As high school teams from around the state submerge themselves into the heart of the three-week practice period, most coaches would say that one huge advantage of this time of year is seeing where other schools stand in relation to their own programs.
As high school teams from around the state submerge themselves into the heart of the three-week practice period, most coaches would say that one huge advantage of this time of year is seeing where other schools stand in relation to their own programs.
Such is the case for St. Albans girls basketball coach Scott James, who along with his squad will play host to the eighth annual St. Albans High School Lady Red Dragon Summer Shootout, which will run June 29-July 1. The event will draw 48 teams from 45 schools, including defending Class AAA state champion North Marion and defending Class A champion St. Joseph.
James says there are many reasons the Shootout has become such a big event.
"Number one, our timing is good," said James. "We have it at the end of the three weeks and it allows coaches to evaluate how far their team has come along and know what they need to do to get where they want to be."
James also says that the Shootout is not only advantageous for teams in the following prep season, but also gives players college exposure and allows squads to gauge themselves against competition from parts of the state they may not see during the year.
"We get teams from all over the state, so we pair teams against teams they don't normally see," James said. "We have many of the [West Virginia Conference] coaches come, some spend all three days evaluating talent for this season and for the future."
The event will also feature a college fair for players and the general population of high school students at St. Albans. WVU, Marshall, Fairmont State, Charleston and others will have booths set up.
Capital coach aims high
New Capital football coach Jon Carpenter is getting his first look at his squad during this three-week period. The Cougars finished 6-5 last season and, despite some relative success over the past few years, have failed to reach a state title game since 1996 or capture a state crown since a 20-0 win over Hedgesville in 1995.
Carpenter thinks his team isn't far from returning to past glory.
"Everybody is excited and flying around in practice," Carpenter said. "The key is keeping the kids here. We've tried to do a good job recruiting our own kids, and everybody we wanted here we've got here. We've got this coaching thing figured out, to be a good coach you've got to have good players. There's no secret to it."
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SA's Shootout will showcase top talent
As high school teams from around the state submerge themselves into the heart of the three-week practice period, most coaches would say that one huge advantage of this time of year is seeing where other schools stand in relation to their own programs.
Such is the case for St. Albans girls basketball coach Scott James, who along with his squad will play host to the eighth annual St. Albans High School Lady Red Dragon Summer Shootout, which will run June 29-July 1. The event will draw 48 teams from 45 schools, including defending Class AAA state champion North Marion and defending Class A champion St. Joseph.
James says there are many reasons the Shootout has become such a big event.
"Number one, our timing is good," said James. "We have it at the end of the three weeks and it allows coaches to evaluate how far their team has come along and know what they need to do to get where they want to be."
James also says that the Shootout is not only advantageous for teams in the following prep season, but also gives players college exposure and allows squads to gauge themselves against competition from parts of the state they may not see during the year.
"We get teams from all over the state, so we pair teams against teams they don't normally see," James said. "We have many of the [West Virginia Conference] coaches come, some spend all three days evaluating talent for this season and for the future."
The event will also feature a college fair for players and the general population of high school students at St. Albans. WVU, Marshall, Fairmont State, Charleston and others will have booths set up.
Capital coach aims high
New Capital football coach Jon Carpenter is getting his first look at his squad during this three-week period. The Cougars finished 6-5 last season and, despite some relative success over the past few years, have failed to reach a state title game since 1996 or capture a state crown since a 20-0 win over Hedgesville in 1995.
Carpenter thinks his team isn't far from returning to past glory.
"Everybody is excited and flying around in practice," Carpenter said. "The key is keeping the kids here. We've tried to do a good job recruiting our own kids, and everybody we wanted here we've got here. We've got this coaching thing figured out, to be a good coach you've got to have good players. There's no secret to it."
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As high school teams from around the state submerge themselves into the heart of the three-week practice period, most coaches would say that one huge advantage of this time of year is seeing where other schools stand in relation to their own programs.
Such is the case for St. Albans girls basketball coach Scott James, who along with his squad will play host to the eighth annual St. Albans High School Lady Red Dragon Summer Shootout, which will run June 29-July 1. The event will draw 48 teams from 45 schools, including defending Class AAA state champion North Marion and defending Class A champion St. Joseph.
James says there are many reasons the Shootout has become such a big event.
"Number one, our timing is good," said James. "We have it at the end of the three weeks and it allows coaches to evaluate how far their team has come along and know what they need to do to get where they want to be."
