Published: October 21, 2009 10:14 pm      

Bluefield College to host Basketball Blast-off

BLUEFIELD, Va. — Bluefield College will host a Basketball Blast-off for its men's and women's basketball teams on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Dome Gymnasium.

Local fans are invited to join the college in tipping off the 2009-2010 basketball seasons for both BC teams.

The Blast-off event will feature player introductions, intra-squad scrimmages, a slam-dunk contest, a shooting contest, and other interactive games for fans.

Taking part in his inaugural Basketball Blast-off is first-year head men's basketball coach Richard Morgan, who came to Bluefield College this summer after 13 years as an assistant coach at Appalachian State, Hampton and East Carolina, all NCAA Division I schools.

Morgan inherits a Bluefield squad that is ranked first in the 2009-2010 preseason Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) standings, despite losing four starters from a year ago. Back to defend the team's perfect 18-0 AAC record and regular season conference championship from last year are seven BC lettermen, including first team AAC All-Conference member Omar Reed.

Returning for the upcoming season for the Lady Rams will be a significantly improved squad that won 10 more games than it did the previous seaosn for then first-year head coach Steve Hardin.

Eleven Lady Rams are back with Hardin to improve even more this year, including six ladies who saw significant action on the hardwood a year ago, De'Arra Darling, De'Onna Darling, Heather Ferrell, Kia Gilliard, Brittney Whaley, and Kiara Williams.

Both Bluefield teams will open the season on Oct. 30 at Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tenn. The men will host its home opener on Oct. 31 with Barber Scotia. The BC women won’t play in the Dome Gymnasium until Nov. 30.

Fans can get their first glimpse of both Bluefield basketball teams Friday at the Basketball Blast-off. The event is open and free to the public.