MORGANTOWN – The University High School boys’ basketball team is off to one of its better starts in recent years.
The No. 7 Hawks are currently 8-1 on the 2024-2025 season (best since a 12-2 in 2020-21) with wins over multiple teams that appeared at the state tournament last season and three solid victories against out-of-state competition as well (SC, NC, and GA).
The Hawks’ lone loss came against Washington, 64-49, in the Little General Holiday Classic, but they returned the next day with an 83-80 win over Huntington in double overtime.
UHS returned to Baker’s Ridge Thursday night with a 53-37 road win over Wheeling Park. That came after the Hawks trek to the eastern panhandle to visit Musselman on Monday, taking home a 70-45 triumph.
“We are a deep team this year; I think we can go eight or nine deep any given night,” UHS head coach Joe Schmidle said. “I think we’ve been able to wear some teams down in the second half of games, and we’re shooting the ball a little better here lately than we were in the first few games. That said, we are still a work in progress and are working to where we need to be.”
With only two seniors and six sophomores among 11 players, the team’s younger players are gaining valuable experience and consistently contributing to the team’s success.
Juniors Jack Byrer and Glenn Brown have also impacted the Hawks this season. Brown scored 26 points against Huntington in the double-overtime victory at the LG Holiday Classic, while Jack’s brother, Luke Byrer, has emerged as one of the better all-around talents on the roster.
“We saw the potential this summer with Luke, and when things started clicking for him we could tell he had the chance to be a special player,” Schmidle said. “He’s versatile and athletic. He can step out and shoot, drive, take the ball to the hole, and finish. He just needs to get some experience. He’s only a sophomore and still makes some sophomore mistakes, but he’s an important piece of the puzzle. Glenn Brown has come on and been playing very well lately, which is something we knew he could do.”
Combining the younger group with the upperclassmen, such as seniors Chayce Adams and Zach Demidovich, Schmidle and his staff have something they can be satisfied with early on.
“Chayce has been an essential part of our team this year so far,” Schmidle said. “He fits in so well with the roster. He’s a good shooter and scorer for us, but he is also very unselfish and leads the team in assists. He does well for someone who has the ball in his hands as much as he does.”
A winner of seven in a row, UHS now sets its sights on crosstown rival Morgantown, the three-time defending Class AAAA state champions.
The Mohawk Bowl heads to the hardwood tonight as the Hawks travel across town to Wilson Avenue.
“We know we will have our hands full with Morgantown,” Schmidle said. “They are a physical, well-disciplined, well-coached team, and they will create some problems for us with their defense. You won’t find many open looks against Morgantown. They’re coming from a loss, so we know they’ll be even more hungry to win than they already were. We need to stress ball security and staying composed.”
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. inside the Rowdie Center at Morgantown High School.
