High School: Way too early 2023 Predictions
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Mary Ostrowksi Award winner: Jayda Allie Jayda Allie 5'8" | SG Cabell Midland | 2023 State WV , Cabell Midland Runner-up: Finley Lohan Finley Lohan 5'11" | SF George Washington | 2024 State WV , George Washington CLASS AAAA Favorite:…
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Continue ReadingMary Ostrowksi Award winner: Jayda Allie Jayda Allie 5'8" | SG Cabell Midland | 2023 State WV , Cabell Midland
Runner-up: Finley Lohan Finley Lohan 5'11" | SF George Washington | 2024 State WV , George Washington
CLASS AAAA
Favorite: Morgantown
Don’t be surprised if these teams win the title: Cabell Midland, Wheeling Park
Dark Horse: GW
Teams ready to make the biggest leap: Spring Mills, GW
Surprise state tournament qualifier: Woodrow Wilson
Why not reigning champion Huntington: Two Highlander graduation losses coupled with the returning players make two things quite clear: The Highlanders’ three-peat attempt isn’t dead, but there’s still a long way to go.
Replacing Gatorade Player of the Year Dionna Gray Dionna Gray 5'3" | PG Huntington | 2022 State WV and multi-talented player Imani Hickman Imani Hickman 5'11" | PF Huntington | 2022 State WV could be a season-long process. You just don’t get rid of two first-team all-staters and immediately pick up where you left off, especially in the Mountain State Athletic Conference. However, the Highlanders still possess plenty of talent in returning players like Lacee Smith Lacee Smith 5'6" | SG Huntington St. Joe | 2025 State WV , Ella Giles Ella Giles 5'7" | CG Huntington | 2025 State WV , Jayda Turner, and Amara Jackson. Those four fill all but one spot in the Highlanders’ starting lineup. And all of them will be doing so, quite well.
The biggest question, of course, is filling that last spot and getting the group to come together. If the Highlanders gel, there’s no reason a still talented team can’t grab the Class AAAA trophy, once again.
What makes Morgantown roll: Sofia Wassick Sofia Wassick 5'7" | PG Morgantown | 2024 State WV calling out plays at point guard. Lindsey Bechtel Lindsey Bechtel 5'7" | CG Morgantown | 2023 State WV and Sadaya Jones shooting 3s and driving from the wings. Lily Jordan Lily Jordan 6'0" | PF Morgantown | 2024 State WV and High School: Way too early 2023 Predictions High School: Way too early 2023 Predictions battling for points and boards on the block down low.
There’s no doubt everything’s in place for the Mohigans’ starting five heading into the summer. In terms of preparation and expectations, not many teams know what they are preparing for better than the Mohigans. Sure, it sounds farfetched. But is it really? No. After a season that saw the group steamroll its way to the final game of the year once in Charleston, it’s very clearly a case of clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose for Morgantown, no matter what way you slice it. Not to mention, they likely bring back the best defense in Class AAAA. The mission stands before them, now it’s up to them to bring home the goods.
WAY TOO EARLY CLASS AAAA TOP 10
1 Morgantown
2 Cabell Midland
3 Wheeling Park
4 Huntington
5 Woodrow Wilson
6 GW
7 Spring Mills
8 Spring Valley
9 Greenbrier East
10 Capital
State Tournament seeds
1 Morgantown
2 Cabell Midland
3 Wheeling Park
4 GW
5 Huntington
6 Spring Mills
7 Woodrow Wilson
8 Jefferson
State Tournament
Quarterfinals
Morgantown over Jefferson
GW over Huntington
Wheeling Park over Spring Mills
Cabell Midland over Woodrow Wilson
Semifinals
Morgantown over GW
Wheeling Park over Cabell Midland
Final
Morgantown over Wheeling Park
CLASS AAA
Favorite: Wayne
Dark Horse: Ripley
Team ready to make the biggest leap: Wayne
Suprise state tournament qualifier: East Fairmont
Why not reigning champion Logan: Who replaces the graduated Peyton Ilderton Peyton Ilderton 5'6" | CG Logan | 2022 State WV ’s 27 points per game?
Is it one person? Is it two people? Or is it an assignment head coach Kevin Gertz divides up among the entire team?
Given the region the Wildcats are in, with Wayne and Ripley hot in pursuit, failing to find an adequate replacement is out of the question. Generating those points, not to mention, Ilderton’s defense, is critical. It was evident this past year in the way the Wildcats played on both sides of the floor. It was especially evident in the state championship game. During the 27-26 win over Fairmont Senior, a hard defensive presence appeared to re-energize the Wildcats after some particularly grueling possessions. They kept coming back to their tough-as-nails point stopping-unit, and really frustrated Fairmont Senior’s veteran starting lineup. The team fed off Ilderton and she in turn fed off the team, all year long, but particuarly in the game against the Polar Bears.
