2023-24 W.Va. High School GBB: Darkhorse State Title Contenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>University, Class AAAA</strong>- Who is the most battle tested team against reigning Class AAAA state champion Morgantown, other than Wheeling Park?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Easy. University. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hawks enter the season with a battle-hardened roster thanks to close clashes with, not only, the Mohigans, but the Patriots. Heck, they played the Mohigans close in every game, one year ago, so they have plenty of fuel to start their run to Charleston. Yes, [player_tooltip player_id='726644' first='Ella' last='Simpson'], [player_tooltip player_id='342212' first='Hannah' last='Stemple'] and company have all the experience you could want for a team looking to make a run come March. The biggest goals for the Hawks are 1.) to make it through the season healthy and 2.) continue to gather big game experience. If they do those things, they are set up nicely to host a regional co-final. University owns the team to do it, too. With four returning starters, a new freshman who will quickly make an impact, and great role players galore, the Hawks present as a team that flies under the radar throughout the season, but I definitely expect them to be in the mix in Class AAAA Region I as a group that sends Morgantown or Wheeling Park home early. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lewis County</strong>, <strong>CLASS AAA</strong> - Joe Nichols' team presents as an interesting case study of how what-if could turn into oh that's what could happen. Even after leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='877290' first='Emma' last='Pinkney'] went down with a season-ending injury, the Minutemaids banded together and still qualified for the state tournament in a tough region, one year ago. They entered the quarterfinal round with a chance to take down Ripley, but they ran into one of the hottest teams in the state - one who sent them home early. With Pinkney back in the max combined with the transfer of [player_tooltip player_id='391468' first='Kenna' last='Maxwell'], the Minutemaids enter the season as not just one of the most experienced groups in the classification, but one with one of the deepest lineups. Four of the five in the starting lineup bring state tournament experience, Pinkney and Maxwell reinforces that group with more scoring and defense, and the Minutemaids have one of the best coaches in the state in his ability to learn in Nichols. Should they advance to the state tournament, they will be battle tested thanks to a tough road through the Big 10 and their non-conference games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>George Washington, CLASS AAAA</strong> - Why is a team that will start four potential Division I players a dark horse instead of a solid contender? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simple. They have zero state tournament wins in the last two years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yes, the Patriots have not captured a win in Charleston in that time. Why is that a big deal? We saw why one year ago with Wayne vs. Sissonville in Class AAA. The Indians' coaches and players used their state tournament experience and expectations to send home the top-ranked Pioneers. Until the Patriots can answer the question of if they can win a state tournament game, they will remain a dark horse. But, they shape up as a really dangerous dark horse. [player_tooltip player_id='379495' first='Finley' last='Lohan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='379527' first='Zaniah' last='Zellous'] are a great base to build a team around. Siya Smith is a great bulk scorer. [player_tooltip player_id='718028' first='Jeriyah' last='Pryor'] and Reyana Breckenridge are two freshmen unafraid of the big moment. The Patriots bench is much deeper than a year ago. If you put it all together, you get a team who could cause havoc and perhaps could meet Morgantown at the end of the road come March. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Class AA field outside of Chapmanville, Williamstown and Wheeling Central</strong> - Who will take the dark horse label in Class AA? That is the question. Wyoming East is the easiest team to put as the group that could bond together and repeat as state champions in a surprising manner. However, we don't know who the new coach will be (Angie Boninsegna retired) and how the girls will react to a potential new system and new expectations. Could they join the group of teams that aren't part of the field? Yes. For now, though, we are still looking for a team to emerge as that true dark horse contender. Other teams that could pop up in Class AA include St. Marys, Summers County, Mingo Central and Charleston Catholic. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->