Wyoming East Boys
Wyoming East Boys
Expectations continue to rise for Warriors
By Dave Morrison for the register-herald
Wyoming East has had a team worthy of making a return to the state tournament last season .
The Warriors won 16 games last winter , including wins over James Monroe , Class AAAA Princeton , Williamstown and had a 2-1 mark against rival Westside .
But the Warriors fell short in the postseason , falling to Bluefield and Chapmanville .
“ I thought we had a good year , we just kind of have to go through a gauntlet to make it to Charleston ,” coach Derek Brooks said . “ You have to beat either Bluefield or Chapmanville and one of the two teams have been in the state championship game , what , the last 3 years ?”
It ’ s certainly been a tough run through the postseason to make it to the Capital City , but the Warriors look to have the pieces now — a mixture of youth and experience — to put themselves in position to be named with those Class AA luminaries .
The Warriors lose all-state point guard Cole Lambert , who is now at Concord , and reliable Bryson Huff .
Brooks knows the fouryear starter Lambert won ’ t be easily replaced , but his optimism speaks volumes .
“ Cole Lambert ’ s shoes will be hard to fill , but I think we have a group and players that are up for that task ,” Brooks said .
The Warriors spent the summer in the gym and capped that off by winning the Shady Spring fall league .
Obviously , one is not the other , the fall league not having full rosters , players missing with obligations in other sports , but it ’ s a good start .
The Warriors return three
Jim Cook / For The Register-Herald
Wyoming East ’ s Konnor Fox ( 34 ) gets a shot off in front of Westside defenders Bryson Blankenship ( 44 ), Kadien Vance ( 20 ) and Brayden French ( 23 ).
starters in junior Braxton Morgan , senior Zach Hunt and 6-foot-9 sophomore Konnor Fox .
Morgan averaged 8.2 points per game last season with 10 double-figure games .
“ Morgan can play positions 2-5 for us , will be big for us on the glass and scoring this year ,” Brooks said . “ The kid has a high motor .”
Hunt averaged 7.4 points and had 41 3-pointers .
“ We are hoping Zach will be our knockdown shooter this year , he has vastly improved on the defensive end as well ,” Brooks said . “ Look for him to have a big year .” Fox got progressively better as the season played out , with four of his nine double-figure games coming in the final six games . He averaged 8.1 points .
“ I look for him to improve upon his freshman campaign ,” Brooks said . “ He has gotten stronger this offseason and I ’ d like to see his growth on the offensive and defensive end come this season . Has the skill set , we just need him to transfer it from practice to game time .”
Junior Braydon Hoosier should see more time this season .
“ I look for Hoosier to get quite a bit more time this year ,” Brooks said . “ The kid is super-fast and a pesky defender everywhere on the floor . People may remember seeing him against Bluefield at the beginning of the year last year with Cole being sick that game . Hoosier is very good at attacking the paint and scoring and even better at making the correct pass to open guy after penetrating the lane . “
Seniors Landon Hodges and Corey Hall also look to break into the rotation .
As many as four freshmen will likely break into the rotation and one of two could earn starting assignments .
The arrival of Talan Muscari , son of former Warriors all-stater Evan Muscari , has been anticipated in Wyoming County for the last few years as he advanced through the ranks .
“ He handles the ball extremely well , and is very advanced to be a freshman ,” Brooks said . “ He can score it at all levels and very well may be our best defender . He is a high motor kid .”
He has some talented classmates as well in Broc Johnson , Grayson Ashley and James Wood .
The goals at Wyoming East have not changed , Brooks said .
“ Same as every year , to be playing on the final Saturday of the season and then to hoist that state championship trophy ,” Brooks said . “ If that ’ s not your goal year after year I don ’ t know what is . I ’ m excited to get this year started with our young team and get to work . These guys have really put in the work this offseason and ready to watch them bear the fruits of all that hard work .”
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