Prepping for Coalfield... Round 2
It's Feb 2, 2026 - and it's been a couple of weeks since I've written up the WCHS basketball games. In that span of time - both the Middle and High School schedules went nuclear - with games and tournaments almost every night of the week if you have students in both programs. Then - we had two weeks worth of winter weather - and there's all sorts of things to figure out when there's snow on the ground... But now - we find ourselves headed into a rematch from our worst night of basketball of the season. On December 12, Coalfield came to Wartburg's Dallas Reed Davis Gymnasium and went 3-0 against Boys' JV, Girls' Varsity, and Boys' Varsity - with both varsities being lopsided losses for the Bulldogs. Fast forward to February - and it's time to head into the Belly of the Beast... Let's check the re-cap on how ready we might be...
Let's start with the girls. Since my last writing - the girls have played 6 games and gone a respectable 4-2 during that time. They have battled back to an (8-10) record overall - and they have looked good behind their 2 big hitters... Team leaders Braylen Melton with 257 points - and Kaylee Ledford with 253 points have continued to fan the flames of this hot team - and Coach Jen Hendricks is here for it! But are they ready for the buzzsaw of Coalfield? Their girls come into this one with an impressive 14-5 record - and 3-0 in the district. While it may be an uphill battle... look for a gameplan that tries to slow down the Yellow Jackets quick scoring - and figure out a way to even the playing field of that deep bench. Can the Bulldogs hand the Yellow Jackets their first District loss? Only time will tell!
Next up are the boys. Going all the way down to Boys and Girls Club leagues, these Wartburg vs. Coalfield games get hyped up to the maximum. Sometimes, the players get tense and just overthink things. In the first game, the Bulldogs came in with a 5-1 record and got manhandled by the physical Yellow Jackets. Now - almost 2 months later - the Bulldogs have improved to 10-8 - while Coalfield boasts a 5-9 record. With the turmoil of a coaching change for the Coalfield High School program... and Mr. Coalfield Teddy Ballgame (Ted McKinney) making the jump to Wartburg by switching sidelines from Coalfield Middle to Wartburg High - the emotions will once again be at a fever pitch. The Wartburg boys hit a cold streak starting at the Sunbright game - but against Oakdale looked like they had regained their mojo. Look for this game to be loud and emotional - and a much better game than the prior contest.
Looking back on some of the themes from the last few weeks...
Let's start with the girls. Since my last writing - the girls have played 6 games and gone a respectable 4-2 during that time. They have battled back to an (8-10) record overall - and they have looked good behind their 2 big hitters... Team leaders Braylen Melton with 257 points - and Kaylee Ledford with 253 points have continued to fan the flames of this hot team - and Coach Jen Hendricks is here for it! But are they ready for the buzzsaw of Coalfield? Their girls come into this one with an impressive 14-5 record - and 3-0 in the district. While it may be an uphill battle... look for a gameplan that tries to slow down the Yellow Jackets quick scoring - and figure out a way to even the playing field of that deep bench. Can the Bulldogs hand the Yellow Jackets their first District loss? Only time will tell!
Next up are the boys. Going all the way down to Boys and Girls Club leagues, these Wartburg vs. Coalfield games get hyped up to the maximum. Sometimes, the players get tense and just overthink things. In the first game, the Bulldogs came in with a 5-1 record and got manhandled by the physical Yellow Jackets. Now - almost 2 months later - the Bulldogs have improved to 10-8 - while Coalfield boasts a 5-9 record. With the turmoil of a coaching change for the Coalfield High School program... and Mr. Coalfield Teddy Ballgame (Ted McKinney) making the jump to Wartburg by switching sidelines from Coalfield Middle to Wartburg High - the emotions will once again be at a fever pitch. The Wartburg boys hit a cold streak starting at the Sunbright game - but against Oakdale looked like they had regained their mojo. Look for this game to be loud and emotional - and a much better game than the prior contest.
Looking back on some of the themes from the last few weeks...
Paxton Quinney... Jekyll or Hyde?
Paxton Quinney is the Wartburg Boys' leading scorer for the season by a fairly wide margin. About a month ago - he was on pace for a 500 point season if he maintained a 19 point average per game. That was all well and good until a) He went on a 3-game cold streak (Sunbright, Eagleton, Harriman) and b) He lost a game from the schedule! (Rockwood round 2 has been cancelled). While Quinney had some of his lower outputs on his 3-game cold streak (29 total points over 3 games) - he followed that streak up with a career high of 42 points against Jellico - and then another 38 in basically 3 quarters against Oakdale! Quinney is back on track - and back on pace for 500 points despite the Rockwood game dropping off the schedule. Will we get Jekyll or Hyde??? Nah - we'll just get Paxton! With a junior dropping 500 points - it looks like Quinney might have the opportunity to continue his playing career after his senior year... Vote below on what Colleges/Universities we need to be compiling tape for:
Ledford Raises the Ceiling
Coming into Jellico game - I don't think I'd ever seen a Wartburg High School player score 30+. I'd seen 28 - but never 30. The first game of the night saw the girls team coming to life and punishing the helpless Jellico girls. In that game - Kaylee Ledford scored a career-high 34 points after what had been a 3-game semi-cool streak! As I mentioned earlier - Paxton Quinney would then push the ceiling even higher by dropping 42 in the boys game - but it was a night for breaking records! Ledford is solid in every aspect of the game - and she fills the stat sheet out every game... points, assists, rebounds - she is a hustle player from end to end! Great work Kaylee!
