| EXCITEMENT BUILDING IN GLENVILLE
Virtually anywhere you look in the athletic complex crews are working
preparing for the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament beginning here
Friday.
Lady Pioneers head coach Steve Harold was beginning to prepare a
scouting report on St. Andrews.
Extra custodian crews were summoned to the gym to clean, do touch-up
painting, wash windows, and wax floors.
The entire office crew was cutting out and preparing NCAA passes.
The trophies arrived and were locked in a safe place.
Dennis Fitzpatrick, the unofficial detail person who makes sure
everything is attended to, was running around all over the building -
impossible to keep up with.
By Monday, before noon, NCAA officials contacted Debbie Nagy telling her
a package of NCAA Championship merchandise was on the way. Those items
arrived Wednesday and Nagy was preparing a display.
Will Prewitt, associate commissioner of the WVIAC, arrived late Tuesday
following an NCAA Championship Committee meeting he attended in
Indianapolis.
Prewitt is the point man overseeing preparation, along with
Ralph Hill, Chairman of the East Region NCAA Women's Basketball
Championship. Hill's regular job is athletic director at Davis & Elkins.
Hill and Prewitt's responsibility is to make certain all NCAA rules are
followed "to the letter."
All commercial signs in the gym had to either be taken down or covered
with NCAA logos.
A sign on the gym entrance said it was "locked down" from March 5
through March 12.
New basketballs arrived for game play.
Prewitt said Glenville's entire athletic department staff was working on
various aspects of the tournament. "They've done a great job."
"Hopefully by tomorrow Steve (Harold) doesn't have to worry about much
other than coaching his team," Prewitt added.
Wednesday was the final day the Lady Pioneers were allowed to have a
regular practice session. Beginning Thursday, the eight teams are
permitted 55 minutes of practice time on the floor.
The teams are being housed in Flatwoods, while the tournament staff is
staying at the local Best Western.
Twelve referees are being sent to officiate the games; four from each of
the three conferences.
Prewitt predicted the tournament will be a resounding success. "The
atmosphere for women's basketball is unrivaled here in Glenville," he
concluded.
The NCAA Division II Women's Championship Basketball Tournament begins
Friday. Games are at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The Lady Pioneers
face St. Andrews at 8 p.m.
The semi-finals are Saturday. The championship will be decided Monday night.
NOTE: Refer to previous Hur Herald coverage for the complete schedule of
the tournament.
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