Editorial: One to remember



Opinion: The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.Va.



Nobody really considered Woodrow Wilson as a serious contender for the Class AAA state boys title this year. After all, how could a team with a 16-7 record be thought of as legitimate?

Well, the Flying Eagles went to Charleston and proved they were legit — too legit to quit.

On three consecutive nights late last week, Woodrow Wilson took to the Civic Center floor and displayed a will to win. Shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday evening, the City of Champions banner was hoisted in Raleigh County for the 16th time, once again reaffirming Beckley’s claim as the true boys basketball capital of West Virginia’s big school division.

There have certainly been a number of more talented teams pass through the halls of Woodrow Wilson, but perhaps none as gutsy as this year’s version.

At every corner turned this year, it seemed as if the forces were working against the Flying Eagles.

Before the season ever started, Coach Ron Kidd had to take a leave of absence to undergo treatment for colon cancer. In late January when it seemed like the team was starting to jell, two key starters were lost to academics just as Kidd was returning to the bench.

A topsy-turvy month of February — when the Flying Eagles looked awesome at some points and terrible at others — left many wondering if Charleston was even going to be in the plans.

Come sectional tournament time, yet another odd twist. Weather postponed its game with Riverside and then, due to scheduling conflicts at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center, the contest had to be played on a Friday at 6 p.m. — clearly not the best scenario when trying to cure the problem of anemic crowd support.

Yet they persevered. Despite a lackluster performance, the Flying Eagles eked out a double overtime win against a 7-15 team.

Moving forward to the following week’s regional final in Fayetteville, a snafu with uniforms led to five technical fouls being called before the tip-off with Greenbrier East. The Flying Eagles hadn’t even touched the ball and they were down 9-0.

They clawed their way back that night to earn the trip to Charleston.

Again, you could find few, if any, willing to say last Thursday, “Watch out for Beckley.”

But like a runaway train the Maroon and White roared through the top three seeds on consecutive nights. If you were there, you could tell they just wanted it more — it was Beckley basketball indeed.

Yes, this strange season, which at times had overtones of a terrible nightmare, ended with a wonderful dream come true.

The Flying Eagles brought home the hardware once again, and perhaps none of the previous titles was as sweet as this one.