Robinson Gets His Dunk!
With all that's been said about Paxton Quinney and his amazing year - let's not forget about his partner in crime. Senior Ian Robinson has a slashing style of ball that is intense and chaotic - making life hard for any opposing player with heavy feet. With 284 points on the season - Robinson is having a great year - and he continues to hold the title of ONLY successful dunker on the Wartburg team. The slam dunk is elusive - the players that have the ability to dunk have a much harder time making it happen in a real game when it counts. Where Robinson already had one successful dunk this season - it wasn't with an exclamation point behind it. But against Oakdale - Robinson jumped into the sky - and drilled a left-handed jam with authority! Senior season - checking off the milestones... Slam dunks... check... 25-point game... check... Next up... 1,000-point career and 300-point season.... Maybe against the Yellow Jackets? We'll see. Check this FB link for a video of the infamous dunk!
Coming on Strong!
Looking back over these last few weeks - we've had plenty of basketball to watch. Who are some players that have been coming on strong?
1. Parker Rogers - Known by many as simply "Rog" - he has been cementing himself into the lineup as a fixture. With quick feet and quick hands - he is a terror on defense - and he is flipping the switch to get past the sophomore slump... That's where sophomores have to take the leap from being an end of the bench role player - to having the confidence that they are needed and belong. For Parker - he is making himself hard to take off the floor.
2. Lila Frasier - The sophomore Frasier had a slow-ish start to her season - but she has come on STRONG as of late. Over her last 4 games, she has scored 29 points - which is exactly half of her points for the season! With a season/career high against Oakdale with 13 - look for Frasier to continue playing strong and shooting with confidence. A well-deserved "Brew Crew Athlete of the Week"!
1. Parker Rogers - Known by many as simply "Rog" - he has been cementing himself into the lineup as a fixture. With quick feet and quick hands - he is a terror on defense - and he is flipping the switch to get past the sophomore slump... That's where sophomores have to take the leap from being an end of the bench role player - to having the confidence that they are needed and belong. For Parker - he is making himself hard to take off the floor.
2. Lila Frasier - The sophomore Frasier had a slow-ish start to her season - but she has come on STRONG as of late. Over her last 4 games, she has scored 29 points - which is exactly half of her points for the season! With a season/career high against Oakdale with 13 - look for Frasier to continue playing strong and shooting with confidence. A well-deserved "Brew Crew Athlete of the Week"!
3. Trevin "Red Alert" Hooks - Speaking of Brew Crew Athletes of the Week - Trevin Hooks got a little love from the powers that be for his prowess on the sidelines as a cheerleader. Hooks is a big part of providing a base for the stunts, yelling through his megaphone, and performing pushups for free throws. But beyond that - he brings his own personality to the sidelines by yelling kind remarks through the megaphone in a quiet moment like "I love you Gavin" (those always crack me up!) He also half the time draws chants from the crowd that they want Trevin! He's a man in demand! Nice work!
4. Blake "Squeaky B" Bingham... I think I could say the whole JV squad for the "Coming on Strong" recognition - but one pleasant surprise has been Blake Bingham. You may think he's just the kid that always squeaks his sneakers on the floor... but he's also the kid that's been DIALED IN from the three point line as of late. In JV games, he's hit 5+ threes on at least 2 occasions over these last few weeks. He's still getting up to speed for full-time duty - but his shot is there. Good things are coming for Squeaky B... If you hear the *squeak squeak* coming... watch out for the threes to drop - he's here!
4. Blake "Squeaky B" Bingham... I think I could say the whole JV squad for the "Coming on Strong" recognition - but one pleasant surprise has been Blake Bingham. You may think he's just the kid that always squeaks his sneakers on the floor... but he's also the kid that's been DIALED IN from the three point line as of late. In JV games, he's hit 5+ threes on at least 2 occasions over these last few weeks. He's still getting up to speed for full-time duty - but his shot is there. Good things are coming for Squeaky B... If you hear the *squeak squeak* coming... watch out for the threes to drop - he's here!
Tuesday - the Bulldogs travel to Coalfield for Round 2. Make sure to fill the stands up with blue. If ever there was a game where your team needs your support - it's against the Big Orange Machine!
Go Dogs!
