Memorable Winter Season Ends For Cameron
CAMERON -- When the Cameron boys' basketball team made the trip to Charleston for the West Virginia Class A state tournament, it was the first time the Dragons played in the Charleston Coliseum.
Unfortunately, it was a short trip as Cameron fell to Tug Valley, 69-55 on Tuesday in the quaterfinals.
And as the clock struck zero, it put an end to a memorable winter sports season for not only the boys basketball team, but the whole Cameron community itself.
The week before the boys basketball team made the trip to the state capital, it was the girls basketball team that made a run at the state tournament for the first time.
The girls basketball team made it to the Class A title game before falling to Tug Valley.
Also, on April 23rd, the Cameron wrestling team made noise at the Class AA/A state tournament securing runner-up honors in the Class A Division with Ian Bush securing an individual title.
"It's been amazing," Cameron boys basketball coach Tom Hart said. "With everything that went on last week, with girls getting to the finals and us finally winning that regional game.
"We got over the hump. The community support means a lot not only for our team, but also for the school. For a small community like Cameron, it's a big deal. I'm so proud to be a part of it. Being a member of a community and growing up there, it means a lot to have that community support."
And the support was in full swing Tuesday as well. The Cameron faithful packed the stands and saw the boys basketball team give all their effort.
And even though it was the Dragons first time playing in the Charleston Coliseum, it certainly didn't look like it in the early going as they led after the first quarter and had a seven point lead about midway through the second.
Although it was the first time the boys basketball team stepped on the court, the Charleston Coliseum was a familiar location to them for the past week.
"I think one of the big keys was the girls team was down here last week," Hart said about his players not being nervous about playing on the big stage. "We worked our schedule around for the boys to come down and support them. I think actually seeing that environment for three games, I think that helped a little bit."
And as the girls team was making a solid run at a state championship run in Charleston, the boys' secured their first regional crown in school history.
"Last week it was really cool to be part of," Logan Burkett, a senior on the boys basketball team said. "You kind of feel that little buzz in the air in the school. We're top on the list in those sports in the state now. It's always a goal the school has pushed and the community has followed us everywhere."
And that's exactly what small communities do. When there's success, there will always be support.
The boys basketball team made it to all three of the girls games in Charleston to show their support. And while the girls weren't able to make it to the boys regional co-final, they were able to stream the game and cheer for their classmates from afar.
"The girls had a great run," Trevor Beresford said. "Bush won his first state championship. Good run by him. I mean that's a good friend of mine and I know how hard he works. We support each other. The community is there. We're just on our way up right now."
And that certainly seems to be the case for the Dragons. As all the three teams are relatively young.
Needless to say, 2021 will not be a one-and-done year for Cameon and the trophy cases might need to find some more room.
And with a small town community giving the Dragons support the whole way, the next couple of years could be just as special.
"Our community has been with us the entire way," Cole Burkett said. "They were here for the girls and they were here with us and I'm sure with the wrestlers, too. I think over § of Cameron was in those stands. They followed us everywhere."