When you’ve played and beaten some of the top teams in the state of West Virginia and you’re getting ready to begin postseason play as the number one seed in your boys’ basketball section, it goes without saying you’re probably a pretty good team. Of course, when you look at this year’s Bridgeport High School basketball team there’s so much more to what’s transpired even with seeing their first two losses of the season than simply a good team blessed with talent.

 

The seeds of success for two-fifths of the starting lineup were planted years ago in Clarksburg and in what might be the most unlikeliest of places for anyone that wears the red and white of the Indians. For years, however, senior guard Chase Robey and junior backcourt mate Donald Kummer could be found at every Robert C. Byrd game. And it wasn’t just because Kummer was in the RCB feeder system at the time or Robey’s father was an assistant coach to his good friend and Eagles Coach Bill Bennett.

 

Rather, Robey and Kummer were the Eagles’ ball boys. They were the guys that looked up to players like Brett Ervin, Jordan Griffith, Steven Collins and so many other RCB standouts. They were the two guys that were getting water, towels and whatever else was needed. And they were the guys who were getting a chance to shoot inside on cold days, run drills and watch and even participate in their own practice drills.

 

Today, Mike Robey is the coach at BHS. His son, who was always in the Bridgeport feeder system, has been a standout since he arrived at the varsity level. Kummer, whose family moved to Bridgeport while in middle school, became reacquainted with his ball boy buddy and for the past three years have produced some hoops magic in Bridgeport.

 

Together, the pair will be looking to make their third straight trip to Charleston. They’ll go into this week’s sectional tournament on the team that is the number one seed. And Coach Robey thinks part of the reason things go so well on the floor is a result of those two being closely involved to practices for several years at RCB.

 

“It’s almost like those two have been at every one of my practices for the last 10 years or so and, you know what, I think it’s helped both of them and this team,” said Robey. “When I was at RCB those two would be doing every drill the high school kids were doing and they’re in the second or third grade. In my mind there’s been a benefit from that.”

 

Chase Robey, the older of the two, said they did absorb what was taking place. He said that, along with having his own father at home as a coach, has helped out with his development as a player.

 

“I kind of knew what to expect with practices after spending so much time with Coach Bennett and dad as a kid. There weren’t a lot of surprises and it’s helped out,” said Robey. “Looking back, Donald and I have come a long way.”

 

The “long way” has had the Indians at or near the top of either Associated Press Poll or the MetroNews Power Index for the entire season. And like his backcourt mate, Kummer thinks a lot of it has to do with those early days together.

 

“I was ball boy for maybe seven years and playing in the RCB gym and being at so many others so often kind of helps out because you know your surroundings,” said Kummer. “The hardest thing, though, is playing against Coach Bennett because he’s such a good friend. I used to work for him and these past few years I’ve had to play against him.”

 

Whether or not they play against each other at least one more time will be determined Tuesday. If Bridgeport and Robert C. Byrd both win their sectional games, they’ll meet up Thursday in the Class AA, Region II, Section 2 title game. Whatever happens, part of what Robey and Kummer do will stem from those early lessons learned as ball boys at One Eagle Way.

 

“To watch them to go out there now is so much fun. They’re both smart and I think that comes from going into the gym when they were young and tiny,” said Robey. “It’s like they’re miniature coaches out there. The thing is, even though Chase and Donald were going to different schools back then, most of the kids in our starting lineup were playing together at an early age. That familiarity certainly helps.”

 

Robey is talking about the early days of organized basketball away from the gymnasium. Not only were Chase Robey and Donald Kummer members of the Rim Rockers AAU team that actually sported old Washington Irving uniforms, but a youngster from Simpson Elementary named John Wilfong and another youngster from St. Mary’s in Clarksburg named Dante Bonamico were also part of the mix.

 

“When you see kids that truly enjoy playing together and have done so for a long time, good things happen,” Robey said. “Hopefully, these kids will get to play together as long as possible this year.”

 

Editor's Note: Top and second photo show Donald Kummer and Chase Robey during the ball boy and current playing days. Bottom photo of the Rim Rockers in their WI uniforms are, from left Dante Bonamico, Kummer, John Wilfong and Robey.