Class of 2024 Fall Storylines
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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: Can George Washington fit all…
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Continue ReadingThere 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:
Can George Washington fit all its’ talented pieces together? 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 Finley Lohan Finley Lohan 5'11" | SF George Washington | 2024 State WV and Macie Mallory Macie Mallory 5'9" | SG George Washington | 2024 WV . 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.
Is Morgantown going to repeat in Class AAAA? Lily Jordan Lily Jordan 6'0" | PF Morgantown | 2024 State WV and Sofia Wassick Sofia Wassick 5'7" | PG Morgantown | 2024 State WV 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 Kayli Kellogg Kayli Kellogg 5'9" | SG Morgantown | 2027 WV 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.
Do the Ripley Vikings have one more run left in them? 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 Sophie Nichols Sophie Nichols 5'11" | SG Ripley | 2024 State WV , Erin Ryan, Abby Eastman Abby Eastman 5'10" | C Ripley | 2024 State WV , and Morgan Shanklin. 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.
How high can University climb? 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 Ella Simpson Ella Simpson 5'9" | SF University | 2024 State WV (No. 6 in the Class of 2024), Hannah Stemple Hannah Stemple 5'5" | SG University | 2025 State WV and Ashlyn Weaver. 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.
Will a senior win the Mary O Award? Alexis Bordas Alexis Bordas 5'8" | SG Wheeling Park | 2025 State WV . Zaniah Zellos. Brooke Adkins Brooke Adkins 6'0" | PG Wayne | 2025 State WV . LaLa Woods. Dria Parker Dria Parker 5'10" | SF Spring Valley | 2025 State WV . 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: Finley Lohan Finley Lohan 5'11" | SF George Washington | 2024 State WV , Ashlynn Van Tassell, Macie Mallory Macie Mallory 5'9" | SG George Washington | 2024 WV , Lily Jordan Lily Jordan 6'0" | PF Morgantown | 2024 State WV , Sophie Nichols Sophie Nichols 5'11" | SG Ripley | 2024 State WV , Ella Simpson Ella Simpson 5'9" | SF University | 2024 State WV , Trinity Balog Trinity Balog 5'7" | SG Parkersburg | 2024 State WV and Sophi Aldridge Sophi Aldridge 5'5" | CG Cabell Midland | 2024 State WV . 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.