Deloney Drives Elkins Back To State Tourney

STAFF PHOTO VERNON TARVER Trevor Deloney, Elkins senior, has provided toughness, rebounding and leadership for an Elks’ team lacking in size this season. Deloney, a 6-foot-2 senior forward, will lead the Elks to their first state tournament appearance since 1998 when they face Earle at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Class 3A Tournament in Charleston.

STAFF PHOTO VERNON TARVER Trevor Deloney, Elkins senior, has provided toughness, rebounding and leadership for an Elks’ team lacking in size this season. Deloney, a 6-foot-2 senior forward, will lead the Elks to their first state tournament appearance since 1998 when they face Earle at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Class 3A Tournament in Charleston.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

— Trevor Deloney knew all about the streak. Throughout his basketball career at Elkins, even back to the days before high school he was fully aware of the past. His goal, as he entered his senior season, was to change that past for the better.

Elkins had experienced plenty of up and down seasons over the years. Even in Deloney's time on the court, the Elks went from 17 wins his sophomore year to six wins the following season. No matter what type of season Elkins put together, however, there was one constant. Not since 1998, back in the glory days of former Arkansas Razorback Justin Hankins, had the Elks qualified for a state tournament.

Profile

Trevor Deloney

School: Elkins

Class: Senior

Position: Forward

Height: 6-2

Notable: Averages 5.2 points and a team-high 7.2 rebounds per game … Had 10 or more rebounds in seven of 24 games this season … Helped lead Elkins to first state tournament appearance since 1998.

Until now.

Deloney, one of just three seniors on this year's Elkins team, had plenty of goals before the season began. But to guide the Elks back to where they hadn't been in 16 years was priority number one.

"This is very rewarding because there's been a lot of good teams come through here," Deloney said. "And for us to be the ones to have made it (to state) after so long, it feels very gratifying.

"There's been some up and down seasons around here, and it feels good to be a top 16 team in the state right now. It just feels great."

Elkins (13-11) finished second in the 3A-1 West Conference regular season and runner-up in the district tournament. A victory over Two Rivers on Thursday at home in the 3A Region 1 Tournament qualified the Elks for the state tournament where they will face Earle at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Primarily a guard-heavy lineup with juniors Walker Fallen, Trevor England and Brenton White providing much of the scoring, the dirty work inside the post has been left up to Deloney. While he ranks just fifth on the team, averaging 5.2 points per game, the senior is Elkins' leading rebounder with 7.2 boards per contest.

"I've had Trevor since the sixth or seventh grade, and he was a little guy back then," Elkins boys basketball coach Nate Smith said. "He sprouted up, and he's put a lot of work in the gym.

"The biggest thing he does for us is toughness. He rebounds the ball so well. I think in the West Fork game, the second time we played them, he had nine boards at half and finished with 14. And we need that size and toughness, and that's what he brings."

Deloney's strength inside, paired with several scoring guards, has been the right mix for the Elks and has been the difference in a state tournament berth this season.

"I feel like, this year, we always have five players on the court who can put the ball in the basket if need be," he said. "And defensively, our guards are all very good, and they're all ball hawks. So I think our speed and playing together as a team are the main abilities we have that puts us ahead of some other teams."

No matter the result Wednesday, getting back to the state tournament is significant for this program. Deloney is proud to part of the group who got the Elks' back.

"I think there's 53 or 54 teams in 3A classification. So there's a lot of teams not playing in March," Smith said. "So for this team to make it to state, that's a really big deal for these kids, this school and this community. It's special."

Sports on 03/04/2014