WEST FORK — West Fork boys basketball coach David Ferrell admitted there was some doubts moving his son, Josh, from shooting guard to point guard this season.
“He started 20 or so games for a team that went to the state championship game and we had a senior last year who was a natural point guard,” David Ferrell said. “So he had played off the ball all that time.”
But the 5-foot-11 senior put his father’s feelings to rest pretty quickly as he’s averaged more than 22 points and seven assists a game for the Tigers, who are currently 24-5. He’s improved in every statistical category from a year ago.
“We toyed with the idea of using some other kids at point, a couple sophomores. But we weren’t sure that was really fair to them. None of them knew the system, and Josh knew it well being a three-year starter.
Schedule
Class 3A Region I Tournament
At Paris
Boys
Wednesday’s Games
Game 1: No. 1 Cedarville vs. No. 4 Lamar, 5:30 p.m.
Game 2: No. 1 Charleston vs. No. 4 Green Forest, 8:30 p.m.
Thursday’s Games
Game 3: No. 2 Mansfield vs. No. 3 Elkins, 5:30 p.m.
Game 4: No. 2 West Fork vs. No. 3 Lavaca, 8:30 p.m.
Friday’s Games
Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 5:30 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4 , 8:30 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
Consolation Round
Game 7: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6, 1:30 p.m.
Championship
Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 7:30 p.m.
“Had we had any earthly idea what he would do, we wouldn’t have been so apprehensive,” David Ferrell said. “He’s pushing 700 points, and he’s got 200 assists. He’s had a great year and so has the team.”
Josh Ferrell said he had no apprehension about making the switch to point guard. In fact, he welcomed it.
“I like running it and making the plays happen,” he said. “I knew I had to step up, take the role. I like it maybe better than shooting guard.”
West Fork, the No. 2 seed from the 3A-1 West, will take on Lavaca, the No. 3 seed from the 3A-4, at 8:30 p.m Thursday in the Region 1 Tournament at Paris.
The Tigers need one win to guarantee a berth in their third consecutive state tournament for a close-knit group of four seniors. That would be a first at West Fork.
The quartet of Ferrell, Leon Beasley, Robert Wingate and Trusten DeSoto have played together since third grade and David Ferrell has always been their coach.
They already have been part of 85 wins in three years, the best ever for one class at West Fork. Josh sure wants to keep adding to that total.
“It’s kind of bittersweet,” he said. “We’ve played together for so long, we want to make it last as long as possible.”
Both father and son agreed the year has been a special one.
“I’ve talked to other coaches and they’ve said it’s hard coaching your son, but really this has been one of my easier years to coach,” said David Ferrell, who is finishing his 25th season at West Fork. “I attribute that to Josh and those three seniors. They love it and work hard.”