CHARLESTON - Some people looked at the seedings and pairings when the West Virginia Class A boys basketball state tournament match-ups came out a week ago and groaned when they saw where the defending champion Madonna Blue Dons were placed.
Not coach George Vargo, though.
"As a coach, I think it helps us tremendously," he said matter-of-factly.
Article Photos
READY FOR CHARLESTON -- Madonna coach George Vargo and the Blue Dons are ready for the state tournament.
-- Staff photo
That would be the No. 3 seed and a 9:30 a.m. Thursday date with Morgantown Trinity Christian, the No. 6 seed and the team the Blue Dons beat a year ago on the same hardwood to cut down the nets for the first time in school history.
"I am not upset playing Morgantown Trinity," he said. "I am satisfied playing Morgantown Trinity. The reason I say that is our kids know the game plan when it's been implemented in practice the last three days.
"I never know if we are going to win or lose, but I do know our kids know the game plan.
Fact Box
Boys
Pairings for the boys high school basketball tournament at the Charleston Civic Center:
CLASS AAA
Quarterfinals
Wednesday
No. 1 Martinsburg vs. No. 8 Logan, 7:15 p.m.
No. 2 Wheeling Park vs. No. 7 Hedgesville, 11:15 a.m.
Thursday
No. 4 Fairmont Senior vs. No. 5 George Washington, 11:15 a.m.
No. 3 South Charleston vs. No. 6 Parkersburg, 7:15 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday
Martinsburg-Logan winner vs. Fairmont Senior-George Washington winner, 5:30 p.m.
Wheeling Park-Hedgesville winner vs. South Charleston-Parkersburg winner, 9 p.m.
Championship
Saturday, March 17
Semifinal winners, 7:15 p.m.
CLASS AA
Quarterfinals
Wednesday
No. 3 Wyoming East vs. No. 6 Point Pleasant, 9:30 a.m.
No. 2 Tug Valley vs. No. 7 Webster County, 1 p.m.
No. 1 Bluefield vs. No. 8 Berkeley Springs, 1 p.m.
No. 4 Tolsia vs. No. 5 Magnolia, 9 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday
Wyoming East-Point Pleasant winner vs. Tug Valley-Webster County winner, 9:30 a.m.
Bluefield-Berkeley Springs winner vs. Tolsia-Magnolia winner, 1 p.m.
Championship
Saturday, March 17
Semifinal winners, noon
CLASS A
Boys
Pairings for next week's boys high school basketball tournament at the Charleston Civic Center:
CLASS AAA
Quarterfinals
Wednesday
No. 1 Martinsburg vs. No. 8 Logan, 7:15 p.m.
No. 2 Wheeling Park vs. No. 7 Hedgesville, 11:15 a.m.
Thursday
No. 4 Fairmont Senior vs. No. 5 George Washington, 11:15 a.m.
No. 3 South Charleston vs. No. 6 Parkersburg, 7:15 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday
Martinsburg-Logan winner vs. Fairmont Senior-George Washington winner, 5:30 p.m.
Wheeling Park-Hedgesville winner vs. South Charleston-Parkersburg winner, 9 p.m.
Championship
Saturday, March 17
Semifinal winners, 7:15 p.m.
CLASS AA
Quarterfinals
Wednesday
No. 3 Wyoming East vs. No. 6 Point Pleasant, 9:30 a.m.
No. 2 Tug Valley vs. No. 7 Webster County, 1 p.m.
No. 1 Bluefield vs. No. 8 Berkeley Springs, 1 p.m.
No. 4 Tolsia vs. No. 5 Magnolia, 9 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday
Wyoming East-Point Pleasant winner vs. Tug Valley-Webster County winner, 9:30 a.m.
Bluefield-Berkeley Springs winner vs. Tolsia-Magnolia winner, 1 p.m.
Championship
Saturday, March 17
Semifinal winners, noon
CLASS A
Quarterfinals
Thursday
No. 3 Madonna vs. No. 3 Trinity, 9:30 a.m.