James also says that the Shootout is not only advantageous for teams in the following prep season, but also gives players college exposure and allows squads to gauge themselves against competition from parts of the state they may not see during the year.
"We get teams from all over the state, so we pair teams against teams they don't normally see," James said. "We have many of the [West Virginia Conference] coaches come, some spend all three days evaluating talent for this season and for the future."
The event will also feature a college fair for players and the general population of high school students at St. Albans. WVU, Marshall, Fairmont State, Charleston and others will have booths set up.
Capital coach aims high
New Capital football coach Jon Carpenter is getting his first look at his squad during this three-week period. The Cougars finished 6-5 last season and, despite some relative success over the past few years, have failed to reach a state title game since 1996 or capture a state crown since a 20-0 win over Hedgesville in 1995.
Carpenter thinks his team isn't far from returning to past glory.
"Everybody is excited and flying around in practice," Carpenter said. "The key is keeping the kids here. We've tried to do a good job recruiting our own kids, and everybody we wanted here we've got here. We've got this coaching thing figured out, to be a good coach you've got to have good players. There's no secret to it."
One of those players is no secret to anyone in the state. Returning senior halfback Keion Wright ran for 1,037 yards on 197 carries and scored 10 touchdowns as a junior last season. Wright has started all three seasons for the Cougars leading up to this year, and no one is more excited to have him back than Carpenter.
"Every year you go to coaching clinics people talk about philosophy and genius things they do, I'm not that smart," Carpenter said. "To be a good offense, you've got to have someone that can score, so having someone like Keion who works extremely hard is great. He's the best I've ever been around. Everyone knows how good a football player he is and there's no one I'd rather have as a first-year coach.
"The most important thing is his attitude and work ethic, it's almost too good to be true. He never misses, he's here all the time, and works as hard as anyone I've ever been around. To have him as a leader is just as important as him running the football for us."
While Carpenter says no "drastic" changes will be made to the Cougars' offensive and defensive strategy, he did say the team will be influenced, especially on offense, by the University of Charleston, which shares UC Stadium/Laidley Field with Capital.
"We have something here that no one in America has and that's a college football team that goes right before us," said Carpenter. "We've taken all of our snaps in the shotgun thus far and we're implementing quite a bit of [UC coach Tony] DeMeo's offense."
The Cougars' attack may be more complex this season, but Carpenter points to simple philosophies in years past as the blueprint to bringing Capital back to the top of the Class AAA mountain.
"We're not going to do anything much different. Our formula is to play good 'D' and run the football," Carpenter said.
This article is available only to our premium digital content subscribers.
SA's Shootout will showcase top talent
As high school teams from around the state submerge themselves into the heart of the three-week practice period, most coaches would say that one huge advantage of this time of year is seeing where other schools stand in relation to their own programs.
Such is the case for St. Albans girls basketball coach Scott James, who along with his squad will play host to the eighth annual St. Albans High School Lady Red Dragon Summer Shootout, which will run June 29-July 1. The event will draw 48 teams from 45 schools, including defending Class AAA state champion North Marion and defending Class A champion St. Joseph.
James says there are many reasons the Shootout has become such a big event.
"Number one, our timing is good," said James. "We have it at the end of the three weeks and it allows coaches to evaluate how far their team has come along and know what they need to do to get where they want to be."
James also says that the Shootout is not only advantageous for teams in the following prep season, but also gives players college exposure and allows squads to gauge themselves against competition from parts of the state they may not see during the year.
"We get teams from all over the state, so we pair teams against teams they don't normally see," James said. "We have many of the [West Virginia Conference] coaches come, some spend all three days evaluating talent for this season and for the future."
The event will also feature a college fair for players and the general population of high school students at St. Albans. WVU, Marshall, Fairmont State, Charleston and others will have booths set up.
Capital coach aims high
New Capital football coach Jon Carpenter is getting his first look at his squad during this three-week period. The Cougars finished 6-5 last season and, despite some relative success over the past few years, have failed to reach a state title game since 1996 or capture a state crown since a 20-0 win over Hedgesville in 1995.
Carpenter thinks his team isn't far from returning to past glory.
"Everybody is excited and flying around in practice," Carpenter said. "The key is keeping the kids here. We've tried to do a good job recruiting our own kids, and everybody we wanted here we've got here. We've got this coaching thing figured out, to be a good coach you've got to have good players. There's no secret to it."
