Page 11 - The Buzz 03/20/2026

MARCH 20 - APRIL 2, 2026 The SPORTS |B3
West Muskingum Tornadoes continue history making season

earning Region Title against Ironton

BY MATTHEW DOTSON | THE BUZZ

Vs. Ironton (3/14)
On the court in the Convocation
Center at Ohio University, Athens, the
Tornadoes were making the West
Muskingum school history books
as they took on the Ironton Fighting
Tigers for the Division V Region 19
championship Title. With their first
foray into the final eight, under the
guidance of the first-year head coach
Cole Smith, West was expecting a
big challenge from the 23 – 2 Tigers.
The Tornadoes got ahead of the
Tigers early on and carried the lead
through to the end of the first quar-
ter, taking a 12 – 8 advantage into
the second period. Ironton rallied for
13 points in the second period, but
it didn’t slow down the Tornadoes
as they held a 27 – 21 lead heading
into the halftime locker room.
The Fighting Tigers came back
from the break, hoping to overturn
the West lead and take over the
game despite outscoring the Torna-
does 13 – 10 in the third quarter,
West Muskingum still led 37 – 34
at the end of the period. The two
teams went shot-for-shot in the last
minutes of the game, with the Tigers
unable to close the deficit, and the
record-breaking season for West
Muskingum got extended by a 45 –
42 victory over Ironton, giving them
the Division V Region 19 Title for the
first time in school history, and a trip
to the Final Four in Dayton.
“Honestly, it’s amazing. It’s not
about one individual person, it’s
about the whole team. I think the en-
ergy here is crazy.
Everybody has their role. We came in,
we were the underdogs. Everybody
out there said we couldn’t rebound,
we couldn’t do this, we couldn’t do
that. I think we just proved out there
that we are a great basketball team.
I’m just excited to keep playing with
my guys. [going forward] Honestly,
just the same as always. We never
change anything that we do. We just
stick to defense. Our number one
goal is to be a great defense.” stated
junior center Carter Smith.
Senior forward Tavin Bennett said
“Oh, this is something that we didn’t Carter Smith tries to hit a quick two for the Tornadoes. Matthew Dotson
really expect this at all coming into
this year. Brand new coach. It’s just ing a 28 – 24 lead into the halftime
something that we unconsciously intermission.
worked for. We all just kind of came With both teams back in play,
out here and gave it our all. And, you West kept their momentum as they
know, without really talking about pushed past the Devils ‘ defense to
it, we knew this is kind of what we finish the third period up 44 – 38.
wanted to accomplish. Watching as their chances for con-
Moving forward, we had a lot of turn- tinued playoff games faded, the Red
overs. I think we were just excited. Devils left it all on the court in the
You know, we haven’t been here be- fourth quarter, tying up the game in
fore, so you know, we kind of were the last seconds to push the teams
trying to rush a good bit, trying to into overtime at 57 – 57. Head-to-
speed up the game a little too fast head in the final minutes, the two
for ourselves. But in the second half, teams went scoreless down to the
we kind of fixed that a little bit. So last seconds of the period when a
I think going into the next game, last-second pass from the oppo- West Muskingum celebrated their very first Regional Championship.. Matthew Dotson
that’s something that we’re going to site end of the court was caught by
need to probably fix.” sophomore Noah Morrison, who hit a Vs. Ridgewood (3/7) The pause in play didn’t give Ridge-
shot for two to win the game 59 – 57 Tri-Valley High School hosted the wood any assistance as West came
Vs. St. Clairsville (3/11) for West Muskingum as the players Division V playoff game between back to dominate in the third quar-
On Wednesday at Winland Memo- tackled each other in excitement on West Muskingum and Ridgewood. ter, even with a running clock to end
rial Gymnasium in Zanesville, the the sidelines. West Muskingum didn’t waste time the third, up 50 – 11. As the clock
West Muskingum Tornadoes faced The shot that won the game was as they took off for the goal as soon continued to tick down, the Torna-
the St. Clairsville Red Devils on neu- made by West M’s lead scorer, Noah as the game started, and never does finished the game up 56 – 17
tral ground. The two teams were bat- Morrison, who had 24 points, two re- looked back, taking a huge 19 – 3 to move on to win the District Title
tling from the first whistle, with West bounds, three assists, and a steal to lead at the end of the first quarter. for West for the first time since the
M taking a slight 20 – 17 lead at the shine for the Tornadoes. Teammates Ridgewood barely touched the ball in 1989-90 season.
first break over the Red Devils. Scor- Carter Smith, Tavin Bennett, and the second period as the Tornadoes
ing slowed in the second period, but Gray Knowlton each had nine points blew through the first half with a 40
the Tornadoes kept their edge, tak- for West. – 7 advantage at halftime.

West Muskingum’s Noah Morrison going up for a shot against Ironton. Matthew Dotson West M’s Tavin Bennett maneuvers around the Fighting Tiger defense. Matthew Dotson