By Dave Morrison
HINTON – Normally a phone call around state tournament time from coach Wayne Ryan is a conversation Chad Meador would enjoy, talking to his former mentor at Summers County and current administrator with the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission.
But not on Thursday, March 12, 2020.
“The year of Covid we went to Charleston, and I was actually on my way to the Civic Center when I got the call from coach Ryan saying the tournament had been cancelled,” Meador said.
It was a crushing blow to the seniors on the team, especially the seniors. But it was also tough for the underclassmen, who might never again have a chance to get there. And that included his daughter Liv.
“Up until last year I didn’t know if she would ever get back,” Meador said. “You never take those days for granted. So, from where it started to where it ended it’s just a great moment.”
Where it ended was on the final Saturday, when the Lady Bobcats fell to old rival Wyoming East 57-41 nearly three years to the day – March 11, 2023 – that the tournament was canceled by Covid.
The dynamic dad-daughter duo will be back for a curtain call of sorts at the Scott Brown/Little General Classic at the Shady Spring. The girls game tips at 2:30 pm after a 3-point shootout. The boys game tips at 4:30 pm after a 3-point shootout and slam dunk contest. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the Beaver or Daniels Little General Stores or at the gate on game day.
Chad will be coaching the game and Liv will be playing.
It will serve as a basketball swan song for both, Chad announcing he is stepping away from the bench after 22 years of service as a coach in Summers County and Liv graduating in June.
“It’s a special event,” Meador said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to coach in it as an assistant coach in it as an assistant coach so to get the call from (game director) coach (Bolen) to be the head coach was exciting for me. To be able to do it with my daughter makes it extra special.”
“We’ve been doing it for four years, so it’s not much different but (getting one more opportunity) that’s pretty cool,” Liv said. “One last time for him to get to coach is really pretty cool. As long as I’ve been alive, he’s been a coach, so it will be a little different him not being a coach anymore.”
Making it back to the title game was also extra special for the Meadows. A long-time power among girls’ basketball programs in West Virginia, it had been a few years since the Lady Bobcats had been back playing on the final Saturday of the season. It was quite a way to go out for both, after matriculating through a tough Region 3 that included, in the final poll, Class AA No. 1 Wyoming East, No. 2 Mingo Central, No. 3 Summers and No. 8 Chapmanville.
“Leading up to the state tournament we were really excited,” Meador said. “Our goal was to get there but we didn’t necessarily know if we were going to get there. You got back to when we beat Wyoming East in the section tournament and then came down here and beat Mingo Central. We were excited. Everything in the state tournament was icing on the cake. I just wanted my team to be able to have a great experience at the (Charleston Coliseum).”
Liv also has great experience in the Lady Bobcats system and knows what to expect on Saturday.
“Well, I’m used to him yelling, harping,” she said, laughing. “Defense (will be a major part of their game, although generally defense is lax in all-star games). For (Wyoming East’s Kayley) Bane and (Colleen) Lookabill, it will be great because they are both really good defenders.”
Growing up in a house with a coach didn’t always mean chalk talk at the house, though Meador allowed he did get on his daughter more often on the floor, because he knew he could do it.
“Strangely enough we don’t talk a lot about basketball (at the house),” said Meador, a second-team all-state baseball player at the school back in 1995. “Liv is kind of wired like I am, she’s very competitive and very thick-skinned.
“And she turned in to one of the best leaders this program has ever had. She didn’t score a lot of points or grab a lot of rebounds, but she led her team. All the great teams this program has had always had that one leader that can get them where they needed to be and that was Liv’s strongest asset.”
It’s an asset she can use at her not stop, which will be U.S. Army Boot Camp this summer. As an ROTC member she has already begun drilling once a month while she finishes high school.
“It runs in the family,” Liv said. “I’m doing it for school too. I leave in June so it’s a little nerve-racking but I’m excited.”
All of which makes Chad Meador smile.
“Extremely proud,” coach Meador said. “My son (Trent) signed with the Army National Guard a few years ago, my oldest daughter Marlee is currently in the Army National Guard. And then Liv. All three of my children are serving this great country.”
Liv said she is looking forward to playing against the big school stars but also some of her new teammates.
“I played on an AAU team with (Webster County’s) Sydney Baird in eighth grade, and also (playing with the East girls, that will be fun,” Meador said. “(Former teammate) Maggie Stover played in it last year and I went and watched her play. It’s an honor really. I didn’t know I was going to be asked to play in it. I wish I was going to be playing with (teammate Sullivan) Pivont, but it didn’t work out that way.”
Pivont was selected but will be taking college testing exams Saturday.
Coach Meador said he is also looking forward to coaching a few players on his team, which is comprised of Class AAA, AA and A stars who will be taking on their Class AAAA counterparts.
“I get to coach a couple of Wyoming East players, I’m excited,” Meador said. “I’m looking forward to coaching (Colleen) Lookabill and (Kayle) Bane (of Wyoming East). I know we’ve went up against them for years and I’m looking forward to them being a part of this team. Then you bring (Webster County’s Sydney Baird along, she’s one of the best players in the state of West Virginia. I’m looking forward to having her on the team. There are some girls I’m not familiar with, but I’m looking forward to meeting them all.”
But none more than No. 24.
“I think I’ll stop and maybe relish the moment a little more,” Meador said. “When you’re a head coach in the state tournament you’re really thinking about everybody else. I haven’t really been able to zone in on my daughter much as a coach. So, I’m thinking I’ll probably pay a little bit closer attention to her than I have in the past.”