By BRIAN WOODSON
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
GARDNER — For Madison May, it’s all about the nails.
Prior to Wednesday's game at Shady Spring, the talented PikeView senior had already been chosen as the Pocahontas Coal Association/Bluefield Daily Telegraph Player of Week for her exploits in the prior seven-day span.
Apparently she wants to win it again.
"I love it, it is a great accomplishment," said May, a three-time winner of the award. "We have a lot of great players in the area, we have a tough region."
Her fingernails pay the price. They were painted red prior to that game. They would have to be re-done later that night. Call it a ritual that works for her.
"This is really weird, but I paint my nails and before every game I will scratch (the polish) off so I (don't) get so nervous," said May, who then repaints her nails when she gets home from games. "My mom and me-maw always told me not to bite my nails.
"I get nervous and I bite my nails so to keep from doing that I would just paint them and then scratch it off."
The opposition might soon be scratching their heads trying to figure out how to contain the 5-foot-11 May, who is averaging 31.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.4 steals and 2.6 blocks for the Panthers, who are 3-2 on the young season.
That includes Wednesday's epic performance at Shady Spring when May scored a school record 45 points, while also providing 10 steals, nine rebounds and four assists in a 85-35 rout of the Tigers.
Apparently she listens to PikeView head coach Karen Miller too.
"I am very proud of Madison and I just hope she continues to keep playing like she is playing and finishes her senior season excellent in a great way." Miller said. "I am really pleased that she is having a great start and she can continue to do this and if our other players step up I think we will be all right ."
So far so good. May, who had 33 points and 10 rebounds in a season-opening loss to Fort Chiswell, had a stellar three-game stretch last week for the Panthers, averaging 25.3 points a contest over that span, with PikeView winning two of those three games.
"Our goal is just to get better and better and see what happens," Miller said. "She is excited coming into the season, she is looking for the team to do great."
She is certainly doing her part. May had 26 points, 10 rebounds and six steals in a 54-47 win over Westside. May added 26 points and 10 boards in a 53-42 loss to county rival Princeton, and completed her award-winning week with 25 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 61-38 decision over Nicholas County.
Not a bad three games at all. She knows what she wants from this season.
"I just want us to play better together, I just want everybody to get more confidence in their game and have more people step up," said May, who needs 54 points to reach 1,000 for her career. "I am excited to see how the season progresses.
"I think we are going to end up surprising a lot of people. They aren't going to be expecting what is going to end up happening, but we are just going to be ready for it."
Much is on May’s shoulders as the only starter back from last year's 12-7 team that included two and possibly three college performers among the seniors that graduated.
"Actually Madison is really stepping up and leading the girls in the right way," Miller said. "I think the girls understand what she means to the team and she just wants everybody to get on the same page and if we can get everybody to do that we will have a successful season."
May is surrounded by youth, with only four other players with any varsity experience, and that wasn't much. Early on freshman Ashley Scott has been one player who has followed her lead in helping to develop on the court.
"I think they are a little bit, but all in all they are pretty good ball players, they know what to do," May said. “They have played for a long time so they already know a lot, but I guess they are depending on me to teach them how PikeView plays.
"They are already very smart and know the game very well."
A three-sport participant at PikeView, the versatile May has also been an all-state performer in volleyball and soccer for the Panthers, but basketball is definitely her sport.
"She can actually play all five positions. If she is needed to play point she can play point," Miller said. "She will talk to the girls if she sees something that needs to be done so she is actually a coach on the court.”
Her length definitely helps on both sides of the court, but she is also adept at handling the ball, either playing outside or inside, or a little bit of both.
"I like to play around the 3 (point arc) so I can get rebounds and play up at the top," said May, who likes nothing but than simply heading for the hoop. "My favorite part is driving (to the basket)...Being tall really helps."
May, whose Panthers will visit Mount View tonight and Bluefield on Monday, definitely has her sights set on the next level.
"I have talked to a few schools so we will see, I am just going to see how it goes," said May, who plans to major in business management. "It has always been a dream of mine to play college basketball."
Miller can help in that area. She played at Bluefield State. One of those graduates from last season, Lyndsay Hatfield, currently plays for the Lady Blues. Her sister, Lauryn, might join the team next season. Courtney White, who also played last year for the Panthers, is playing at Concord.
"There are several colleges that are looking at her," Miller said. "It is hard to make a decision like that, the only thing to me is whichever school you go to it has the degree that you want...
