Ravenswood’s boy’s basketball season has nearly followed last years script line-for-line.

In March of 2009, head coach Mick Prices’ Devils strolled through sectionals winning over Roane County (3-3-09) and then Point Pleasant (3-6-09) for a third time that season to find themselves hosting the regional championship at ‘The Pit’ against Magnolia as the sectional title holder.

Flash-forward a year to the exact day and Ravenswood has again set themselves up to enter the Class AA State Basketball Tournament for the third straight year.

A quick disposal of Roane (3-3-10) and a gritty hard-nosed battle over Point Pleasant (3-6-10) for the third time this season has the 19-4 Devils back on their home court prepared to battle…you guessed it, the Magnolia Blue Eagles for a chance to dance in Charleston.

Just like one year ago, Magnolia fell to Weir High in sectional play forcing themselves to travel to The Old Gym and face a balanced Ravenswood squad.

This year isn’t much different except for the fact that these teams have met once before this season.

In a non-league tournament challenge, Ravenswood was paired with Magnolia on their home floor in New Martinsville on January 20 and came away with a 65-58 victory. At the time, Ravenswood stood at No. 4 in Class AA with an 11-1 record and Magnolia was No. 3 with an unblemished mark of 11-0.

“We had jumped ahead early and they (Ravenswood) began to whittle away the lead,” Magnolia head coach Dave Tallman commented on the game. “Murray played an outstanding game.”

The Devils came from behind trailing 33-24 at the half to rally a 21-11 run in the third and outpace the Eagles in the final quarter to secure the win.

Senior guard Luke Murray led all scores dropping a season-high of 35, of which 21 was in the second half.

This season, Tallman’s Eagles are led by two dynamic players in Jared Blatt and Mark Winters.
Blatt a 6’5” senior forward was honored as a second-team All-State selection last season and leads the team with 15 points per game this year.

His counterpart, the 6’6”Winters, just a freshman, is close behind averaging 14 per contest.

As far as securing the win, Tallman knows it wont be easy but he has his kids prepared.

“To win down there, we have got to put them away if we get a lead like we did before,” Tallman said. “Defensively we have to take them off the dribble and contest their shots. On the other end we have to make our open jump shots and finish at the free throw line. That’s something we have struggled with as of late.”

A 41-36 Red Devil victory was the outcome one year ago to advance Ravenswood to the state tournament and send the Blue Eagles back to new Martinsville feeling…well, blue.

This years game is expected to be yet another thrilling contest within the walls of ‘The Pit.’
“I expect them to come down on a mission,” coach Price said. “They played great down here last year, so they won’t be in awe of the atmosphere. They will be focused and I know we will be getting their best shot.”

As far as what is expected of his team, Price knows it’s a simple numbers game.

“They have quite a few guys over 6’4” that gives them a height advantage,” he commented of Magnolia size. “It’s a major concern of ours with rebounding and second chance points. We simply have to limit them to one shot.”

Tip off is 7 p.m. Winner goes to the Big Dance, the loser goes home to wait for next season.