Players to watch in the Class AA regional tournament

Parkersburg Catholic enters the Class AA postseason as the Little Kanawha Conference champions for the fourth year in a row. Does that mean the Crusaderettes are going to suffer the same fate at the state tournament as the past three years? Are they once again destined to fall short of the program’s tenth state championship? Or is now their time to capture the title that has eluded them? We’re still at least a month away from figuring out the answer. Good news for Catholic though ... the team has come a long way since the beginning of the season when [player_tooltip player_id="153374" first="Leslie" last="Huffman"] and Mary Tokodi-Ruth were the teams only reliable ball-handlers. The group also has more than one standout post player now, and the team as a whole plays great defense. Teams standing in the Crusaderettes way include a Wyoming East team nothing like the group that lost to PCHS by 40 back in December. The reigning Class AA state champions Warriors have matured into a team that plays a high-tempo offense and in-your-face defense. Speaking of defense, Petersburg brings a tough D to the court. This all assumes Catholic leaves its region as co-champions. St. Marys and Ritchie County bring athletic squads to the floor and Williamstown’s getting better every day. The gauntlet of Region I might get Coach V’s team before Charleston enters the picture. Here are the players who will have big roles in how Class AA plays out in the postseason: Region I Section 1: [player_tooltip player_id="154943" first="Sophie" last="Nelson"], Ritchie County, SG, Sr., 5-10 - With St. Marys coming on strong at the end of the year behind dangerous scorers Addie Davis and Breanna Price, the Rebels scoring duo of [player_tooltip player_id="153427" first="Rebekah" last="Rupert"] and <img class=" wp-image-389484 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/02/RC-Nelson-1100x733-1-189x300.jpg" alt="" width="97" height="154" />[player_tooltip player_id="154943" first="Sophie" last="Nelson"] stands more important than ever. Specifically, Nelson creating her shot and getting hot makes life difficult for opponents of the Rebels. She elevates off the floor by a good margin and puts her shot up fast. If she gets a little bit of daylight off a screen, she’s shooting the ball. She definitely can swing a game with her shot. She’s not just hitting one 3 in any contest, she’s hitting multiple 3s. Section 2: Jocelynn Thorn, Parkersburg Catholic, SG, So., 5-4 and Deborah Hardbarger, Parkersburg Catholic, F/C, Jr., 5-11 - Two of the biggest maturing players for head coach Marty Vierheller, Thorn and Hardbarger give the Crusaderettes more reliable scoring to go alongside [player_tooltip player_id="153374" first="Leslie" last="Huffman"] and Lainie Ross. <img class="size-medium wp-image-375214 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/Jocelynn-Thorn-scaled-crop-1577x1036-1642014125-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />Thorn already hits 3s, but she’s no longer content staying outside the arc. She’s ventured to the basket more often late in the year. She may be small, but she plays tall and isn’t afraid to go into the land of giants. She’s quick on defense and releases her shot quickly on offense. It’s a big difference from her freshman year. Hardbarger brings a hockey players mentality to the low post area. Not afraid to rough it up if that is what is required, Hardbarger doesn’t accept someone else outrebounded her until they actually can bring the ball up the floor. She’s a fighter in everything she does. Offensively, she may be the biggest surprise of the LKC. Her athleticism gives her access to many moves most post players struggle to guard. Region II Section 1: [player_tooltip player_id="385543" first="Kennedy" last="Kaposy"], Petersburg, G, Jr., 5-5 - Petersburg likes to make people uncomfortable with a stifling defense. [player_tooltip player_id="385543" first="Kennedy" last="Kaposy"] leads the way in that respect. Assigned an opponent’s top scorer, she specializes in taking away what her assignment does best. On top of that, she leads the front of the Vikings’ press. In other words, there’s never a point where she can’t make a difference with her pressure. In a region where her group will see Frankfort scorer Halley Smith (20.6 points per game) in the sectional final, it’s great to have a defender. Coaches should like her because she moves her feet and always brings energy to the floor. Section 2: [player_tooltip player_id="385407" first="Jenna" last="Barnett"], Trinity, So., SF, 5-9 - It’s been a long couple of years for Trinity since program-shaper Regan Sharp graduated in 2019. Tough times fell on Mike Baldy’s group, but now the Warriors are in the mix again. [player_tooltip player_id="385407" first="Jenna" last="Barnett"] is a big reason why. "She’s a tenacious defensive player who makes some great passes," Baldy said. "She makes the whole offense click. She’s developing into a very good outside shooter." She also knows how to find her teammates for easy assists. There are no extra moves required when they catch the ball. Her quick hands help her create havoc on the defensive end. Region III Section 1: [player_tooltip player_id="383617" first="Madison" last="Clark"], Wyoming East, G, So., 5-10 - Forced into more of a scorer’s role after graduation losses, Curry heads into the postseason successful in her mission. Her ability to stay comfortable in tight moments makes her a big threat. She’s successful in generating offense with several shots. Her length causes deflections on defense, and she shows leadership every time out on the court. Section 2: Madisyn Curry, Mingo Central, PF, Jr., 5-10 - Mingo Central likes to get out and run the ball with point guard [player_tooltip player_id="379528" first="Addie" last="Smith"]. In order for that to happen, the Miners need rebounds. Thankfully, they have one of the best in the business in Madisyn Curry. Positioning herself in the right place at the right time, Curry gives her team 10 or more extra chances per contest. Her body plus basketball IQ help her make life hard on opposing players trying to rip down boards. She's also a low-post threat to score the basketball. She can find the rim or make her outside shot fall if need be. Region IV Section 1: Annie Cimino, Charleston Catholic, G, Jr., 5-6 - Charleston Catholic often doesn't get a lot of credit. The Irish fly under the radar kind of like their point guard Annie Cimino. A junior capable of pushing the tempo, Cimino directs the offense with confidence and a high basketball IQ. She sees passes others don't and has a way of getting into the lane where it looks easy. Being a state champion tennis player, her footwork is also next to no one else. She shuts down opposing point guards before they can make a move on her. Section 2: Maddie Hall, Roane County, G, Jr., 5-6 - Roane County possesses a good chance to go dancing in Charleston. One of the reasons why is Maddie Hall. On a team with no juniors, leadership stands critical. Somone needs to lead the group on the floor. Luckily for head coach Frank Farrar, she's a great communicator and runs a smooth offense. She's vocal. She directs traffic. She tells her teammates what she sees on the floor. Her shooting gives her team breathing room or makes it, so Roane never finds itself out of a game.