By JED LOCKETT
BLUEFIELD — Even though the weather has been cold with snow from several winter storms still on the ground, Shay Gravely has been on fire.
The weather did not prevent her from a 22-point, 12-rebound game in a 72-46 win over James Monroe or a 29-point, 15-rebound night against Wyoming East. Those performances were so good that they earned her the honor of Pocahontas Coal Association/Bluefield Daily Telegraph Player of the Week.
The honor represents the culmination of four years worth of hard work.
“She started becoming a starter probably halfway through her freshman year,” said Bluefield head coach Tony Mallamaci. “She’s like having another coach on the floor. She knows where everybody’s position’s supposed to be.”
She may be a leader, but she also possesses a large amount of humility that is shown through a willingness to deflect the credit to her teammates.
“I think I did pretty good with my teammates along my side to help me do good too,” Gravely said. “They helped me play good and they played good, too.”
Gravely enjoys the time she spends with this group from Bluefield High School.
“I like playing with this group of girls,” Gravely said. “They work hard. We all work as a team and we like to win. We work hard in practice.
“We haven’t practiced in a while, though, ’cause we had snow days and stuff, ’cause we had games and stuff. So we really haven’t had time.”
But the Beavers made up for the time that was lost to Mother Nature this season with the experiences they shared previously.
“We played for a long time together, too,” Gravely said. “Plus we played in the summer league over in Beckley together, so that way we see each other a lot, too.”
Gravely could not have done it if she had not worked hard for it either.
“I think I got a little bit better on my shooting,” Gravely said. “My uncle worked with me a little bit in the offseason. I went to a couple basketball camps to do a little shooting and other drills.”
“I think in the early years, she was more or less taking the ball inside, which she still can do,” Mallamaci said. “But now she’s developed a good outside shot, so she can go inside or outside.”
That work has translated into her becoming one of the players the Beavers turn to when they need something to happen.
“If we need a big play, she’s usually the one that comes up with it, a big steal, a big shot like the other night,” Mallamaci said.
The “other night” Mallamaci was referring to was Monday and Bluefield’s game against cross-town rival Graham. Gravely again led the Beavers with 21 points and 13 rebounds and the Beavers won 47-43.
“We just really wanted to beat Graham ’cause they beat us the last couple of years and some people didn’t think we could do it,” Gravely said. “We came back from down by 16, came back and won by four. So that was a big win.”
Gravely did not just do it with scoring and rebounding, she also had the steal that led to the game-winning basket. Like her offensive prowess, Gravely gives credit for her defensive performances to her teammates.
“Our defense has had to get better and our press work, too,” Gravely said. “We know defense wins games, so we try to work a lot on it and let our offense come to us.”
Gravely’s introduction to the game of basketball came from her father and uncle.
“My daddy, he coached me a little bit when I was itty bitty,” Gravely said. “But my uncle worked with me a lot.”
Gravely’s uncle knows how to coach. His name is Tony Webster and he is currently the head man for the West Virginia Blazers and an assistant with Bluefield High School’s boys team.
“I’m very proud of him,” Gravely said. “I’m glad he got to come back my senior year and coach the boys, to be an assistant.”
After graduating from Bluefield High School, Gravely wants to attend college and play hoops at the next level. Ideally, she wants to attend Marshall or West Virginia where she can study in a sports-related field.
“I just like sports and I like playing basketball a lot,” Gravely said.
Before Gravely gets to college, there are still milestones to reach and games to win with the Beavers. She currently has 997 career points, meaning that the 1,000-point barrier is imminent, and the Beavers are 8-3 and poised to make a dent in the postseason.
But the thing that means the most to Gravely is the time spent with her teammates, who are also her friends.
“Having a chance to play with the girls,” Gravely said, “they’re my teammates. I couldn’t do it without them.”
— Contact Jed Lockett
at jlockett@bdtonline.com
Honorable Mention
(Jan. 25-31
Big Creek (0-1, during week): Marissa Johnson, 9 points, 10 rebounds vs. Iaeger.
Bland County (2-0): Laurel Hankins, 54 points, 34 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists vs. Fort Chiswell; Kirby Mustard, 29 points, 16 points, 4 3s vs. Graham, 13 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists vs. Fort Chiswell.
Bluefield (2-0): Ebony Allinson, 19 points, 10 points, 13 rebounds, 10 steals vs. James Monroe; Shelia Hopkins, 24 points; Brittany Pannell, 16 points vs.
Council (0-1): Dakota Bostic, 11 points vs. Honaker; Kelsey Geary, 15 rebounds.
Graham (2-1): Chelsea Gallinger, 58 points, 20 vs. Marion, 22 vs. Abingdon; Maegan Henry, 11 points, 14 rebounds vs. Bland County, 13 points vs. Abingdon; Kelli Landreth, 15 points vs. Marion.
Grundy (1-1): Hannah Stiltner, 29 points, 21 vs. Tazewell; Savannah Charles, 21 points.
Iaeger (1-0): Danielle McClanahan, 14 points vs. Big Creek; Dakota
Roberts, 14 points; Ashley Gibson, 11 points.
James Monroe (0-1): Karsyn Boothe, 12 points, 14 rebounds vs. Bluefield; Melissa Johnston, 11 points, 12 rebounds.
Montcalm (1-2): Tara Havens, 71 points, 21 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists vs. Mount Hope.
Mount View (1-0): Kanisha Cleage, 26 points vs. Montcalm; Ashleigh Belfore, 12 points; Jordan Younger, 11 points.
Narrows (2-0): Starla Reed, 14 points, 6 assists, 4 steals vs. Craig County; Cameron Snidow 21 points, 14 vs. Craig County.
PikeView (0-1): Sasha Pendleton, 11 points vs. Princeton.
Princeton (1-0): McKenzie Akers, 11 points vs. PikeView; Cheyanne Walker, 11 points.
Richlands (3-0): Megan Robinson, 45 points, 25 vs. Tazewell; Evan Ferrell, 30 points, 14 vs. Abingdon; Cassidy Richardson, 10 points vs Honaker.
Summers County (1-0): Hallie Gunnoe, 24 points, 6 steals vs. Midland Trail; Hanna Gunnoe, 13 points; Candace Brown, 11 rebounds, 6 points.
Tazewell (0-3): Kelsey Sutherland, 61 points (all time leading scorer at Tazewell); Iesha Mountain, 16 points vs. Richlands, 13 points vs. Grundy; Katie Snapp, 25 points, 15 vs. Grundy.
Twin Valley (1-0): Katie Jo Lester, 14 points, 17 rebounds vs. Grundy; Rachel Horn, 11 points, 8 rebounds.
