The winter storm that bullied its way through most of the country left the region devoid of basketball the first half of the week.
That will change on Thursday when WVU Tech hosts Shawnee State in a doubleheader at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. The women’s teams will meet at 4 p.m., followed by the men at 6 p.m. Admission will be free to both “Get Out of the House” games.
The games were originally scheduled for Wednesday but moved back one day because of the weather.
The day will be the first shot at redemption for both Tech teams, who were swept by Shawnee in their River States Conference openers on Dec. 10. The men fell 70-63 and the women 91-59.
The Shawnee men (16-4, 8-0 RSC) come in on a seven-game winning streak. They are averaging 81.2 points per game and have five players in double digits. Senior guard El Sieger leads the way at 11.8 points per game.
Junior forward Jason Steele is next at 11.3 to go with 4.9 rebounds, followed by senior guard Jareon Mayo at 10.8.
Senior guard Tyreon Payne averages 10.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Senior guard/forward Daniel Rosenber is at 10.1 points and leads the team at 5.3 rebounds. Junior forward Kiante Williams is right behind him at 5.2.
Junior guard Rheyce DeBoard averages 2.8 assists.
Sophomore guard Ahmadou Aw is the current NAIA Defensive Player of the Week after posting 11 steals and 10 defensive rebounds in wins over Kentucky Christian and Indiana Southeast.
Tech (6-12, 3-5) continues to be led by junior guards Brandon Moore and Ian Goings. Moore averages 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Goings checks in at 14.3 points and 5.2 rebounds.
Junior forward Jackson Tackett is at 10.5 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Freshman guard Trayten Woods (8.2 ppg) is a 43.8 percent 3-point shooter. Junior guard Cole Chapman is well rounded at 5.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists.
Junior forward Jakyren Woods has been a strong addition, averaging 7.6 points and 5.8 rebounds in five games since joining the team Jan. 10.
The Tech women (12-6, 3-5) have been more successful than in recent seasons but have struggled in conference play. Junior guard Cadence Stewart is leading the way with 15.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game and is still the league’s top 3-point shooter at 47.6 percent.
Senior guard Alexis Sexton is averaging 13.1 points and 6.2 rebounds. Sophomore guard Emily Wratchford averages 8.1 points.
Shawnee State (15.5, 6-2) is led by senior guard Miyoshi Ellis at 14.1 points and 4.2 assists. Sophomore guard Jonilyah Chambers is next at 10.1 points.
Junior forwards Kyla Torok (8.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and T.K. Catchings (8.9, 4.8) are having consistent seasons.
Thursday starts a three-game homestead for Tech, which will host Oakland City on Saturday and Kentucky Christian on Tuesday. Additionally, the men will host a nonconference game against Virginia University of Lynchburg Feb. 5 at Van Meter Gymnasium.