No. 2 Charleston Catholic vs. No. 7 Man, 1 p.m.
No. 1 St. Marys vs. No. 8 Pocahontas County, 5:30 p.m.
No. 4 Midland Trial vs. No. 5 Tucker County, 9 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday
Madonna-Trinity winner vs. Charleston Catholic-Man winner, 11:15 a.m.
St. Marys-Pocahontas County winner vs. Midland Trail-Tucker County winner, 7:15 p.m.
Championship
Saturday, March 17
Semifinal winners, 2:30 p.m.Quarterfinals
Thursday
No. 3 Madonna vs. No. 3 Trinity, 9:30 a.m.
No. 2 Charleston Catholic vs. No. 7 Man, 1 p.m.
No. 1 St. Marys vs. No. 8 Pocahontas County, 5:30 p.m.
No. 4 Midland Trial vs. No. 5 Tucker County, 9 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday
Madonna-Trinity winner vs. Charleston Catholic-Man winner, 11:15 a.m.
St. Marys-Pocahontas County winner vs. Midland Trail-Tucker County winner, 7:15 p.m.
Championship
Saturday, March 17
Semifinal winners, 2:30 p.m.
"For me to get tapes on Man (No. 7 seed) or Pocahontas County (No. 8) or Midland Trail (No. 4) or Tucker County (No. 5), quite frankly, would have been some work. I don't mind work, mind you, and it would have been done, but to play Morgantown Trinity, a team that we know and a team that knows us, I think is good for us.
"From our perspective, we are building this up as a rematch. We are going back to Charleston and playing Morgantown Trinity in March for the second year in a row. It's a disadvantage because we played them in the last game last year and the first game this year, but, it's also an advantage.
"The question is can we outrebound them and can we shoot more foul shots than they do.
"We want to beat them and I know they want to beat us. I think it will be a really good basketball game.
"I know it's a tough game for our fan base. For us, though, early is good for me. The game I would hate to play is that 9 o'clock game at night, What do you do all day - sit around at the hotel? No thank you."
Vargo also does not mind the 9:30 a.m. game.
"Everybody talks about that game like it's a bad game," he said. "We're going to get up at 6:45, have breakfast and be at the gym at 8.
"Nobody will be sitting around the hotel waiting like they would do if we had a late game. The OVAC game was early and we were in the gym at 6:45 that morning.
"The OVAC game prepared us for this game."
Madonna is 22-3, including an 88-77 victory at Morgantown Trinity on Jan. 18.
The Warriors are 17-7 and have won three in a row, four of their last five and eight of their last 10 since the loss to the Blue Dons.
"We're glad we're back in Charleston," said Vargo. "Unfortunately, we're playing Morgantown Trinity. But, fortunately, we're playing Morgantown Trinity. There will be no surprises on either side.
"If we can control the boards and shoot a lot of foul shots, good things will happen."
Since a 69-47 loss at Beallsville on Jan. 10, the Blue Dons have won 16 of their last 17. The only loss in that span was 64-60 at No. 1 seeded St. Marys on Feb. 11.
"We have played 25 games so far and we are on an even keel," said Vargo, who has led the squad to a 46-6 record the past two seasons. "At practices Friday, Saturday and Monday night we have been a loose team and that's the way we are going to keep it. It's the end of the season and everybody knows what to do."
The Blue Dons played the 9:30 a.m. game a year ago in the first round.
"It's not like we're going down there in awe of the place," said the coach. "We were there last year and these kids have played in a lot of big games over the past years. We know our routine. We know what we are supposed to do. We know what to expect. We're not nervous.
"The three seed is a good place to be. If we happen to win, we have an extra eight hours between games. At tournament time you'd better have fresh legs and be energized. The team that has fresh legs and energy has a good chance of winning.
"Everyone on this team has contributed for us to get back to Charleston."
A pep rally will be held Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. in front of the school to send the team off.
