Class of 2024 Fall Storylines

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are no shortage of storylines around the state, as we begin the trek to November and the first games of the high school season. Here are five of the top Class of 2024 storylines: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":379076,"width":133,"height":269,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/01/Finley-Lohan-scaled.jpg?w=506" alt="" class="wp-image-379076" style="width:133px;height:269px" width="133" height="269" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Can George Washington fit all its' talented pieces together?</strong> George Washington came close to recovering from a rocky start and qualifying for the state tournament one year ago. The Patriots came oh so close. Ultimately, they ended up suffering a defeat to Princeton in the regional co-final, thus falling short by one game of a trip to Charleston. The Tigers beat them by a single point. Luckily, the Patriots have another opportunity for a state tournament with their returning crew. That unit undoubtedly will be led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='379495' first='Finley' last='Lohan']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='379496' first='Macie' last='Mallory']</strong>. The duo knows what it takes to get to the state tournament and win a game. They were on the last Patriots' team to do so. And, they will be key cogs in the Patriots' run to Charleston this year. Both girls come into the season having played for the W.Va. Thunder's top squad, which means they bring a bevy of experience adjusting to situations full of Division I talent, it all comes on top of their three years of Mountain State Athletic Conference experience. Experience they will need to utilize to the max as they pilot a team full of talent through rough MSAC waters. Can they get it done? It certainly appearance they have all the tools they need, now, it is just a question of whether or not they get the job done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Is Morgantown going to repeat in Class AAAA? [player_tooltip player_id='342235' first='Lily' last='Jordan']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='342214' first='Sofia' last='Wassick']</strong> are the leaders of the Morgantown Mohigans. That much is obvious going into the season. But, how will they do as the sole leaders of a group that is relatively young? My guess is not too shabby. Wassick and Jordan are among the top 10 players in the 2024 class for a good reason: They understand the game of basketball and how it is played at all levels. I have no doubt they will perform admirably as the leaders of a Mohigans' group looking to keep Park, St. Albans, GW and Spring Valley from knocking them off of their championship thrones. They both will work hard to seamlessly integrate [player_tooltip player_id='722078' first='Kayli' last='Kellogg'] and Sadaya Jones into the lineup in place of Lindsey Bechtel and Mia Henkins. Trust me, Morgantown isn't going to fall off much from the team it had one year ago. I fully expect this team to be back in the title game come March with Wassick and Jordan leading the way in an attempt for a second straight championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Do the Ripley Vikings have one more run left in them? </strong>Is there enough magic left in John Kennedy's bag of success for another deep Vikings' run? Hopefully. One year after pushing eventual state champion North Marion to the brink, the Vikings return fourth-fifths of their starting lineup. That includes seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='375427' first='Sophie' last='Nichols']</strong>, <strong>Erin Ryan</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='582540' first='Abby' last='Eastman']</strong>, and <strong>Morgan Shanklin</strong>. Returning with them are the majority of the Vikings' points and a heartbeat that never ceases. It will not be the same after this group leaves, that is for sure. They bring a special combination to the floor that just feels right whenever they take the court together. Victory is never out of the question. Hopefully, this remains the case as the Vikings compete in an absolutely loaded Class AAA and more specifically, a revamped, but still tough Region IV. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":440169,"width":342,"height":228,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/06/Ella_s-Simpson-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-440169" style="width:342px;height:228px" width="342" height="228" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">PGH Buckeye Breakdown Sunday Games</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How high can University climb?</strong> University enjoyed a particularly successful season one year ago. The Hawks went 16-7, beat eventual state runner-up Wheeling Park, and gave Morgantown all the eventual AAAA state champions could handle. In their 23 games, they were led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='726644' first='Ella' last='Simpson']</strong> (No. 6 in the Class of 2024), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='342212' first='Hannah' last='Stemple']</strong> and <strong>Ashlyn Weaver</strong>. Now, that group, plus all but two graduated seniors enters the season with a chance to improve on their standings. The only problem for them is that Morgantown arguably improved and Wheeling Park returns many of the same players from one year, ago. So, the question really is how high can University fly? The good news is that if the Hawks win their section they will only face one of Morgantown or Wheeling Park in the regional tournament on their home floor. The bad news is that they have to face one of Morgantown or Wheeling Park, regardless of their sectional success. Can the Hawks muster enough quality performances in the biggest games to advance to Charleston? Experience says yes, but we will have to wait for the hardwood results to read the same as the paper results. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Will a senior win the Mary O Award?</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='342221' first='Alexis' last='Bordas']. Zaniah Zellos. [player_tooltip player_id='379522' first='Brooke' last='Adkins']. LaLa Woods. [player_tooltip player_id='384100' first='Dria' last='Parker']. The Class of 2025 possesses multiple candidates capable of keeping the state's top individual award squarely within their ranks. All five young ladies listed cannot be counted out when it comes to naming the best player in the state. Can a senior topple them and take the award? It's going to be interesting to watch, that's for sure. As long as the list of junior possibilities is, the list for seniors is arguably the same, if not longer: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='379495' first='Finley' last='Lohan']</strong>, <strong>Ashlynn Van Tassell</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='379496' first='Macie' last='Mallory']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='342235' first='Lily' last='Jordan']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='375427' first='Sophie' last='Nichols']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='726644' first='Ella' last='Simpson']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378962' first='Trinity' last='Balog']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='379497' first='Sophi' last='Aldridge']</strong>. All six of those ladies will be in a position to draw attention from the voters. Day after day, game after game, their stats will often be among the deciding factors to a victory for their group similar to the juniors. But, will someone take the award and make it their own? We are going to find out, together. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->