WVSSAC Girls Basketball State Tourney predictions

The champs are nearly here. Mere days stand between eight teams in four classifications across the state and the ultimate prize. Tick tock. Tick Tock. When the tournament kicks off Tuesday morning with Class A No. 6 Tucker County vs. No. 3 Tug Valley, the race for the crowns officially commences. The Mountain Lions and Panthers duke it out for a spot in the semifinals. Championship Saturday then draws one step closer when AA begins its portion of the tournament Wednesday, before AAA and AAAA bring us to the state championship games. Here's a primer of what to expect in each classification: <strong>CLASS AAAA</strong> <strong>Favorite:</strong> Huntington (defending champions) <strong>Don’t be surprised if these teams win the title:</strong> Cabell Midland, Morgantown <strong>Dark Horse:</strong> Wheeling Park <strong>What makes Huntington roll:</strong> The Huntington Highlanders are a high-powered offensive and defensive group. They specialize in making life hard for any opponent, thanks to a potent combination of talent and athleticism. <img class="size-medium wp-image-383911 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/02/Lacee-Smith-300x269.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="269" />When they start rolling, it’s tough to stop. When they gain confidence, it’s often the end. Players like [player_tooltip player_id="153371" first="Dionna" last="Gray"], Amara Jackson, [player_tooltip player_id="153375" first="Imani" last="Hickman"], [player_tooltip player_id="382709" first="Lacee" last="Smith"] and Jayda Turner constantly turn the wheel, thus keeping the tempo up and pressure on an opponent. Sure, there’s hope if you can keep up with Lonnie Lucas’ team. No team stands completely invulnerable, after all. However, as Parkersburg High showed early this year in handing the Highlanders their lone loss, it takes a full 48 minutes. Oh, and that’s if a team lucks out and catches Huntington off guard. Unless there are any delays in getting to the arena or unseen circumstances, that’s unlikely to happen. Gray brings her team ready with a high basketball IQ and a need to win that exceeds individual accolades. Hickman possesses a range of skills allowing her to guard smaller players and finish around and away from the rim. Jackson is just a pure athlete who makes things happen with her gifts. Smith doubles as a point guard and hustle player for Lucas’s team. Turner and she don’t mind roughing opponents up or enforcing Huntington’s will on either end of the floor. <strong>CLASS AAA</strong> <strong>Favorite:</strong> Fairmont Senior (2021 runner-up) <strong>Don’t be surprised if this team wins:</strong> Logan <strong>Dark Horses:</strong> North Marion, Nitro (defending champion) <strong>What makes Fairmont Senior roll: </strong>The Polar Bears remain chilly - in any situation. <img class="size-medium wp-image-380425 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/Meredith-Maier-scaled-crop-1920x1261-1643138578-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />Two-time Mary O winner [player_tooltip player_id="153370" first="Marley" last="Washenitz"] never panics, Marshall commit [player_tooltip player_id="153399" first="Meredith" last="Maier"] stays cool, and head coach Corey Hines leads through any and all adversity. Simply put, there’s nothing they haven’t seen. They’ll rattle you before you rattle them. The best move available to opponents is to sit back and wait for them to make a mistake. Sure, that sounds easy. But in practice, it could be far too late when it comes to capitalizing on said approach. You see, they do a lot of running. They hound you on defense, before wearing you out in the transition game. [player_tooltip player_id="153398" first="Reagan" last="Blasher"], Laynie Berisford, [player_tooltip player_id="153386" first="Emily" last="Starn"], Washenitz, and Maier can all bring the ball up the floor, creating a situation of choice. Do you let the Bears get an easy layup or do you let Marley, who is shooting 50% from 3, pop up for a quick shot? Or do you challenge Maier and risk someone else becoming open for a quick pass? Decisions, decisions. Not easy ones either. Every one of them carries risk. Washenitz 3’s always swings the momentum of a game, Maier taking charge down low morphs the Bears into a more physical team, and no matter what an opponent chooses, there’s always going to be trouble. <strong>CLASS AA</strong> <strong>Favorite:</strong> Parkersburg Catholic (2021 runner-up) <strong>Don’t be surprised if this team wins:</strong> Wyoming East (defending champion) <strong>Dark Horses:</strong> St. Marys, Summers County <strong>What makes Parkersburg Catholic roll:</strong> The Crusaderettes won’t be outdone. Not this season. Not this time. [caption id="attachment_154074" align="alignleft" width="174"]<img class=" wp-image-154074" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/03/Leslie-Huffman-e1584207051768-300x275.jpeg" alt="" width="174" height="160" /> [player_tooltip player_id="153374" first="Leslie" last="Huffman"]<br />Parkersburg Catholic[/caption]Having experienced more than a fair share of heartache when it comes to the state championship game, Marty Vierheller and his team simply aren’t settling for no - at all. They’re not saying the word. They’re not hearing the word. And they aren’t accepting it as an outcome this week. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id="153374" first="Leslie" last="Huffman"] and Lainie Ross are leading a team full of state tournament experience. Huffman enters the week leading the Mid-Ohio Valley in scoring. She’s always threatening big point totals and a stifling defensive performance. Ross’ attitude gives the Crusaderettes a tough edge. Jocelynn Thorn shoots the lights out from three. Mary Tokodi-Ruth brings multiple facets to the floor, and Debra Hardbarger makes things hard inside, both on offense and defense. It’s all enough to make anyone nervous when they run on the floor against the Crusaderettes. <strong>CLASS A</strong> <strong>Favorite:</strong> Gilmer County <strong>Don’t be surprised if this team wins:</strong> Tug Valley (reigning champion) <strong>Dark Horse:</strong> Cameron <strong>What makes Gilmer County roll:</strong> The Titans starting five forms perhaps the most cohesive unit in the state, right now. At least in Class A, anyways. [caption id="attachment_380421" align="alignright" width="241"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-380421" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/03-25-20-GC-Bancroft-ja-675x840-1-241x300.jpg" alt="" width="241" height="300" /> Photo: Jamie Mullins <a href="https://www.glenvillewv.com/sports.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenville Democrat</a>[/caption] The group featuring [player_tooltip player_id="153400" first="Trinity" last="Bancroft"], [player_tooltip player_id="154942" first="Malaysia" last="Morgan"], Emma Taylor, [player_tooltip player_id="154947" first="Taylor" last="McHenry"], and [player_tooltip player_id="153408" first="Carrah" last="Ferguson"] screams a confident bunch. Plain and simple. Close leads or big opponents’ runs don’t affect them. Physical play, like that of Tolsia, doesn’t rattle them. They’ve seen it all, and none of it frightens any of them. Armed with a cumulative basketball knowledge that would make some teams blush, they pummel away at many an opponent. It doesn't matter what you do, they are sticking to what they do. Expect much of the same when the Titans take the floor against Union at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. &nbsp; &nbsp;