HS Boys Basketball: Another week of ranked foes for Wyoming East

Warriors host Class A No. 1 Tug Valley Tuesday and AA No. 4 James Monroe Friday

The Wyoming East boys basketball team has two top-five match-ups this week on the schedule.

In other news, water is wet.

Big games for the Warriors against ranked teams have been a common theme all season.

So far, the New Richmond boys have passed with flying colors.

Following a win at AA No. 10 Westside Friday night, Wyoming East moved its record to 6-1.

The other five wins along the way have included Class A No. 10 Summit Christian, Class A No. 1 Tug Valley, both on the road, and AA No. 5 Bluefield at the War Zone.

Beckley and Midland Trail have also fell victim to the Warriors so far this season.

The only setback for East was a one-point thriller to AAA No. 6 Shady Spring, falling in the closing seconds of the game.

While their record is impressive across the early span, Wyoming East has accumulated some battle scars to go along with the victories.

Talan Muscari broke his nose and needed surgery, while Broc Johnson required some stitches after a collision in the Westside game.

Muscari missed round one of the Wyoming County rivalry Friday after surgery on his nose, but is expected to be back this week.

Success for Wyoming East comes as no great shocker.

The Warriors returned four starters from a AA state tournament semifinal team, as well as the addition of Class A first-team all-stater Keegan Davidson who came back home after playing two seasons at Greater Beckley Christian.

Add in former Shady Spring sniper Braedy Johnston and needless to say, expectations have been off the chart, well before December rolled around.

Big man Konnor Fox is 6-foot-9 and provides a great rim protector and a strong scorer around the rim.

Muscari can score at all levels and has impressive savvy for a sophomore.

The back-court combination of Muscari and Davidson is easily one of the best in the state, creating defensive headaches for opposing coaches.

Davidson scored 26 in the win over the Beavers and had 22 against the Renegades.

Johnson is also a first-team all-state selection standing 6-foot-5. The standout sophomore can jump out of the building, hit the 3-ball or take a defender off the dribble.

Senior Braxton Morgan rounds out the four returning starters. Morgan puts a capital "P" in power forward and is a rebounding machine.

Although the Warriors are talented and a heavy favorite to make a return trip to Charleston, Class AA Region 3 is no gimme this year.

With the elimination of sectional play, Wyoming East is part of a 10-team region, where only two teams will advance to the state tournament.

Bluefield (ranked No. 5), Independence, James Monroe, Liberty, Midland Trail, Mingo Central, River View, Summers County and Westside will all make their pitch for a trip to the big dance come March.

Obviously, home court advantage will be a big plus in the regional format.

Wyoming East is off to a 3-0 start against regional opponents, but Friday night, once-beaten and No. 4 ranked James Monroe comes to New Richmond for the first of two meetings this year.

Ironically, the only loss for the Mavericks was also a tough battle with Shady Spring.

James Monroe is 7-1 with a 4-0 record in the region following wins over Summers County, Westside, Liberty and Independence.

A road win over the Warriors would a huge gain for the Monroe County boys.

Ryan Mann and Kadyn Hines have been the catalyst for success, but balance has been the biggest factor for the Mavericks, especially with the return of 3-point bomber Bryce Gardinier.

Gardinier buried five 3-balls in the Westside win and had three more against Independence.

Prior to the big regional showdown Friday, Wyoming East will have its home rematch with Tug Valley and James Monroe will host Midland Trail.

Both of those games will happen Tuesday.