Last season was special for the Tug Valley Panthers. The team overcame a lot of adversity and ended up cutting down the nets in Charleston as they captured the school’s fourth ever boys basketball state championship. This year, they have an opportunity to do something even more special – go back-to-back.
Tug Valley will enter the 2024-25 season as the prohibitive favorites in Class A after finishing 22-6 last season and earning a 35-32 win over Tucker County in the Class A state championship. It was the third state title under head coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson and the first since 2013 when the Panthers were finishing off back-to-back state titles, winning Class AA in 2012 and Class A in 2013.
The Panthers only lost one player off the roster due to graduation, but it was a big one as center Buddy Marcum graduated on top after having a phenomenal state tournament.
Tug Valley will be led by First Team All-State point guard Braydun Ferris. The junior averaged 16.6 points, 5.5 assists and 2 steals per game a year ago. Ferris’ game has continually improved, and he finds himself as the premiere point guard in Class A. Second Teall All-State guard Kaden Hale also returns. The senior sharp shooter averaged 12.7 points per game last year and hit 53% of his 3-point field goal attempts.
Senior Ashton Davis and junior Bryson Elia also are expected to return to the starting lineup. Both young men are coming off a semifinal playoff run in football and may miss some early games. Davis was an Honorable Mention All-State selection and averaged 12.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He was able to work the inside and outside, connecting on 40% of 3-point field goals last season. With Marcum’s departure, he may be asked to defend the post more this season.
Elia does a bit of everything for the Panthers. He’s a lockdown defender and averaged 7.5 points, 4.2 points, 3.0 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. Elia cemented himself in Tug Valley basketball lore when he came up with a steal and basket in the closing seconds of last season’s Class A title game to give the Panthers the lead and eventual state title.
Carson Newsome looks to have an expanded role after averaging 7.5 points on 44% 3-point field goal shooting off the bench last season. Brady Brewer returns to play in the post after averaging 4.0 points last season. Senior Ethan Ferrell transfers in from Prestonsburg where he averaged 9.0 points and 3.9 rebounds while hitting 36.4% of his shots from 3-point range. Jace Hale also returns and could see some time in the post this season.
Sophomores Cameron Slone and Preston May have starred on the football field but could provide valuable minutes off the bench for Tug Valley.
Tug Valley’s schedule is difficult once again, facing great Class AA teams like Charleston Catholic, Williamstown and Logan. They also have tough Class A opponents like Tucker County, Webster County and Huntington St Joe. Tug Valley also plays some tough teams from Kentucky like Pike County Central and Martin County.
The Panthers begin their regular season on Tuesday when they play Huntington St Joe in a boy/girl doubleheader at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington. The girls start at 5:30 pm while the boys are set to tip at 7:30 pm.
Photos Courtesy of Karen Watts
