Spring Rankings: 2023 Stockrisers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PARKERSBURG - Here are the stock risers in the spring rankings of the senior class, in terms of college preparedness:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='153421' first='Sydney' last='Baird'], Webster County, CG, 5-7, Sr. (5 to 2)</strong> - Talk about working your way up the rankings! See [player_tooltip player_id='153421' first='Sydney' last='Baird']. She kept climbing higher and higher each and every week. After she scored her 2000th point, she went up. After she led a desperate really in the fourth quarter of a regional final against James Monroe, she went up. After she nearly carried the Highlanders to the Class A title game, yes, she went up again. Sound ridiculous? It shouldn't. Nothing [player_tooltip player_id='153421' first='Sydney' last='Baird'] does anymore should be coming as a surprise. She's clearly been put on a basketball court to overcome the odds, and then she does it each and every time. It's hard to be shocked when she's always putting up the numbers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='379481' first='Abby' last='McDonough'], Doddridge County, SG, 5-8, Sr. (18 to 5)</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id='379481' first='Abby' last='McDonough'] put together one heck of a junior season. Her follow-up year was even better. Yes, everything was great in her senior season. She came. She saw. She scored. In a year where the Bulldogs were looking for a return trip to the state tournament, she provided all the leadership and encouragement a team could need. I have probably already worn this topic out in my other pieces about her, but its worth repeating ... She gave Doddridge County a special person and a star gifted with patience and understanding. There wasn't any yelling, or chatting, or sniping, just peace and a desire driving the Bulldogs to a common goal - and a lot of that had to do with McDonough. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='153430' first='Hallie' last='Bailey'], Spring Valley, PG, 5-7, Sr. (37-13)</strong> - So, why did [player_tooltip player_id='153430' first='Hallie' last='Bailey'] leapfrog into the top 15? That's easy. One word. Leadership. Yup, that's right. Leadership. Presented with her final year on a team with three established scorers and a more complete starting five than most AAAA schools, Bailey made sure that the Wolves kept that moniker for most of the season. She took charge when she needed to. She really delivered something different every night. It was never the same mix of the same stats in the same order, some nights she did a little more rebounding or some nights she played the patient and passing point guard, other nights though she slashed to the hoop or took a tough defensive assignment ... and every time Spring Valley came out better for her choices. Talk about true leadership. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='379486' first='Avery' last='Childers'], Robert C. Byrd, PF, 6-0, Sr. (27 to 15)</strong> - Childers really came into her own this season and that made a huge difference in the rankings. Part of the college game features players learning their type of play and being able to adapt to the defense in-game, and Childers really differentiated herself from other W.Va. players this time around with her vision and ability to adjust. She's not got just one offensive way to make an impact. She sees the floor well. She passes well. Her passes come in key moments and in nice positions. You really get a feeling that the flow of the game always comes to Childers quicker because she doesn't panic if it isn't flowing right away. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='379483' first='Elizabeth' last='Blankenship'] Lincoln County, W, 5-10, Sr. (45-26) </strong>- Blankenship shot up this list for two reasons. 1. I actually got to watch her play multiple times this season, and 2. When I saw her play I liked what I saw. She's not the biggest or strongest, but her heart is in the right place and she works hard. Her length helps her pilot a game in several different ways. She can get to the rim and isn't afraid to take someone off the dribble, which helps because she covers a lot of ground in her gait. She can finish at the rim and under the rim if need be. In short, she was a worth candidate for a bump after the year she had. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->