Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 86F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..
Tonight
Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming foggy and damp after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds light and variable.
Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 86F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..
Tonight
Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming foggy and damp after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds light and variable.
Spring Valley's Harrison Riggs (15), left, rushes to pass Huntington's Jamari Tubbs (10) during a boys high school basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Huntington.
Spring ValleyƵs Clay Robertson (2) attempts to push past HuntingtonƵs Tristan Hornbuckle during a boys high school basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Huntington.
Spring Valley's Harrison Riggs (15), left, rushes to pass Huntington's Jamari Tubbs (10) during a boys high school basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Huntington.
Spring ValleyƵs Clay Robertson (2) attempts to push past HuntingtonƵs Tristan Hornbuckle during a boys high school basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Huntington.
Spring ValleyƵs boys basketball statistics are impressive, but Timberwolves coach Rick Chaffin isnƵt fooled by them.
Spring Valley is 8-0 and ranked fourth in Class AAAA in the West Virginia Ƶsociated Press boys high school basketball poll.
ƵWeƵve started off well,Ƶ Chaffin said. ƵWe have a lot of things we need to work on.Ƶ
Chaffin concentrates on the Ƶworking onƵ part more than the 8-0 start. He said Spring Valley must improve and not fall in love with itself if itƵs to catch Spring Mills, Morgantown and George Washington, all ahead of the Timberwolves in the poll, and hold off Martinsburg, Woodrow Wilson and South Charleston, the next three squads behind the Timberwolves.
Spring ValleyƵs best victory was against South Charleston, 57-49 on the road. That triumph showed the Timberwolves are capable despite losing Tate Adkins to graduation and the University of Charleston.
Beating the Black Eagles gave credibility to a Spring Valley team that has beaten clubs with a combined 32-35 record. One of those teams, Huntington High (0-7), fell to the Timberwolves 76-55 on Thursday at the HighlandersƵ Lucas-Archer Gym.
ƵWe have kids who have been in the program for four years,Ƶ Chaffin said. ƵI started a lot of these guys as ninth-graders. All thatƵs starting to play off.Ƶ
Six seniors start or see considerable playing time. ItƵs a junior, however, who leads the Timberwolves in scoring. Harrison Riggs, a 6-3, 170-pounder, averages 24.3 points and 9.1 rebounds a game. He scored 27 points against Huntington High, making 13 of 14 shots.
Senior Clay Robertson scores 24 points a contest and grabs 7.4 rebounds. Colten Caldwell snares a Timberwolves-best 10.9 rebounds an outing to go with 7.6 points.
Spring Valley benefits from strong passing, particularly quick outlet passes after rebounds. The Timberwolves, who have scored 72.6 points per game and give up 58.3, also create relatively easy baskets off movement.
ƵWhen we pass, weƵre better,Ƶ Chaffin said. ƵWe have five guards on the floor. Everybody thinks Caldwell is a pivot man, but he played point guard for us for a long time.Ƶ
The Timberwolves are at home at 7 p.m. Saturday against one of the teams that gave it trouble, Ironton (4-3). Spring Valley beat the Fighting Tigers 79-75 Dec. 30 at the Conley Center, rallying from a 10-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter to do it.
