As Bridgeport’s spring sports teams wait to learn if their seasons will ever begin, there’s only one sports team waiting to see if their season will end. Bridgeport’s boys’ basketball team has been waiting since March 12 to learn if they would get a shot to play in the boys’ state basketball tournament.

 

It was on that day that high school sports came to a grinding halt. With the Indians set to play at Lewis County in the Class AA co-Region II final that evening for chance to go to Charleston, the WVSSAC stopped all sporting events due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

 

The season has been on a holding pattern ever since. Whether the basketball season resumes for the boys and the remainder of the girls is an unknown that’s started to look like a bad bet.

 

“I’m always going to hold out hope that it’s going to happen. (Executive Director) Mr. (Bernie) Dolan (of the WVSSAC) said if we go back by the 21^st he thought we could finish it, but the date has changed,” said Marshall of Gov. Justice announcing schools have been pushed back to April 30 at the earliest. “The reality is, if you’re looking around the world and looking at the sports world, it makes you wonder.

 

“If Major League Baseball is holding off and the NCAA has called off their tournaments, and we know how much money is involved there, it’s hard to think even as important as this tournament is to these kids and to the well-being of the SSAC that it’s going to happen,” he continued. “You start to think if that’s not coming back, then do we have a chance. I don’t know, but it’s hard to wait and it’s got to be harder for these kids knowing everything is in jeopardy.”

 

Marshall said he’s still thinking about the season. He’s still thinking about the chance his 17-7 squad has to get to Charleston. He’s even thinking about putting some videos out for his kids to potentially do some solo drills to stay on top of their games.

 

There’s one thing he’s thinking about even more.

 

“I’m thinking about the entire team, but I’m really thinking about our six seniors,” said Marshall. “This is it for them.”

 

The seniors include Nick Stalnaker, Dom Spatafore, Josh Freeman, Hunter Friel, Corey Skidmore and Talan Martin,

 

“I’m disappointed in countless ways from a basketball perspective. These guys worked hard and bought into a system going into their senior years where you had to earn your stripes all over again,” said Marshall. “I know how much it meant to take that step and get the opportunity to play in the regional and possibly play in Charleston because we’re competitors.

 

“Now, that opportunity may be gone. I can’t imagine how much how much of an empty feeling that is,” he continued. “I think we forget that these are 17- and 18-year-old kids going out into their life, and I know they understand why this is happening. It just doesn’t make it any easier.”

 

Marshall said he remembers his days and those of his friends in high school. He said he remembers he and his friend playing in that final game, the excitement of prom and the anticipation of graduation.

 

“Those things are huge for these kids in sports and school in general. That all may be gone, and I hope that’s not the case,” said Marshall. “They’re all resilient and will be fine, but it’s still sad.”

 

Sad because the basketball story will have no true ending. The page will be left unturned.

 

“It’s hard to hear this, but this type of adversity will make these kids stronger as they enter their adult lives whether the season, the prom or graduation happens or not because they will have to face some realities earlier than expected,” said Marshall. “I just hope all they’ve worked for in sports and in school does happen. They’re supposed to ride off into the sunset with their friend just like we did. That’s just a rough end.”

 

Editor's Note: Photos by Ben Queen Photography.