NAUGATUCK — Garland “Rabbit” Thompson, the longtime head coach of Tug Valley, is no stranger to bringing a team to the state tournament in Charleston and winning the championship.
Coach Thompson led Tug Valley to back-to-back state championships, first in 2012 when they won their second Class AA crown, and then in 2013 when they stepped down to Class A and earned their first state championship. The Panthers won their first AA championship in 1999 under the coach of the Hall of Fame Frankie Smith.
After their regional victory over St. Joe, Rabbit remarked, “Dancing is always a pleasant sensation.” “I’m pleased for our kids and our supporters, and I’m ecstatic for Parker (Davis) and John” (Wagoner). They got to complete their careers in Charleston after winning their final game at home.”
This will be TVHS’s eighth state tournament trip under coach Thompson, counting the year the event was cancelled by COVID in 2020, and their sixteenth overall appearance in Charleston.
Thompson remarked, “It tells me there have been a lot of good players and some very successful coaches that have coached here.” “The Greenbrier West coach referred to us as a factory, which is accurate. It begins at the midget level. I have excellent middle school coaches. I have an excellent culture here. The fan base is outstanding. All of this generates success.”
Tug Valley is distinctive in terms of contemporary high school athletics due to the fact that they usually win with homegrown talent and rarely benefit from athletes moving from outside Lenore or Kermit. In fact, Tug Valley has lost far more players to transfer throughout the years than Naugatuck has gained.
“I suppose I failed college recruitment 101,” said coach Thompson. “When you accept a player, you are not only welcoming that athlete, but also his or her entire family. I endeavour to adore them as much as possible. Yet, this is a separate society.”
The Panthers are one of the hottest teams in the whole state, as they have won 18 consecutive games and have a record of 22-3. They are the No. 2 seed in this year’s Class A Tournament and will face No. 7 seed Wahama (17-8) at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday at the Charleston Coliseum.
Being a former head coach and assistant coach at the state tournament, Coach Thompson is well aware that every game will provide a challenge. He is also aware that if the Panthers achieve their ultimate aim of reaching the state final on Saturday, the reigning champion James Monroe will likely be waiting for them.
Thompson stated, “Everyone knows James Monroe; they’re definitely a step ahead of everyone else.” “Everyone can defeat everyone else. Each game will serve as a test. You must tackle things one at a time, but we are in the mix with everyone else. I don’t want to look too far ahead, but we need that shot on Saturday against James Monroe.”
The Mavericks enter the state tournament with a 22-2 record and a 15-game winning run that includes a season sweep of Class AA power Bluefield.
Yet, Coach Thompson is not forgetting the opening round game against the White Falcons on Wednesday night or a potential semifinal matchup with the winner of No. 3 seed Tucker County (18-4) and No. 6 seed East Hardy at 9:30 a.m. on Friday morning (18-7).
He and his coaching staff, which includes former Williamson state champion coach Curt Fletcher, will continue to preach the one-game-at-a-time attitude that he believes is essential for success, especially in the postseason.
Thompson remarked, “I am fortunate to have terrific coaches.” “I have Tyler Hodge, Curt Fletcher, Ronnie Blankenship, Moose Ledger, and Doc (Jerry Mounts). We strive to create a winning culture with the help of our highly capable coaches.”
According to their head coach, the high-flying Panthers have had a championship-calibre offence all season, as seen by their average of 72.8 points per game.
The defence, which was a question mark for head coach Thompson earlier in the season, has also risen to the challenge, especially in the latter stages of the season. TVHS is allowing opponents to score 52.5 points per game, resulting in a 20.3-point margin of victory each game.
The Panthers are led in scoring by 6’4″ sophomore Joey Gollihue, who averages 16 points, five rebounds, and two steals per game this season. Gollihue’s three-point percentage is 41% as he has hit 61-150 shots from deep.
Next in line is senior Parker Davis, who averages 13.5 points per game, followed by junior Ashton Davis, who averages 13 points per game. Both of them contribute three assists each game and are accurate long-range shooters.
Ashton is the team leader in three-point percentage, as he has made 51 of 120 tries for 43 per cent, while Parker has made 39 of 106 attempts for 37 per cent.
Braydun Ferris, a freshman point guard, contributes 7 points per game along with a team-leading 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals. In addition, he has made 37% of his three-point attempts this season, converting 26-71 attempts from long range.
Buddy Marcum, a junior, starts at centre and averages 6.7 points and 5 rebounds per game while sharing time with senior Jonathon Wagoner, who averages 3.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. The combination of the two big men’s over 10 points and 9 rebounds per game establish an inside presence.
The sophomore Kaden Hale (4.4 ppg) provides an offensive spark off the bench, as he has made 43 per cent (15-36) of his three-point attempts this season. Junior Paul Preece (2.7 ppg) and freshman Bryson Elia (1.8 ppg) have contributed off the bench for the Panthers this season.
The Panthers have a strong and skilled roster that extends to the junior varsity team, which has only lost one game this whole season.
Thompson stated, “I’ve always tried to develop up our younger players, which is why they play the third and fourth quarters in most games instead of me thrashing somebody 100 to whatever.” “I want those youngsters to play significant minutes in the regional championship so that in a year or two they’ll remember it.”
No. 4 seed Clay Battelle (19-6) and No. 5 seed Webster County (18-7) will play at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, while No. 8 seed Cameron will face No. 1 seed James Monroe at 7:15 p.m. on the same day.
Tucker County and East Hardy play the opening Class A quarterfinal game at 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, followed by Tug Valley and Wahama in the second game of the evening session.