There’s a new sheriff in Gardner.
After time on the sidelines as an assistant coach, Les Farmer stepped in to guide the PikeView boys basketball program after Colton Thompson stepped down. He takes over a squad with numerous returners and experience.
“I was actually assistant under Colton for the last two years but I’ve coached all these boys since they were in middle school,” Farmer said. “So definitely they know me. I know them and they know my expectations. I mean, we all have a good bond and a good relationship with one another. But they know me they know my system. So it was kind of an easy progression. The first day we were hitting the ground running and they didn’t have to get to know me nor I them. I mean, we were we were hitting the ground running day one as soon as I was able to get in the gym with them. That was the big key because I got hired late because of how our county works and how they do the hiring process. So the first day of tryouts was my first day on the job and I didn’t have any flex days with them. But at least they know me and my expectations but this year we’re looking to play faster, play more man and step up the intensity.”
PikeView lost transfers Kalum Kiser and Zayden Neely to Princeton while graduating Nathan Riffe. But the Panthers are still experienced with players like Jared Vestal, Drew Damewood and David Thomas in the fold.
“We return David Thomas from last year’s team,” Farmer said. “He was a huge contributor toward the end of the season when Jared Vestal got hurt, and we also get Jared back. He was our leading scorer coming back as a sophomore, and then we lost him. The sixth game of the season last year he dislocated elbow and he’s actually had two surgeries since that injury. He’s starting to regain his form. Here in the first two scrimmages and then last night’s game, he chipped in 13 points, but he’s a pretty big guy.
“We return Drew Damewood, who has been a two-year starter, so there’s definitely some experience at point and then in our opener against Oak Hill we had some huge contributions and stuff from the role players and Elijah Hall and Bryson Bailey and, and Austin Bennett. I gotta mention Zach Rose as well. Zach had an injury last year as well, and kind of worked himself into a hole a little bit, but then he decided to come back out this year and he’s been a big help.”
The section is as difficult as ever for PikeView. Shady Spring remains a title contender, Midland Trail is bolstered by key transfers and Independence is coached by veteran Shawn Jenkins. The hope is to wade through and find a way to Charleston and it starts with buying into the system and believing in their abilities.
“The season that Oak Hill had last year, I mean, they were the four seed and ended up winning the section,”Farmer said. “They knocked off Greenbrier East and then they turned around and knocked off Princeton. We got Oak Hill out of the gate and beat them and then we get Bluefield next game. Every game just seems like it’s challenge after challenge after challenge but I mean we’re gonna play those hard teams and if we can make some noise here it’s definitely gonna prep us for sectional and regional games. We know what we got. We know Shady is gonna always be tough. They’re gonna be tough on defense and then Trail got some transfers and Independence got a transfer from Liberty. So I mean they’re gonna be tough as well. It’s definitely gonna be competitive section but Shady lost quite a bit too. But I feel confident in our guys though. We’re definitely a different team than in the past and they’re buying into what we’re doing.”
