Greater Beckley Christian Crusaders' season preview

PROSPERITY - The Greater Beckley Christian Crusaders' girls basketball team advanced out of Class A's Region III to earn a spot in the 2025-26 state tournament as the No. 7 seed. Once there, the Crusaders faced a No. 2 Tug Valley team that sent them home in the quarterfinals, 60-13. With nine players returning and an influx of freshmen coming in fresh off a 35-game winning streak and back-to-back West Virginia Christian Association Tournament champions, the Crusaders plan to fight past Greenbrier West, Richwood, Mount View, Montcalm, Meadow Bridge, and Webster County on the way to a second straight appearance at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center. Here are the girls who could help an NCAA Division II college or lower in the coming years:    Adkins can score the basketball. Anywhere on the floor. 3s. 2s. You name it. She can get you a bucket. She can score off the bounce. She can score out of set plays. She moves well without the ball. She doesn't need a ton of daylight. She puts in the work as she has scored 1,000 points before her senior season. Coaches may need to contend with college softball coaches for this young lady, but her future is basketball, no doubt about it. She can help a Division II program. The biggest aspect I like about this young lady is her confidence in her shot. It is absolute. Her range speaks for itself. She has taken visits to Bluefield State and Shepherd.       There is a lot to be excited about with this young lady. She may still be growing into her body, but the flashes of good things are there. Her post moves are inconsistent, but they will get stronger with each and every attempt. Her shot blocking is solid. And, her foul shooting is even better, always a great thing to have on a post player. As a freshman, she tends to keep the ball above her head on the rebound and can go straight back up with a shot. Coleman needs to keep putting in the work and she will be just fine.     Coleman is young, but she is showing the habits you want to see in a young player. She wants to guard an opponent's best player every evening, it doesn't matter what position. She can handle the basketball and score at all three levels. Defensively, she will be at the top of GBC's 1-3-1 press. During her freshman year, she will see time at point guard, but she won't stay at point guard. I can see her becoming a small forward over the next four years as she grows and becomes more aggressive on the defensive end of the floor as her confidence rises.     Bibb has shown the making of a solid shooting guard at the next level. She has the always required short memory. She can get to the basket and use her body in some cases. She is a slasher, who has shown the ability to pass out of the double team. Defensively, she moves her feet well, is a fantastic on ball defender, and often draws the toughest defensive assignment, no matter what position the other play is in. GBC plays her at the top of their 1-3-1 press. She has a high motor and gives 100 percent on the basketball court. I would like to see her have more confidence when she dribbles into the lane against a bigger defender. If she can get her shot up, there's a good chance she can draw contact and make it to the free throw line. Her left hand also needs a little work if she plans to play outside of the NAIA level.       Wickline will help the Crusader after she transferred in from Shady Spring. On multiple levels, her basketball game is well suited to Class A. She can score at all three levels with a strong mid-range game. She will be a beast in a 2-3 zone. She is not afraid to get her hands dirty. As a bonus, she is a lefty, who can finish with both hands around the rim. Don't be surprised if this young lady ends the year on the Class A all-state first team.

PROSPERITY - The Greater Beckley Christian Crusaders' girls basketball team advanced out of Class A's Region III to earn a spot in the 2025-26 state tournament as the No. 7 seed. Once there, the Crusaders faced a No. 2 Tug Valley team that sent them home in the quarterfinals, 60-13. With nine players returning and an influx of freshmen coming in fresh off a 35-game winning streak and back-to-back West Virginia Christian Association Tournament champions, the Crusaders plan to fight past Greenbrier West, Richwood, Mount View, Montcalm, Meadow Bridge, and Webster County on the way to a second straight appearance at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center. Here are the girls who could help an NCAA Division II college or lower in the coming years: