Things I think after Month 1

Wayne looks ready for Charleston, now - Wayne played like the Class AAA No. 1 seed in the opening month of the season?   Oh yes.   The Pioneers looked impressive in every win since an opening victory over Lincoln County. Point guard [player_tooltip player_id='379522' first='Brooke' last='Adkins'] and company have blitzed a schedule filled with 2022-23 regional co-final and state qualifiers.   Shortly after their win over the Cougars, they laid a whoopin' on two-time Class A state champion Cameron. They followed that up by making an early season statement with a dominant win over Chapmanville. In the victory, the Pioneers defense stifled a Tigers' crew who entered the year with high expectations.   If that isn't a great start to a season, consider the Pioneers introduced a new point guard Jayce Sammons on both sides of the ball. What about her introduction? She's melded seamlessly as the group made quick work of many opponents. Since their victory against Chapmanville, only one team, North Marion, has scored more than 50 points against the Pioneers' defense. Yet, the reigning Class AAA champs still suffered a 30-point setback in that contest. In other words, it appears no team is safe in Class AAA as the Pioneers brought their A-game to every early game of the 2023-24 regular-season.   Class AAAA Region IV isn't settled, just yet - PHS and Parkersburg South looked impressive in their opening games of the season?   Apparently.   The Patriots and Big Reds have scoffed at several pre-season predictions that have St. Albans and Spring Valley rolling to Charleston and said not-so-fast. They've promptly put the brakes on any of the talk that Region IV is over and done. The Patriots made the opening jab after they convincingly defeated No. 4 University on the road, 73-40. PHS delivered another shot with an 83-81 win over the Patriots in the Rod Oldham Athletic Center. In fact, those two wins remain the best wins of the season for any teams in the eight-team region. They served as eye-openers to teams around the state that the two girls basketball powerhouses that have been sleeping for a few years are very much awake and remain in the state tournament conversation.   Hopefully, St. Albans and Spring Valley haven't assumed a punched ticket to Charleston is in their future as the Big Reds and Patriots have shown them things aren't going to be quite that easy come February and March.   Gilmer County is a force to be reckoned with in Class A - Gilmer County is the tenth best team in Class A?   Not according to the opening results of the 2023-24 season.   The Titans politely looked at where the coaches ranked them in the opening Class A poll before promptly ignoring the prediction. Rather than doubting themselves, they smashed everyone in their early schedule, that includes a Williamstown team that many believe is a Class AA state title contender. The [player_tooltip player_id='570500' first='Ava' last='Dobbins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='379515' first='Allie' last='Ellyson']-led group defeated the Yellowjackets, in their own house, by 15-points. The Titans turned a 3-point game at the end of the third quarter into a snoozer by the time the fourth quarter ended. Yet, it hasn't just been Dobbins and Ellyson that have led the charge. The Titans have shown they are much more than a 6-foot-4 scoring machine and a 5-foot-6 dynamo. Multiple girls have led the Titans in scoring during the 7-0 start. Four different girls finished as the leading scorer. Most recently, [player_tooltip player_id='570508' first='Lena' last='Frymier'] caught fire with 25 points in the win over Williamstown.   Watch out for Chapman's crew come February and March.   Morgantown may have the best defensive starting five in the state - Morgantown sure played some great defense in the opening month of the season.   The Mohigans played some really great defense.   Whether it came against Wheeling Park, University or any of their opening opponents, head coach Doug Goodwin's group made life hard on the ball-stopping end, especially the Mohigans' starting five. They set the tone night in and night out. Perhaps, the most impressive performance of the young year came as they faced off against the Patriots.   In the first of a possible five meetings between the Ohio Valley Conference rivals, the Mohigans displayed a tour de force on how to contain [player_tooltip player_id='342221' first='Alexis' last='Bordas'] and LaLa Woods. Everyone from [player_tooltip player_id='342235' first='Lily' last='Jordan'] to [player_tooltip player_id='342214' first='Sofia' last='Wassick'] and Sadaya Jones to [player_tooltip player_id='722078' first='Kayli' last='Kellogg'] made life uncomfortable for Park's two prolific scorers. Some players did it with size, other players did it with speed, and still other players approached the assignment with an in-your-face mentality. There were more than several occasions where the Patriots' half-court offense simply never gained any traction at all. Bordas and Woods were forced to curl off screens but could never get their feet set for solid shots.   Worse still for Park, it didn't help that the Mohigans locked down the other starting members of the Patriots and forced their two best players to beat them. They never made it happen. And the other three starters couldn't beat the Mohigans on their own, either. In fact, the Patriots scored a season-low 63 points. Yet, the Mohigans had the game in hand early in the fourth period. Yes, Park scored the highest amount of points against the Mohigans, but Morgantown is still holding opponents to 37 points per game during their 7-0 start to the season. Long story short, there may not be a more cohesive defensive group in the state.   Wyoming East isn't done making noise in Class AA - A coaching change hurt the defending state champions?   Puh-lease.   While there's been much change around the Pioneers program since Angie Boninsegna announced her retirement and Ryan Davidson assumed command, the mission hasn't changed one bit. State championship or bust.   The Pioneers certainly played like that sentiment rang true through the first ten games of the season. They have blitzed their way to an 8-2 record with a balanced attack led by Cadee Blackburn and Maddie Clark. Few teams broke through a stout defense. Even fewer teams found a way to put many points on the board. In their most impressive win of the season, a 61-58 win over a young but solid Parkersburg High team, the Pioneers stifled the Big Reds on the offensive end. Sure, the Pioneers suffered a head scratching defeat to Greenbrier East, but they don't have to face the Spartans in the Class AA regional tournament. They can simply use that game as a measuring stick, same as their 10p-point loss to East Fairmont. Regardless of the losses, the Pioneers have shown that Williamstown, St. Marys and Wheeling Central better not rest easy, the champs are here and they are still hungry.

Wayne looks ready for Charleston, now - Wayne played like the Class AAA No. 1 seed in the opening month of the season?