"It is just awesome to get the opportunity to play at the next level. "There are not many people that get that opportunity."
College can wait. May is having too much fun in high school and playing for Miller.
"I love PikeView, it is a great school and everybody supports you so much, I just love everything about it," she said. "(Coach Miller) keeps you up, if you are having a bad game or something she just keeps you so motivated, she is so nice, I love her."
That brought a smile from Miller, but so does what May is doing on the court.
"I think everybody is proud of her," Miller said. "We just hope that she continues."
So does May. It's her senior season, and she wants to go out with a splash.
"It is really important," May said. "I just want to make my parents happy, just want to make everybody happy."
All while taking care of those nails.

Player of Week Honorable Mention

Week of Dec. 7-13
Bluefield: Dani Janutolo, 18 points in loss to North Marion; Jia Coppola, 17 points.
Giles: Haley Kirk, 12 points vs. Graham.
Graham: Lexi Kiser, 83 points in three game, 38 points, 16-19 FT, vs. Giles; Dejah Carter, 38 points in 2 games, 21 points vs. Tazewell, 17 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists vs. Giles; Carly Moretto, 26 points in 3 games, 11 points, 10 assists, 2 steals vs. Giles; Brittany Tignor, 9 points vs. Giles and Tazewell.
Grundy: Lexi Boyd, 20 points in 2 games, 10 points, 12 rebounds vs. Marion; Autumn Sperry, 22 points; Emily Lane, 25 points,19 points vs. Marion.
James Monroe: Megan Bailey, 38 points in 3 games, 19 points, 5 steals vs. Chapmanville; Gracie Mann, 33 points vs. Pocahontas County
Mercer Christian: Allison Mills, 24 points in two games; Leah Billings, 13 points vs. Hundred.
Montcalm: Heather Nicewander, 34 pts in 2 games, 19 points, 5 steals vs. Hundred; Taylor Dunford, 18 points, 13 rebounds; Stormy Carver, 10 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks.
Narrows: Maggie Guynn, 55 points in two wins, 33 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists vs. Tazewell, 23 points, 12-15 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists vs. Craig County; Lindsey Kast, 37 points, 25 points, 7 steals, 6 rebounds, 5 assists vs. Tazewell, 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists vs. Craig County.
PikeView: Ashley Scott, 42 points in 3 games, 23 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists vs. Nicholas County, 13 points, 3 steals vs. Westside.
Princeton: Day Day Eaves, 41 points in 3 games, 20 points, 6 rebounds vs. Logan, 15 points, 6 rebounds vs. PikeView; Danielle Hall, 37 points in 3 games, 15 points, 5 assists vs. PikeView, 15 points, 3 assists vs. Logan; Kaleigh Barker, 14 points vs. Tolsia; Jaime Vest, 15 points vs. Tolsia, all-tournament team; Adrianna Mitchem, 8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists vs. PikeView.
Richlands: Olivia Harmon 31 points in two games, 22 vs. Virginia High; Ericah Burton, 28 points, 19 vs. Tazewell; Haleigh Whited, 26 points, 14 points, 8 rebounds vs. Tazewell; Nadia Ashiq, 15 points vs. Tazewell.
River View: Katie Dobbs, 18 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists vs. Independence; Kiersten Roberts, 18 points, 9 steals, 8 rebounds; Lindsey Meade, 12 points; Rebekah Christian, 5 points, 8 steals, 4 assists.
Tazewell: Gracey Cline, 84 points in four games, 24 points vs. Richlands, 22 vs. Narrows and Graham; Cyndee Moore, 11 points vs. Narrows.
Summers County: Brittney Justice, 57 points in 3 games, 29 points, 10 rebounds, 6 steals, 6 assists vs. James Monroe, 22 points, 13 rebounds vs. Pocahontas County, 6 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks vs. Chapmanville; Whittney Justice, 43 points, 16 points, 8 assists vs. James Monroe, 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals vs. Pocahontas County, 10 points, 4 assists, 3 blocks vs. Chapmanville; Tiffany Cline, 21 points vs. James Monroe; Morgan Miller, 19 points, 4 3s, vs. Chapmanville, 12 points vs. Pocahontas County; Hannah Taylor, 30 points, 8 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists vs. James Monroe, 16 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists vs. Pocahontas County.
2015-16 Girls Winners
Week 1: Maggie Guynn, Narrows
Week 2: Madison May, PikeView