What will that relationship look like without Ilderton? Until we find out, there’s not enough information to accurately say the Wildcats are repeating as state champions.
What makes Wayne roll: Wayne is the favorite in Class AAA.
At least for right now.
In an offseason that can change at the drop of the dime, one thing has become quite clear about the one of the western most high schools in the state.
The Pioneers are young but talented. Really talented. Sure, you can talk about Brooke and Addie Adkins Addie Adkins 5'11" | PF Wayne | 2025 State WV all you like. And you should. The two are important pieces for the Pioneers. Yet, Mikayla Stacy Mikayla Stacy 5'10" | SF Wayne | 2025 State WV , Laneigh Brooks and other young players are talented as well. About the only thing Wayne is missing is a true center, but that’s not really necessary seeing as Addie led the team in rebouding this year. Things keep getting better the more and more you look at the group.
For example, Brooke already looks right at home in the point guard role. “You really love when she’s able to get on the floor. She’s does a really good job of making sure we are settled. She avoids turnovers and a lot of the highs and lows. She has a really calm demeanor and that helps everyone. And her size creates problems,” Wayne head coach Wade Williamson said.
You don’t simply stop with Brooke, though.
“Addie’s so flexible and she was our leading rebounder who ended up making our most 3-point baskets. She faces the basketball and plays very well along with shooting the ball well. She absolutely is underrated on the defensive end. She’s probably our best on the ball defender,” he said.
As for Stacy? “She’s just going to do what she does, she’s very versatile and we can put her anywhere. She adds a great deal of toughness to the program,” he said. And Brooks? “At times she led us in scoring and she’s a really good athlete,” he said.
When it comes to teammates that will play with them, Williamson has several options on the bench – all of which he feels comfortable to put in the game. Their all working toward the common goal of getting back to Charleston while adding a little consistency from a young team that lost to Nitro in the regional final.
“Once you get there you just want to get back and take care of business. Our goal is to be playing well at the right time and just get there,” Williamson said.
It looks like the Pioneers and their leader may be able to do more than that.
WAY TOO EARLY TOP 10
1 Wayne
2 North Marion
3 Logan
4 Ripley
5 Robert C. Byrd
6 East Fairmont
7 Hampshire
8 PikeView
9 Midland Trail
10 Wheeling Central
State Tournament seeding
1 Wayne
2 North Marion
3 Ripley
4 RCB
5 East Fairmont
6 Sissonville
7 Hampshire
8 Midland Trail
State Tournament
Quarterfinals
Wayne over Midland Trail
RCB over East Fairmont
North Marion over Hampshire
Ripley over Sissonville
Semfinals
Wayne over RCB
North Marion over Ripley
Final
Wayne over North Marion
CLASS AA
Favorite: Wyoming East
Don’t be surprised if this team wins the title: St. Marys
Team ready to make the biggest leap: St. Marys
Surprise state tournament qualifier: Trinity
Why not reigning champion Parkersburg Catholic: Parkersburg Catholic won’t be anywhere near the team that ended last season as the Class AA champions.
Not even close.
After the graduations of Leslie Huffman Leslie Huffman 5'9" | CG Parkersburg Catholic | 2022 State WV and Lainie Ross Lainie Ross 5'11" | PF Parkersburg Catholic | 2022 WV , the Crusaderettes are facing perhaps an even bigger replacement job then what Logan faces after the graduation of Peyton Ilderton Peyton Ilderton 5'6" | CG Logan | 2022 State WV . Leaving with Huffman and Ross are a competitiveness, will, and attitude to win that simply isn’t replaced overnight. Not one person on the current roster has the numerous heartbreaking and shattering experiences that helped shape Ross and Huffman into the players they became. Does it help that returning players know the pain of losing and a state championship a la 2021 along with the high of winning a state title in 2022, of course. Yet, everyone on those teams weren’t equal. Huffman and Ross always stood higher because they always took on more responsibility. Now, players like Jocelynn Thorn, Mary Tokodi-Ruth and Debra Hardbarger must assume the roles of heavy-duty scorers, ball handlers, and team shapers. It is going to take time. Everyone knows the Crusaderettes are replacing their heart and soul, how long does it take? That is the real big question. Teams like Summers County, St. Marys and Wyoming East certainly will be gunning for Catholic’s top spot, and the remaining players on the Crusaderettes won’t get much time in finding answers for those questions.
