MORRAL — The roar from the Clear Fork faithful echoing off the walls at Ridgedale High School was deafening Wednesday.
Hundreds of fans, donned in green and white, made the hour-long drive from Bellville to Morral to cheer on the Colts (22-4) in a Division V regional semifinal against two-time defending state champion Africentric (18-7).
Among those in attendance were former athletes who played for Clear Fork coach Scott Sellers, along with those who competed before he took the helm.
“I think our fan base travels about as good as anybody in the area,” Sellers said. “They just love watching their girls basketball.
“I think they like how we play, how hard we play and some of the stuff that we do not just on the floor, but off the floor.”
The success produced on the court by the Colts this season is no secret. But the program also strives to make an impact in its community. Take for example the 16 Clear Fork Mini Colts who cheered on the girls they look up to Wednesday.
Sellers said that’s the type of culture the Colts are trying to build — now and for the future.
“They (Mini Colts) could’ve been doing anything else and their parents made the trip,” he said. “It’s pretty special.”
A back-and-forth affair saw Clear Fork’s historic run come to an end, falling 56-54 to Africentric. En route to their first district title in nearly four decades, the Colts’ 22 victories stand as the winningest season in program history.
“Yes we’re disappointed, but I’m just so happy for them (players) and who they’re becoming as people,” Sellers said.
Colts designing blueprint for success
Several of Seller’s players are two or three-sport athletes — a concept he’s fully embraced.
He said as a coach, all he can ask is for the athletes to buy-in to the program’s goals.
“I’ve had great player support and kids that want to go out and play,” Sellers said. “I’ve also had really good parent support.
“Without those two things, it’s really hard to compete and we’ve had those over the last several years and I believe we’re going to have them into the future.”
What the program learned this season is that it can compete at a high-level against powerhouse programs such as Africentric. The Colts have also learned their efforts extend beyond the court and have the ability to inspire future generations of athletes.
Sellers said he could not imagine coaching anywhere but Clear Fork.
“I’ll never coach anywhere else,” he said. “I want to coach at Clear Fork. I love the place and I love these players and I love the community.”
Photo gallery:
Blubaugh sets another program best
Clear Fork senior Mel Blubaugh scored 48 total points her sophomore season.
On Wednesday, she broke the program’s single-season scoring record on a 3-pointer about two minutes into the first quarter. The senior’s 472 points scored this season now stand as the new mark to beat.
She also holds the school record for most 3-pointers in a season. Blubaugh led the Colts on Wednesday with a team-high 18 points, including four triples.
“All the things that you see for Mel Blubaugh, there’s 40,000 things that you do not see,” Sellers said.
The Division V District 6 Player of the Year would often text her coach during the summer, asking to be let into the gym at 6 a.m. to practice.
“She’s the best player I’ve ever coached and she’s one of the best people I’ve ever been around,” Sellers said.
Blubaugh is headed to Mount Vernon Nazarene to continue her basketball career after graduation this spring.
Watch: Video highlights
By the numbers
Several Colts contributed in Wednesday’s narrow loss to Africentric.
Senior Lillian Weikle finished with 10 points and Brinley Barnett contributed nine. Elaina Pelkey and Asia Bechtel scored six each, while Hailly Thrush hit a triple and Ashtyn Wine scored a basket.
