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The 2017-18 hardwood season may be a few days old, however this fact doesn't mean teams are scheduling easy opponents to give them a chance to warm up.
Parkersburg High School's boys basketball program already has been hard at work against a number of tough foes.
Through the first three games, Jeff Mennillo's squad (2-1) already faced Musselman and Morgantown.
The level of competition grows higher still this weekend.
After a home-slate opening win over the Mohigans, the boys welcome reigning state champion Huntington for a 7:30 p.m. varsity start today inside Memorial Fieldhouse.
The game marks the opening of the season for the Highlanders, who have won three of the last four state titles and competed against Morgantown in the 2016 game.
HHS lost three seniors in Grant Zubick, John Dawson and Dewey Brown, but bring back a lot of experience.
"They have the best player in the state in Mikal Dawson," said Mennillo of the Highlander' 6-foot-4 senior forward who averaged 21.2 points per game last season. "And he is a big reason they won a state championship last season. They are just a really good team."
Football players Jadon Hayes (5-8) and Darnell Wright (6-6) join their wide receiver teammate on Ronald Hess' roster. Tanner Stevens (6-2), Ta'Jhan Blackwell and Amari Smith round up the top six in the varsity rotation.
"I think Huntington is kind of doing the same sort of things the last couple of years," said Mennillo when asked what he expects to see out of the Highlanders this evening. "They are very athletic. They rebound well, so you have to stop them twice 鈥� The first shot and the second one. They are good in transition. They are quick and long, which always throws off timing and spacing. You make think you are open, but you are not."
As for his team, Mennillo said he is more concerned with trying to eliminate mistakes. The head man believes his team is still in the big learning stage even though the season has already started. "We are still growing and identifying rolls," he added. "We are more concerned with our growth and our ability. I feel like it is in our ability to beat them. We have the potential to play with anybody 鈥� Whether we do it tomorrow night is yet to be seen. Our guys are anxious to go play."
Mennillo's optimism isn't misplaced either. Playing tough against Huntington isn't anything new for his Big Reds' sqauds. His team handed the Highlanders one of their four losses during the 2014 season, which ended in a state title for HHS. One year later, PHS went on the road and held a late lead before Huntington came back for a two- or three- point victory.
Then last season, a deep PHS squad took the Highlanders to the wire in a regional co-final 82-80 loss.
Strap in Big Red fans because tonight could be a wild ride.
Contact Joe Albright at jalbright@newsandsentinel.com.