The Calhoun High School varsity boys basketball team is on a 24-game losing streak and is 1-44 over the past two years.

Although football, baseball and wrestling have youth pro-grams in Calhoun, basketball has not had an organized youth program for several years.

Youths do not receive organized coaching until middle school, which usually leaves them with only two years of experience before entering the high school program.

That could be changing as Extension agent Curt Garretson, a sports enthusiast, is working to organize a youth basketball program.

That may help new CHS head coach Danny Bunch in the future, but he will have his hands full as he attempts to improve the varsity team now.

Lost to graduation from last year’s 0-23 team are Josh Deweese (14.3), Andrew Norman (11.9) and Josh Cain (3.7), a trio that provided 580 of the team’s 937 points last year (61.9%) on a team that averaged only 40.7 points per game, while giving up 66.7.

The good news:

The Red Devils return eight players who saw enough time on the floor to letter.

That includes third-leading scorer Justin Gerwig (7.8), a junior who pulled down 7.3 rebounds per game.

Other lettermen are seniors Greg Myers and Harold Mc-Cumbers, juniors, Cai Clothier, Chuck Kendall, Daniel Sims and Anthony Richards, and sophomore Tyler Bennett.

Also on the roster are seniors Danny Slider and Noah Sweeney, juniors Kyle Keesler, Brandon Sampson and Zach Moore, sophomores C.J. Myers, Stewart Fitzwater, Quentin Murphy and Joe Overbaugh, and freshman Caleb Schoolcraft.

Moore, who averaged 16.0 points and 13.9 rebounds as a freshman, should provide a spark to the team as he returns to compete for a spot in the Red Devil line up.

Calhoun opens its season at Roane County on Tuesday and travels to Braxton County on Thursday, Dec. 18. Both games are at 7:30 p.m.

2008-09 CHS Varsity

Boys Basketball Roster

No. Player             Ht.  Wt.  

*Returning letterman

Seniors

Harold McCumbers*  5’9   144

Greg Myers* .......  6’     200

Danny Slider ......  6’3   195

Noah Sweeny .....  5’7   115

Juniors

Cai Clothier* ......  6’4   170

Justin Gerwig* ....  6’3   162

Kyle Keesler .......  5’7   180

Chuck Kendall* .  6’1   135

Zach Moore ........  6’2   194

Anthony Richards*  6’1   160

Brandon Sampson  6’1   120

Daniel Sims* ......  5’6   130

Sophomores

Tyler Bennett* ....  5’8   127

Stewart Fitzwater  5’9   150

Quentin Murphy .  5’11 170

C.J. Myers ..........  5’10 135

Joe Overbaugh ...  6’1   185

Freshman

Caleb Schoolcraft  5’9   155

2008-09 CHS Varsity

Boys Basketball Schedule

December

16  Roane County ............  Away

18  Braxton County .........  Away

23  Parkersburg Catholic  Home

26  Clarksburg Notre Dame

...............     Holiday Tournament                 Away

27  Clarksburg Notre Dame

...............     Holiday Tournament                 Away

30  Gilmer County ............  Away

January

  6  Wirt County ................  Home

  8  Roane County ...........  Home

  9  Wahama ......................  Away

15  Gilmer County ...........  Home

19  South Harrison ...........  Away

20  Clay County ...............  Away

22  Braxton County ........  Home

28  Notre Dame ................  Home

February

  3  Doddridge County .....  Home

  4  Clay County................ Home

  5  South Harrison ...........  Home

11  Wirt County................. Away

16  Doddridge County .....  Away

19  LKC Game.................. Home

24  Parkersburg Catholic .  Away

26  Wahama .....................  Home

Regular season games begin at 7:30,

preceded by JV game at 5:45

2008-09 CHS Varsity

Girls Basketball Schedule

December

10  South Harrison ...........  Away

12  Parkersburg Catholic  Home

17  Braxton County .........  Away

22  Herbert Hoover ..........  Away

29  Doddridge County

...............................     Tournament                 Away

30  Doddridge County

...............................     Tournament                 Away

January

  2  Ritchie County ...........  Away

  5  Wahama .....................  Home

  7  Wirt County ................  Home

14  Gilmer County ...........  Home

16  Braxton County ........  Home

21  South Harrison ..........  Home

23  Roane County ............  Away

26  Wirt County ................  Away

27  Clay County ..............  Home

30  Wahama .....................  Away

February

  5  Clay County ...............  Away

  6  Roane County ...........  Home

  9  Gilmer County ............  Away

12  LKC Game .................  Away

16  Doddridge County ....  Home

20  Herbert Hoover .........  Home

Regular season games begin at 7:30,

preceded by JV game at 5:45

2008-09 Middle School