Published: March 16, 2008 12:16 am      

Kidd overcame adversity to get Eagles to title

CHARLESTON — That Woodrow Wilson won the state championship Saturday night, its 16th title, was only half the story in what was a strange year.

Yes, the Flying Eagles got the monkey that was South Charleston off their collective back with a 67-55 upset of the top-seeded Black Eagles.

Woodrow under coach Ron Kidd had never beaten South Charleston.

Not only did they vanquish that ghost, the Flying Eagles also beat long odds, not to mention the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 seeds.

And nobody exemplified that more than Kidd.

There is a prep coach of the year award, and all things considered, Kidd should be the hands-down winner.

First of all, the guy known as “Little Man” to his friends battled back from cancer to return to the bench earlier than even he thought he would.

Obviously, that is more serious than winning or losing a state title, when you’re talking about life.

Anyone who knows Kidd expected nothing less.

Then, the Eagles lost two of their top players, Vashawn Wood and Cameron Hallcomb, to grades.

That was a blow to the team, but Kidd regrouped the charges, and following their coach’s lead, guys like Damien Tunstalle, Travis Parkulo and Ryan Powers increased their workload.

Then the team had to battle just to get out of the sectional, going to double overtime against Riverside before Michael Fortune, the comeback player of the year for his postseason performance, nailed 9 of 9 free throws to rescue the Beckley bunch.

Then it got strange.

Kidd was told by a member of his own administration that Woodrow was designated the visiting team for the Region 5 final with Greenbrier East.

Tournament director Lee Loy said Beckley officials were plainly told the Eagles were the home team.

Because they wore the road uniforms, they were hit with five technicals before the game even started. Greenbrier East was up 9-0 before Woodrow ever touched the ball.

Makes you wonder whose side some people are on.

Think it ended there?

No.

Despite staying alive in the state tournament, Woodrow traveled back to Beckley after each win. You can almost understand Thursday, with the game ending at 9 p.m.

But after Friday’s win, which ended around 11 p.m. and the Eagles not getting out of the civic center until close to midnight?

That is crazy. The coaches were scrambling after the game trying to find somewhere for the team to eat and Kidd was making preparations to get Powers, who suffered an ankle sprain in the Capital win, to the doctor Saturday morning.

Kidd has continually come up big, time after time, despite distractions and adversity — none of it his own making. When things seemed to be conspiring against him, Kidd was at his very best. He always held his head high.

Coach of the year?

In my book, you’d better believe it.

Title or no title.