HS Boys Basketball: Shady Spring heating up after slow start

Tigers are riding a five-game win streak heading into regional play this week

When you have a successful program, some celebrate with you, while others cling to the hope of your demise.

Enter Ronnie Olson and the Shady Spring boys basketball team.

Since 2021, Shady has been one of the most successful programs in the state of West Virginia.

Five Class AAA state tournament semifinal appearances, four state title games and two state championship trophies are all part of the resume.

This year, however, there were some question marks heading into the season.

Three all-state players, including two first team selections, lost to graduation.

New personnel and young players with limited varsity experience were big parts to the puzzle that head coach Ronnie Olson had to piece together.

Then the season started a little shaky.

A narrow win at Herbert Hoover opened the season and was followed by two double-digit losses up north to AAAA No. 2 Morgantown and AAAA No. 6 University.

Shady's tough start knocked them out of the WVSACA Coaches poll where they had reigned normally in the top-five.

The haters were smiling and many were wondering just how good is this team and is this the year that the Tigers miss the state tournament.

All of a sudden though, the noise outside the locker room has grown quiet.

Chalk it up to lack of respect, youth understanding the task at hand, or maybe people jumping to conclusions too quickly, but following Christmas break, Olson's crew has come alive.

The Tigers reigned supreme at the Little General Battle for the Armory with wins over AA No. 4 James Monroe and AA No. 2 Wyoming East.

This past week at the New River CTC Invitational, Shady Spring added two more impressive, double-digit wins over ranked opponents.

Monday the Tigers toppled then AA No. 7 Westside before handling, at the time, AAA No. 3 Nitro in impressive fashion Saturday.

In the win over the Wildcats this weekend, Shady Spring fell behind early and looked in trouble for a brief period.

A Ronnie Olson staple - defense - changed the game the rest of the way.

After Nitro took a nine-point lead over the first seven minutes of the contest, the Tigers ran off six quick points, capped by a Jace Lilly steal and dunk, to change the momentum of the game.

Shady Spring outscored Nitro, 41-21 over the next two quarters en route to a 15-point win.

Player of the Year candidate Coby Dillon has been the major scoring threat, but the senior all-stater has had plenty of help.

Sophomore holdovers Eli Sexton and Gabe Short have been stellar in the early going on both ends of the floor.

Jace Bailey has carried on the family tradition, started by older brother Jalon (first-team all-state), after being thrust into action as a freshman.

Sophomore Cutter Boggs, along with Lilly, also just a freshman, have been a force and a dynamic combination in the paint, answering a big question mark the Tigers in the early going.

Add in strong contributions off the bench from Myles Clark, and Malachi Flohr and it is clear, Shady Spring has the makings to be a big-time factor in the postseason once again.

However, even though the Tigers are playing very good basketball, the ride back to Charleston will be far from easy this year.

The regional tournament will arguably be the toughest test Shady has had since moving up to Class AAA.

Sectional play has been eliminated this year and replaced with an eight-team regional tournament.

The top-two teams from the regional tournament will advance to the state tournament.

Shady plays in Region 3 which includes Capital, Greenbrier East, Hoover, Nicholas County, PikeView, Princeton and Ripley.

The Cougars are ranked No. 1 in the latest WVSACA poll followed by the Spartans at No. 4.

The Vikings made the big dance last year and are 8-2 to open the season.

After the top-four, it is a wide open battle with several dangerous teams, especially in a win or go home scenario.

More than ever, earning home court advantage in the postseason is paramount.

Capital and Shady Spring do not play this year, but the Tigers do have several regional games upcoming to possibly hang its hat on for seeding purposes.

Shady Spring has regional home and home clashes with Princeton, Nicholas County, PikeView and Greenbrier East.

Naturally, the battles with the Spartans will carry heavy seeding implications.

The first meeting with East will be in Fairlea on Jan. 23 with the home game set for Feb. 6.

The Tigers also play Beckley twice, along with a road game at Fairmont Senior, Feb. 13.

WV State will be the site for the only matchup with Ripley and that will happen Feb. 11.

The regional gauntlet starts this week with a road game at PikeView Tuesday and a home clash with Princeton Friday.

Coach Olson discussed the Nitro win and the progress for the Tigers in the early going.