Players to watch in the Class A regional tournament
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Region I Section 1: Kenzie Clutter, Cameron, G, So., 5-5 – She’s not a player who scores a ton of points night in and night out, that’s just not her game. Rather, she’s the ball of energy every team wants,…
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Continue ReadingRegion I
Section 1: Kenzie Clutter, Cameron, G, So., 5-5 – She’s not a player who scores a ton of points night in and night out, that’s just not her game. Rather, she’s the ball of energy every team wants, and every coach whips out the old cliche “I wish I had about ten more of her,” for. She possesses infectious defensive energy while running around the court with her long hair flowing everywhere. She successfully irritates a lot of team’s top scorers with a knack for always knowing where her assignment is on the court. She does all the little things a coach could ask.
Section 2: Carrie Lloyd, Doddridge County, C, Jr., 5-9 – After a slow start to the season, Lloyd has found her calling for the Bulldogs. “She’s very active on both sides of the floor,” Gilmer County head coach Amy Chapman said.
“She works very hard and can finish inside mostly going to her right. She gets a ton of points on offensive boards or when teammate Abby McDonough Abby McDonough 5'7" | CG Doddridge County | 2023 State WV drives and help has to go to her. She does a good job of capitalizing on the assists.”
Region II
Section 1: Jayden Kuhn, Tucker County, PG, Sr., 5-5 – Smart and steady, Kuhn holds down the point guard spot well for the Mountain Lions. Her eyes are always up as she moves around the floor, which allows her to make plays at the drop of a hat. She maneuvers around defenders on the floor with great handles on the ball.
When she finally reaches the basket, she’s tough enough to absorb a blow and finish through contact. Her range really is anywhere on the court.
Section 2: Arianna Young Arianna Young 5'7" | CG Pendleton County | 2023 State WV , Pendleton County, G, Jr., 5-8 – High energy is the name of the game for Arianna Young Arianna Young 5'7" | CG Pendleton County | 2023 State WV . Defense, offense, or transition you pick it and she’s bouncing around trying to get something done. Her quick hands find passing lanes causing plenty of deflections. She moves well without the ball on offense, which creates more opportunities for Wildcat teammates and herself.
Region III
Section 1: Adyson Hines, James Monroe, Post, Jr., 5-10 – What do you get when you put together mix together ball handling, smart shot selection, tough defense, and tenacious rebounding into a single post player?
Adyson Hines.
No question.
The Maverick brings a quadruple threat game to the court. It’s easy to see why her stat line reads 12.3 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 1.2 apg, 5.0 spg and 1.3 bpg. Her athleticism and unique blend of skills allow her to be a little bit of everywhere in any game. One minute she may be at the 3-point arc, the next second, she’s stealing the ball from a small forward on the other side of the floor. Or she may be at the top of the post in a second, only to be pulling down a rebound and finishing a putback on the lower block, in no time flat. She still needs to work on her ballhandling, like a lot of big. Yet, she’s a confident player who puts in the work.
Section 2: Sydney Baird Sydney Baird 5'7" | CG Webster County | 2023 State WV , Webster County, G, Jr., 5-8 – Don’t let Webster County guard Sydney Baird Sydney Baird 5'7" | CG Webster County | 2023 State WV find her shooting groove.
Don’t do it.
Once the shots start falling, everything else falls into place for Webster County. Sharon Baird and company turn up the pressure. The team starts running and everything becomes a little more hectic for the Highlanders. Of course, the biggest problem with Baird hitting shots is her confidence grows. And as one of the state’s leading scorers, that’s never a good sign for an opponent.
Her range extends past the boy’s 3-point arc into college territory, more drives to the hoop for teammates and her open up as teammates overextend on defense, and the snowball effect can happen all at once. When she finds her groove, everything settles into place for the Highlanders.
Region IV
Section 1: Kaylea Baisden Kaylea Baisden 5'7" | CG Tug Valley | 2022 State WV , Tug Valley, CG, Sr., 5-9 – Tug Valley’s never out of a basketball game with Kaylea Baisden Kaylea Baisden 5'7" | CG Tug Valley | 2022 State WV on the floor. A player who could easily hold her own in Class AAA and AA, she brings a versatile game sure to give any coach or defender fits.
She’s solid offensively with great court vision and a high basketball IQ that’s earned her play-calling duty trust from head coach Clyde Farley. She’s clutch in the big moments. Defensively, she’s special. She moves well and causes fits during set plays and in transition with her quick feet and speed.
Section 2: Taylor McHenry Taylor McHenry 5'6" | CG Gilmer County | 2022 State WV , Gilmer County, G, Sr., 5-7 – Taylor McHenry Taylor McHenry 5'6" | CG Gilmer County | 2022 State WV must be included in any discussion about top defenders in the Mountain State, regardless of class.
Sure, she plays for Class A Gilmer County and rarely gets the chance at defending players above Class AA.
Regardless, she just gets what defense is all about. The philosophy, the styles, the reasons, and the purposes, there’s nothing she doesn’t understand. Any onlooker sees it on the court. She often knows what her assignments going to do before her opponent does. Her long limbs allow her to make big deflections. Her footwork lets her stay in front of defenders. She’s just not going to be beaten by very many opponents. In a region with a lot of talented scorers, her ability at negating them means everything.