Hopefully you will attend a local high school basketball game this winter season showing your support for our area athletes. When you do, there are a couple of new rule changes that you might not be aware of.

In the past fouls on a team that totaled seven in a half resulted in a one and one bonus or two shots after the total hit 10 fouls. This basically meant from the 7th to the 10th team foul, the player had to make the first one to get the second shot. It resulted in a lot of strategy late in the game when coaches had fouls to give before sending the opposing team to the foul line. It also led to a lot of pressure on the player to hit the first shot when the game was on the line. The new rule now awards two foul shots for all common fouls. Teams will reach the bonus when their opponent commits five fouls in each quarter, and team fouls will reset at the end of each quarter. This eliminates the one-and-one scenario and sets new foul limits each quarter for awarding the bonus free throw.

The new rule was approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations Basketball Rules Committee and the NFHS Board of Directors. They also have a new rule for faking being fouled, which is when a player simulates being fouled or makes exaggerated body movements, commonly called the flop. For the first offense the official will issue a warning to the player. For any subsequent infractions the team will receive a technical foul.

The goal of the new foul shooting rule is to reduce the number of times a player is contacted while trying to rebound a free throw, which is a situation where injuries are most likely to occur. The rule also aims to improve the flow of the game and allow the teams to adjust their play. If they truly want to speed up the game, then the NFHS Rules Committee should look at a shot clock that is currently used in college and the NBA. Just a thought.

It appears Coach Rich Rodriguez has his staff in place for the 2025 season. Notable names include WVU Sports Hall of Famer Noel Devine, a former All-Big East running back for WVU. Devine was hired as an offensive analyst and assistant running backs coach. “Noel knows how I run my program and more importantly, he wants to give back to the place that has given him so much,” Rodrigues said. “He knows Mountaineer football and will be a great asset on the offensive side of the ball.” Devine is the third leading rusher in WVU football with 4,315 yards.

Also added to the staff is Blaine Stewart, son of the late Bill Stewart. Last year Blaine served as the tight end coach under Neal Brown and this year will coach the inside wide receivers. Another familiar name for our area was added as Paden City native Jeff Casteel comes aboard on the defensive side of the ball to coach the outside linebackers. Casteel served under Rodriguez during his last stint at West Virginia and Arizona. One more big addition is Jack Bicknell as offensive line coach. Bicknell has also coached offensive lines at Wisconsin, North Carolina, Louisville, the Miami Dolphins and the Pittsburgh Steelers. “Jack comes from a family of coaches and brings years of experience at the collegiate and professional levels,” said Coach Rod.

One thing is for sure, Coach Rod is generating excitement all around the state for the 2025 WVU football season. Fans interested in Field Box, Diversified Energy Terrace or other premium seating options for the 2025 season are currently on a waitlist basis. Personally, I can’t wait for the Pitt Panthers to return to Morgantown for game three. It will shape up to be a showdown for the ages.

Turning to the local high school winter sports season, one TCHS girl wrestler continues to make a name for herself as she recently participated in the nationally recognized Powerade Tournament in Canonsburg, PA. Junior Eliana Winfrey competed against some of the top ranked female wrestlers in the country and finished runner up. She was defeated in the finals against the Number 1 Ranked female wrestler in the country, Violette Lasure. On the boys’ side, wrestlers Branson Winfrey and Colson Spragg both picked up win number 100 for their careers and continue to add to that number as the season progresses.

The Wheeling Intelligencer recently announced their All-Valley Honorees for Football, Volleyball, Golf, Cross Country, Boys Soccer and Girls Soccer. Named as Captain of the All-Valley Cross Country team was Tyler Consolidated High School’s Amos Kimble. Also named was Landen Davis from Magnolia. Named to first-team volleyball was Sienna McKeever and Jessa Anderson from Magnolia, and Katie Grimm, TCHS, earned second-team. First-team honoree for football was Valley’s Gavin Derby. Second-team honors went to TCHS running back Branson Winfrey and offensive and defensive lineman Garrett Bordenkircher. Congrats to all for pulling down the honors.

As winter weather hits us, let’s hope that there are not too many cancellations during January and February. I look forward to attending as many games as possible, but throw in some bad weather and it makes it extremely difficult. Our local basketball teams are hitting the midpoint of their seasons, some with winning records and others without, but all continue to work hard to pursue victories through the last 12 games of the season and into the postseason. The good thing about basketball is every team makes the post-season tournament with hopes of traveling to Charleston for the finals. The final season record does not matter since everyone starts at 0-0 in their respective sectionals. The Star News and Wetzel Chronicle both are pulling for strong finishes for area teams.