WHEELING – The legend of Sam Andy lives on.

Andy is the winningest prep hoops coach in Ohio Valley history. The former Wheeling High and Wheeling Park taskmaster amassed an amazing 611 wins to go with three West Virginia Class AAA state titles.

The OVAC Hall of Famer died in July of 2016.

A year ago to help perpetuate his lifetime of accomplishments, the Sam Andy Classic was established and staged at WesBanco Arena. The tourney was the brainchild of current Wheeling Park head coach and former Andy player and assistant Michael Jebbia. His efforts were galvanized by WesBanco Arena Director Denny Magruder.

The classic debut pitted Shadyside against Linsly, Indian Creek vs. Weir and Wheeling Park against Union Local. It met with much success.

The second edition of the Sam Andy Classic is taking on a new look. A girls’ contest has been added to the mix.

It shapes up to be a dandy with two of the premier prep squads squaring off with Wheeling Park facing Bellaire. The Patriot and Big Red ladies will launch the three-game-card at 5:15 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, again at WesBanco.

That will be followed by Wheeling Park’s boys taking on Martins Ferry at 7 p.m. The nightcap has Linsly and Oak Glen boys tipping off at 8:45.

“We are excited to return to WesBanco Arena for the Second Annual Sam Andy Classic. We will host three high school games on Friday, Dec. 14 and continue to remember Coach Andy throughout the evening. Sam loved playing games in the downtown arena as he coached exactly 100 games at the Wheeling Civic Center, now WesBanco Arena,” Jebbia said. “We will also be opening a memorabilia trophy case at the school that will have many items from Coach Andy’s 37-year reign at Wheeling Park High School and Wheeling High. It is located in the Activities/Hall of Fame entrance.”

Magruder was a big fan of Andy as well as the tournament that bears his name.

“It is a great remembrance of Sam. I knew him well and I appreciated all the good he did for kids,” Magruder said. “Michael is doing a great job of paying homage to Sam with this event. It went well last year and I look for it to continue to grow.”

Admission for the tourney will be $5 for students and $7 for adults. OVAC and WVSSAC passes will be permitted. Doors open at 4:15 p.m.

The Sam Andy Classic is also playing a key role in the resurgence of WesBanco Arena as being the mecca of basketball in the Ohio Valley. Decades ago, the downtown Wheeling facility was the hotbed for hoops. That aura is beginning to return.

In addition to the Sam Andy Classic, WesBanco Arena landed two major hoop extravaganzas this year.

Mountain East Conference officials have opted to move their conference tournament from Charleston to the Friendly City. Dr. Gregory Merrick is also relocating his nationally-popular Cancer Research Classic from Wheeling Jesuit to WesBanco.

That is two monster feathers in Magruder’s cap.

The migration to WesBanco comes on the heels of Bob Huggins bringing his WVU hoop squad to the arena last year for a well-attended Mountaineer exhibition game.

It is my guess that, just like the Super Six has demonstrated, Wheeling will prove more fertile ground for the MEC tourney than Charleston. The CRC, meanwhile, to Merrick’s passionate efforts, had simply outgrown the McDonough Center.

“We are proud to be a small part of the resurgence of basketball coming back to WesBanco Arena. With all the upgrades, WesBanco Arena is a beautiful venue and the best place to watch basketball in the area,” Jebbia said. “With the Sam Andy Classic inception last year, it has proven to be instrumental in opening doors for WesBanco Arena to play host to the CRC and MEC this coming season. The CRC and MEC will draw large crowds and I know many basketball enthusiasts are excited to watch basketball at WesBanco Arena.

“However, we should recognize Denny Magruder’s efforts to revitalize WesBanco Arena and welcome basketball to its floor. He and his staff have done tremendous improvements with all areas of the arena,” added the former Wheeling Park hoop legend. “Denny is a pleasure to work with and an all-around great guy. Much of the credit goes to him in entertaining my request to host the Sam Andy Classic. We hope to continue playing basketball at the arena in the future.”

Magruder, meanwhile, is both proud of the facility he oversees as well what it offers to the hardwood sport.

“Wheeling Jesuit used to play games here in the late 1970s and 80s when it was building its program. We hosted several nice high school tournaments, including the McDonald’s Classic,” Magruder said. “WesBanco is the right size with no bad seats. We also have adequate parking. The recent improvements, especially the video board, have really made this an impressive facility.

“What really helped boost basketball here is when Coach Huggins brought WVU to WesBanco. People saw what a great environment it is for basketball. It planted the seed,” he continued. “Doc (Merrick) has done a great job with the CRC. The fans will love it here. Just like the Super Six, I look for the same thing to happen with the MEC. They will see what the Ohio Valley is all about, feel its power and keep the tourney here.”

SPECIAL SECTION

FOR SPECIAL COACHES

DAVE BRUNEY and Jay Circosta are a pair of Ohio Valley coaching legends. The two football icons both opted to retire last month.

The Times Leader is publishing a special edition to commemorate their outstanding careers, which encompassed more than 90 years on the sidelines and 600-plus combined victories.

The tab will include in-depth interviews with both coaches, several feature stories, including one with their wives, as well as a look back at some of the special games and players in their respective careers. A myriad of stats, records and photos will also be included.

The edition will be published in The Times Leader on Friday, July 27. The advertising deadline is Monday, July 16. Anyone interested in advertising in this keepsake tab should call their Times Leader advertising rep or phone 740-633-1131 and ask for the advertising department.

BUBBA’S BITS

STEUBENVILLE CATHOLIC Central has announced its 2018 Athletic Hall of Fame class. The honorees are Dennis Davis (1951), Dave Moitis (1972), Donald Thorn (1972), Brian Allen (1982) and Rocky Bragg (1984). HOF ceremonies will be staged Oct. 11

DANNY SNIVELY has been named athletic director at Berne Union High School. He is the son of Powhatan Point native John and Marilyn (Korner) Snively. Danny played football at Jonathan Alder High, finishing state runnerup in 2006 to Youngstown Cardinal Mooney. John was on the Alder coaching staff. Danny went onto become a two-year starter at Muskingum. Danny’s brother (Ben) is head basketball coach at Marion Pleasant while sister Julie coaches softball at Lancaster High.

MARK IT down: LeBron James will never win another NBA title. The Lakers’ talent can’t stack up to the Warriors. If and when LeBron loads up the Los Angeles roster the Celtics will be ruling the NBA roost.

FORMER WHEELING Central hoop great Chase Harler has a tremendous work ethic. He will do whatever it takes to improve his game. So much so, the 6-3 WVU guard has accepted an invitation to play on a USA East Coast all-star team that is currently playing in China. He follows in the footsteps of Mountaineer guards Jevon Carter and Beetle Bolden who made similar trips.

STATE REP. Jack Cera (D-Bellaire) will honor Bellaire High state shot put champion Cole LaRoche with a Statehouse Resolution Monday at the Bellaire BOE meeting Monday night. Cera is a former Big Reds’ grid star.

THE MOUNTAIN East Conference formally accepted Frostburg State University (Md.) Friday as a new member beginning in 2019-20. Shepherd and Virginia-Wise are both exiting the MEC. Wise is heading to the South Atlantic Conference while Shepherd is moving to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Frostburg State must elevate to NCAA D-II from its current D-III status to join the MEC.