West M Ready for Postseason Run

The West Muskingum Lady Tornadoes are off to one of the best starts in program history and they aren’t looking to stop.

The West Muskingum Tornadoes are the MVL Small School Champs for the first time in over a decade. After barely being able to get over 5 wins from 2015 to 2020. This senior class has brought pride back to West M. As freshmen they got double-figure wins for the first time in over 5 years and have improved each year. They now have the most wins in a season since the ’90s.

Head Coach Josh Middleton knows that this collective group is the true definition of team ball.

“Goes to show how hard we’ve worked and ultimately it comes down to I think the team aspect I think we’re the true definition of a team I mean when you really look at us we don’t have that player that’s going to drop 20 or 25 every night we’ve got 5 or 6 girls that are capable of scoring any given night,” said Middleton. “They’re so unselfish and they work so hard and they care about each other so much it’s been so exciting to see the success they’ve had on the court.”

Though this team has had one of the best runs in program history seniors Taylor Sprung and Laney Johnson know the post season is a different beast and they’re even more motivated after a win over Zanesville to open tournament play.

“I feel like that honestly just really is motivating us because there’s no more second chances of just,” said Sprung. “Tournaments anything can happen and that’s what’s so scary about it so we just need to have our head in the game and just be prepared for anything to be thrown at us. Because it’s a difference.”

“I mean just the fact that after Zanesville it could be our last game we can keep going so it’s really important to all of us,” added Johnson.

“I think it’s just a new season it doesn’t matter what you done in the regular season it doesn’t matter what the other team has done in the regular season you have to play your best game because any given night someone can knock you off any given night someone can shoot better than you and you know you’re starting to play teams that you didn’t play in the regular season and teams that might be unfamiliar to you in different leagues and if you’re not ready with your A game they can give you a early exit no matter who they are,” said Middleton.

West Muskingum continues tournament play on Saturday. They’ll host Coshocton at 1pm at Gary Ankrum Gymnasium. The Tornadoes defeated Coshocton twice during the regular season.