FAIRLEA- The Greenbrier East Spartans begin regional tournament play this Friday, March 7, when they host the Independence Patriots for the third time this season.
Greenbrier East is on a current six-game winning streak and ran their record from 8-7 on February 8, to 14-7 currently, and that also includes a victory over Class AAA #3 Shady Spring.
There are several factors playing into the Spartans recent success, but arguably, the biggest reason is junior sharp-shooter Nathan Dixon.
Dixon was having a good season anyway through the first two months, but on that day—the 8th of February—the Spartans played host to the Lewis County Minutemen in the afternoon. East had just lost to Lewis County several days before, so a typical revenge game was on the minds of the Spartan players.
When the game tipped off, it was evident that suddenly, the Spartans were turning a corner.
And Dixon not only turned it, but he also drove it, reversed it, and parallel parked beside it.
Dixon, who started playing basketball at age six, almost single handedly turned what was a close game midway through the second quarter into a complete blowout by halftime. He scored 28 first half points and finished with 32 for the game, but it wasn’t that particular game, however, that grew his confidence. Instead, it was his overall preparation from this past offseason and a growth spurt that hit him as well.
“I grew confident coming into the season. I stayed in the gym all offseason working on my game and I grew a little taller,” Dixon said.”
Dixon is averaging 22.5 points per game during the current winning streak and credits his passion for winning as part of his team’s drastic turnaround over the last several weeks.
“I am a very competitive person and hate to lose. I try to give 110% of every practice and game to help our team be successful,” he stated.
Dixon comes from a strong and supportive family. His mom, Ashley, and dad, Eric, have long been the catalysts for his success and he says without them, nothing could have ever been possible.
“My family has always encouraged and supported me through everything, whether in sports, academics, or life in general. They would do anything to help me and I’m very thankful for them,” Dixon explained.
Typically, a winning culture in any Spartan program trickles down from a team’s senior leaders to the underclassmen. This season, according to Dixon, the Spartans two seniors, Donavin Penn and Reed McCraw, exemplify those leadership qualities needed for a team to make a deep run through tournament play.
“Reed and Donavin mean everything to our team,” Dixon said.
“They are the team captains and are always encouraging and pushing us to play hard and together as a team,” he added.
For Dixon and the Spartans to reach their ultimate goal, they must win two games beginning this Friday night to advance to Charleston for the state tournament, but Dixon thinks the team is ready and more than capable of doing so, and that’s been a common thought amongst all the players since preseason practice began.
“We believed at the beginning of the season we could make some noise, and we push each other every day and practice to reach our goal. I think we are definitely in a position to make a run. We have depth, length, and athleticism at all positions and our coaches do a great job of preparing for us. We each know our roles and accept them,” Dixon concluded.
Fans are encouraged to come to Spartan Gym this Friday night, March 7 to cheer on Dixon and his teammates as they start their short journey in hopes a bus ride to Charleston in a couple weeks.
