Awarding some Regional ribbons – Part 3

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PARKERSBURG – The stage is set for next week's state tournament in Charleston. After weeks of regular-season play and a two-week postseason, thirty-two regional co-champions from four classes finally descend on the Coliseum and Convention Center, but only four groups will walk away as winners. Take a look at some of the girls who helped get their teams there as well as those players who did everything they could in the attempt:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='582540' first='Abby' last='Eastman'], Ripley, C, 5-11, Jr. - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='582540' first='Abby' last='Eastman'] dominated down low on the post with multiple backdoor cuts and points off rebounds. I thought she may try to branch out a little bit more. Eastman kept Lincoln County guessing when they went to the basket on if they would have an easy time of it or not. I wasn't at all surprised by her choice to be a challenger. On Wednesday evening, [player_tooltip player_id='582540' first='Abby' last='Eastman'] did her duty. Businesses as usual. Or BAU, if you will. There were no hiccups nor flops, neither even threatened to rear their ugly head. Instead, they're not but positives came from the Roane transfer. She brought exactly the kind of energy and bravado we have come to expect from her. Oh sure, she flashed her smile, celebrated shots with her teammates, and also took part in the celebration of being off to the state tournament. Yet, before or during all of that, she delivered the cold and calculated performance we have come to expect from her this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='382864' first='Corin' last='Edsell'], Spring Mills, SG, 5-8, Jr.</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id='382864' first='Corin' last='Edsell'] handled herself fine in a regional co-final. Just fine, thank you. When it came time for her to do what she needed to do, she did it. When her teammates needed her to step up big time, she did it. Everything came together for Edsell, plain and simple. Perhaps, her performance wasn't the first thing that you thought of after the regional win - the Cardinals are heading to Charleston with a perfect record, after all. However, they won't have done it without Edsall's help. She grabbed the reigns and played a huge role in keeping that 0 in the loss column. Against Jefferson, she scored 17 points, recorded 8 steals and pulled down 5 rebounds. Not too shabby, not too shabby at all, Corin. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='722920' first='Ericka' last='Zirk'], Tucker County, F, 5-10, Jr. </strong>- Is it easy playing a forward position with Tucker County's [player_tooltip player_id='153432' first='Kadie' last='Colebank']. That is a question [player_tooltip player_id='722920' first='Ericka' last='Zirk'] answered in a pretty meaningful way. Sure, it sounds so simple. With offenses focused on Kadie, how can anyone not make a strong appearance with her on the other block. The truth is Colebank finds a way to get her hands on more boards and points then usual. So, forgive Zirk if she wasn't exactly having an easy time. Yet, when Zirk found herself with an opportunity, she didn't waste it. When it was time to show everyone who would carry on the great line of post players Tucker County has produced, she showed she was ready. Colebank may have recorded more blocks. [player_tooltip player_id='872817' first='Raven' last='Matthews'] may have scored more points, and [player_tooltip player_id='496351' first='Macy' last='Helmick'] may have stolen more passes. But, Zirk was the only one who matched Colebank's double-double effort. She tallied 12 points and ripped down 13 boards, thus hopefully getting Mountain Lion fans more excited for the era of Zirk. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lataja Creasy, Woodrow Wilson, G, 5-5, Sr.</strong> - Woodrow Wilson couldn't throw a grape in the ocean. Literally. Anything the Flying Eagles sent towards the basket was off the mark. They needed just one spark. If they could just get that one ignition everything would be alright. Enter Lataja Creasy. With the mindset of a senior eager to return to the state tournament, Creasy gathered herself on a shot attempt in the first quarter. She bended her knees, took aim at the basketball, elevated and then it was off to the races. Just like that. Her 3 opened the flood gates as Woodrow never looked back on the way to the state tournament after they dropped the first two contests to South Charleston earlier in the year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='379526' first='Addie' last='Adkins'], Wayne, F, 6-0, So.</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id='379526' first='Addie' last='Adkins'] could not miss from 3. All night long. No matter the spot on the floor, she flourished. No matter the defender in her face, she aimed true. No matter the circumstance, she connected. Over and over again, her shots fell through the next. Yeehaw. Why by the time she was done she was historic. The Pioneer drained a school-record 7 3s on the way to a 21-point performance as Wayne advanced to the state tournament with a win over Winfield. Adkins certainly played a huge role. From the start of the game until the fourth quarter, she menaced the Generals. Whenever she had the chance for a backbreaking 3 she took it, and more often than not she connected. She certainly made it nearly impossible for Winfield, who had shown considerable growth during this season, to display any of those weapons and upgrades. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->