NOTE: Tonight's game has been themed "Superhero Night for Jack Rollins." Please wear your superhero T-shirts and gear. Donations for Jack's fund - to benefit his family's medical and travel expenses - will be accepted at the door. JV action starts at 5:45 with varsity to follow at 7:30 p.m. Read more HERE. 

 

You won’t get Bridgeport Coach Mike Robey talking about games down the future – including another showdown with Robert C. Byrd, a battle with Class AAA top-ranked Huntington or any other big game on the schedule. And to be honest he doesn’t like to talk too much about the past, despite the fact his team is currently 10-0 and have won three straight since Winter Storm Jonas and its remnants have left the area.

 

“I’m glad we’re getting to play games and since we’ve returned to playing games it seems like they’ve been coming fast and furious,” said Robey. “In these last three games, I guess we’ve done okay. The problem is our continuity could be better.”

 

The wins have come by a 96-54 score at Elkins, a 69-47 score at home against North Marion and Wednesday night’s 59-30 win at East Fairmont. Despite the lopsided wins, Robey wasn’t too thrilled to talk about them.

 

“Honestly, you just want to look back to see what you can do better and then translate into getting better for the next game. That’s the one that has your attention,” said Robey.

 

The next one, it’s safe to say, will have the attention of basketball fans statewide. The MetroNews No.1-ranked Indians will face off against No. 3 and 12-2 Fairmont Senior in a heavily anticipated battle against the team that not only ended Bridgeport’s regular season unbeaten streak last, but also beat the Tribe in the Class AA semifinals last year in Charleston.

 

Once again, both teams are playing at a level where many expect them to get to Charleston and make noise when they get there. An early barometer of where each team is will be on display tonight at the BHS gymnasium.

 

“Fairmont Senior is probably the most athletic team we’ll play all year and probably one of, if not the most, athletic teams in the state,” said Robey. “What adds to that is they’re extremely well coached and they play hard for four solid quarters.”

 

“Coach (Dave) Retton brings waves of kids into the game and there’s no difference in the intensity and there’s talent up and down the bench,” Robey continued. “We’ll be facing a really, really good basketball team.”

 

The team has talent and experience. The starting five usually consists of Darhius Nunn, Zyon Dobbs, Dante’ Stills, Bryson Gilbert and Justin Lee.

 

And don’t let the two losses fool you. The Polar Bears fell to defending state champion Poca in a neutral site game in Kanawha County and lost a game to national power Cleveland St. Joseph’s in a holiday tournament. The losses were by a combined 12 points.

 

So how does Robey believe the Indians can find success?

 

“I think we have to take care of the all and limit our turnovers,” said Robey. “We have to be patient in our shot selection and make them play defense and play defense longer than they want to.”

 

As for taking care of the ball, the Indians have one of the best point guards in the area in senior Donald Kummer. Robey, however, said if Kummer has to be doing all the ball handling that won’t be a good sign.

 

“It just can’t be Donald because they pressure you all over the court … It’s going to take give guys working together to beat their pressure and I certainly don’t expect Donald to beat that singlehandedly,” said Robey. “Donald knows when to get rid of it and you beat pressure by passing the ball and reversing the ball.”

 

Kummer will have plenty of help as the Indians’ talent cupboard is far from bare. He’ll be joined by the team’s two leading scorers – both on the frontline – in Nick Greely and Hunter Haddix. Logan Smith, who can play inside and has tremendous range on his shot, is joined by defensive stopper and the team’s third leading scorer in Dante Bonamico.

 

“We always want to do that every game and that’s play inside out. I’m old school and that’s how we do it,” said Robey. “Once the inside is established it really helps make things easier to knock down outside shots because there’s more room and the spacing gets better.

 

“I know they’re going to double us in the post, but we have to read that double quickly,” he continued.  “If they double, we have to make them pay for it because when you double someone is open and we need that someone to step up.”

 

Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. Bridgeport is back in action Saturday at Lewis County and will host Philip Barbour Monday.

 

Editor's Note: Photos from last year's Class AA semifinal game by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.