeding off of each other well. Brady is a great communticator on both ends of the floor. He’s invaluable to our team. Waylon has had a great offseason and is ready for a breakout season. Max and Demarcus have really helped those guys on the boards as well.”
One thing is for certain, the Mohigans will continue aiming to wreak havoc with their defense; something that’s become a staple of the program.
“Pressure is always present. You’re either feeling it or giving it, and we like to give it,” Tallman said. “It has to be a team effort though. Those guys can pressure but they have to have confidence that their teammates have their back with help when needed. It all starts with Marty. If Marty is getting after it then everyone does. He’s the lead dog. Everyone else falls in line when he’s getting after the ball handler.”
The Mohigans will play another gauntlet of a schedule, opening at home with San Diego signee D’arrae Goodwin and Linsly.
“Our schedule is really difficult, but one we’re not hiding or running from,” Tallman said. “We start out with a great team in Linsly who has a few international players and Goodwin, who’s a Division-I signee with San Diego. They play really fast and pound it inside. We play #3 Huntington, #1 Spring Mills, and at #7 Parkersburg South. Mixed in there is Bishop Guilfoyle from Pennsylvania who was 23-5 a season ago and has everyone back. It’s a gauntlet but if we focus on one game at a time and execute at a high level, we think we can win some games.
“We have great guys who are fun to be around,” he continued. “The chemistry is good early. We have a huge learning curve this year but they’re buying in very well. It’s just going to take time to get everyone on the same page. We had a good offseason and our guys are really working hard.”
