Last week, I broke out an old blog regarding the “biggest shot” I’ve ever seen in Bridgeport High School boys’ basketball history. And for the second time several thousand people clicked on the story and many commented on it across the social media platforms we utilize.

 

The nice thing about round two was no one told me “you’re wrong.” You see, I’m wrong about many things, but I can’t be wrong if I tell you what I believe to be the biggest shot that I’ve ever seen. And if you think there’s a better one, then you can’t be wrong either.

 

As I watched games at the state tournament, I was impressed with several things. At the top of my list was some of the defense that individuals played. I was particularly impressed with Notre Dame’s Jarrod West.

 

While many may have been awed by his offensive domination – and they should have been – the kid plays lockdown defense. For those he was guarding, it was not a pleasant ordeal.

 

That, of course, got me to thinking as I sat in the confines of the Charleston Civic Center or talked with sports writers in the back rooms of the building about games past. One of my long-time friends from the southern part of the state that’s been attending the tournament as long as I have talked defense. And we remembered something.

 

Back in 2001, when Bridgeport High School won its second – and last – Class AA state championship, there was what I consider the greatest defensive showing in Bridgeport High School history. Considering what he did, it could be argued as one of the greatest showings for any school in any classification.

 

Senior C.R. Rohrbough didn’t just dominate the state tournament with his defense. He actually turned the tide with his defense where a good Indians’ team became unbeatable.

 

I could be wrong, but it was almost as if the entire team fed off what Rohrbough was doing. Vince Veltri became unstoppable inside. Chris Liebig had a perfect three games at point guard. Tyler Dodd knocked down shot after shot as did Brandon Brumage, and Tim Lindsey was too much to handle inside. The rest of the team – Chris Lindsey, Zach Myers, Paul Graeber, Derek Dieringer, and Dan Compton – also seemed to feed off of it.

 

Just what did Rohrbough do that was so memorable? During the title run that included a 69-65 win over Oak Hill, a 62-52 victory against Winfield and a 68-57 victory against Tug Valley, Rohrbough shut down the opposition.

 

It wasn’t that he held his assignment in check that was critical. What was critical was that his assignment defensively was to guard the opposing team’s top players – three straight top scorers of three of the state’s top Class AA teams.

 

Want some proof? Thanks to my old notes that I keep, I found plenty of it – including old-school quotes from the now retired Gene Randolph who coached the squad to the championship.

 

Oak Hill's top gun Matt Boyd was the lucky one. Boyd managed to reach his season average of 16 points, but was only 5-of-13 from the field.

 

Winfield's Chris Dosier and Tug Valley's Kyle Gillman, who came in as two of the top 10 scorers in the state of West Virginia, didn't fare quite as well.

 

Dosier managed 18 points on 7-of-23 shooting. Gillman finished with 15 points on 4-of-11 shooting.

For the tournament, a trio averaging 22.3 points per game were held to 16.3 points per game. More importantly, the threesome hit on just 34 percent of their field goal tries.

 

"To ask a young man to do what he did on one occasion is one thing, but to ask him to do it in three games in three days, on this stage, is something that I've never been exposed to," said Randolph back in 2001. "In my 27 years of coaching, I really haven't seen defense played to that level."

 

What made it even more impressive was the absolute frustration that it created to the opposition. And he never talked trash and instead, helped players up, told them “good shot” on makes, continuously smiled and so much more.

 

After the title, Rohrbough was quick to thank his father Mark for coaching him as a youngster. He was quick to give thanks to his middle school Coach Bill Shaver. He praised Randolph and Assistant Dennis Hutson.

 

Rohrbough told me that he was always polite when playing in order for him “to make some new friends.” I wonder, to this day, if that ploy ever worked.

 

What I do know is that I’ve never seen defense played against such high quality athletes over a short stretch of games with so much on the line. That’s my choice and since it’s mine, I can’t be wrong.

 

With that in mind, it’s now your turn. If you have some great memories of defense by a BHS player feel free to add them in the comment section below. Remember, it’s your opinion so it can’t be wrong.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows the team celebrating as they have wrapped up the 2001 title with C.R. Rohrbough in the middle, while the second photo shows Rohrbough during his junior season. Bottom photo is a recent picture or Rohrbough and his wife Tara. Bottom photo is the 2001 title team. Top two and bottom photo courtesy of Mrs. Alice Rowe's BHS journalism department.