Mark Pittman has been around the Fike High varsity boys basketball program, in one capacity or another, for the past 17 years in addition to his current duties as head coach of the Golden Demons junior varsity program.
But in that span, he’s never had to assume the mantle of head coach for a night at the varsity level.
Well, throw in another first spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With Fike head coach Brent Secrest in quarantine following a positive test in the volleyball program — for which he serves as an assistant coach — it was up to Pittman to guide the Demons into their season opener Tuesday night at Beddingfield.
By speeding up the Bruins after halftime, Fike of the 3-A Big East Conference utilized its transition game to generate easy baskets, turning what was a six-point halftime lead into a rout by the close of the third quarter en route to a 62-44 win.
Junior Kyshon Atkinson was the catalyst for the Demons in the fateful third quarter as the Demons came out of halftime on a 16-4 spurt that all but decked the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference Bruins, winless in two games.
“I was talking to coach about an adjustment in the first half,” Atkinson said. “Trying to run more because they were slowing it down, and they were better than us when we slowed it down. So we had to speed it up.”
Indeed, the pace was to Beddingfield’s liking into the second quarter with matters tied at 20 at the under-4 minute timeout. But Fike got on a bit of a run before the half, using an Atkinson 3-pointer and a runner from sophomore Jahmar Jones to take a 29-23 at the half.
“We got the ball and pushed it up the floor,” Pittman said. “Some, we were a little out of control, but a lot of it, we ended up doing pretty good.”
Jones had 10 points to complement Atkinson, while junior Khalil Wright added nine.
Beddingfield closed to within 13 on two occasions in the fourth quarter, the latter coming on a layup from senior Raekwon Batts with 4 minutes, 41 second to go. However, Atkinson replied with a three-point play, and the Bruins got no closer.
Fike’s biggest lead was at 18 twice in the third quarter.
“That’s going to be our struggle all year trying to figure out how to slow the other team down,” Beddingfield head coach Jeremy Howard said. “We’ve got a lot of new faces that we’re putting in a lot of new places, a lot of youth out there. And even the experienced ones in age haven’t been on the floor a whole lot with the exception of two (Kaleb Harris and Batts). So, it’s a work in progress.”
Kaleb Harris, one of seven seniors for Beddingfield, finished with 17 points. Batts tossed in 14.
Beddingfield remains in the throes of a three-game week Wednesday as it hosts another county rival in Hunt. Fike takes on North Johnston in its home opener Friday.
Yet the question does arise. With Pittman owning a 1-0 record at the varsity level for Fike, does that make Secrest expendable?
“He’s going to be here!” Pittman laughed. “He’s done a great job and he does a great job. I’m just here to help out any way I can, and try to go along with the jayvees, sending the guys up to him.”
FIKE (62)
Leach 4, Wright 9, Atkinson 24, Jones 10, Williams 7, Daniels 6, Batts 2.
BEDDINGFIELD (44)
Batts 14, K. Harris 17, Murray 5, Edwards 5, Barnes 2, G. Harris 1.