What makes Wyoming East roll: Defense.
Defense.
Defense, all around. If there’s one thing making a successful Angie Boninsegna team during her time at Wyoming East, its definitely been the prowess in the point stopping unit. Tough to the point of being overwhelming, many of her groups, especially the ones playing for state championships, revolved around defense.
2022’s group was no exception.
Stacked with long and athletic players, the Warriors asserted themselves time and again on the end of the floor that wins championships. Many teams simply crumbled at the pressure supplied by the unit. Given that many of the players responsible are back for another go around next year, it isn’t hard to see where the 2023 Warriors will earn their paychecks.
WAY TOO EARLY TOP 10
1 Wyoming East
2 St. Marys
3 Summers County
4 Trinity
5 Charleston Catholic
6 Roane County
7 Parkersburg Catholic
8 Petersburg
9 Mingo Central
10 Williamstown
State Tournament Seeding
1 Wyoming East
2 St. Marys
3 Summers County
4 Trinity
5 Charleston Catholic
6 Parkersburg Catholic
7 Petersburg
8 Roane County
State Tournament
Quarterfinals
Wyoming East over Roane County
Charleston Catholic over Trinity
St. Marys over Petersburg
Summers County over Parkersburg Catholic
Semifinals
Wyoming East over Charleston Catholic
St. Marys over Summers County
Final
Wyoming East over St. Marys
CLASS A
Favorite: Cameron
Don’t be surprised if this team wins the title: Tucker County
Team ready to make the biggest leap: Tolsia
Surprise state tournament qualifier: James Monroe
What makes Cameron roll: Cameron is the definitive favorite next year.
And the Dragons may stay that way from wire-to-wire.
Yes, there’s plenty making Cameron head coach Holly Pettitte excited, and more than enough evidence backing up such a big claim about the Dragons’ chances.
Obviously, center Ashlynn Van Tassell forms one of the biggest pluses on the court. The newly minted state record holder for rebounds in a single tournament and a single game brings a weapon many teams in Class A simply can’t handle. Even Tucker County, home of 6-1 post player Kadie Colebank Kadie Colebank 6'1" | PF Tucker County | 2023 State WV , failed in keeping up with the Dragons multi-talented big. The problem being that Van Tassell muscles people around on the block and is motivated by her rebounding duty on both ends of the floor. She’s gone on record as saying offensive rebounds lead to easy points, while defensive rebounds get her pumped as her team gets another chance for points.
But, it doesn’t end with Van Tassell.
As we have said plenty on this very site, Kenzie Clutter really powers the Dragons’ defensive engine. Maybe more so than Van Tassell. Yes, it sounds crazy, maybe to the point of being a bit unbelievable. Van Tassell simply anchors the unit with her multitude of abilities on the inside. However, Clutter provides the voice. She directs the traffic. And she takes the tough assignments without complaint. About the only thing she doesn’t do is rebound, and I think we all know why. They have Ashlynn for that. But that’s okay, because it frees her up for her abilities, which she’s shown quite the proclivity for.
But wait, there’s more.
So much more.
Add in Maci Neely Maci Neely 5'7" | SG Cameron | 2025 State WV and Emily Dobbs complimenting their teammates on both ends of the floor. It’s almost as if they have a telepathic link. Defenses are tight, and they always seem to be in the right place at the right time in the press or on offense. Take the closing moments of the state title game as an example, Dobbs planted herself in perfect deflection position, while Neely simply waited for the ball to come to her before she took the shot heard around the state. There’s something to be said for that kind of commeraderies on a team, especially when there’s not a senior among the bunch. If anything has been shown by past younger state champions such as Parkersburg High in 2018 and Huntington in 2021, youth that grows together improves together and it usually leads to a stronger product on the court.
WAY TOO EARLY TOP 10
1 Cameron
2 Tucker County
3 Doddridge County
4 River View
5 Tolsia
6 James Monroe
7 Pendleton County
8 Webster County
9 Tug Valley
10 Gilmer County
State Tournament Seeding
1 Cameron
2 Tucker County
3 Tolsia
4 Doddridge County
5 Pendleton County
6 James Monroe
7 River View
8 Gilmer County
State Tournament
Quarterfinals
Cameron over Gilmer County
Doddridge County over Pendleton County
Tucker County over River View
Tolsia over James Monroe
Semifinals
Cameron over Doddridge County
Tucker County over Tolsia
Final
Cameron over Tucker County