WHEELING-The three girls basketball teams are predicted to defend their titles in the 32nd Pre Season West Virginia Coaches Association Girls Basketball Poll. North Marion, Summers County and Huntington St. Joseph’s. All three teams return much of their varsity squads that dominated the state tournament last season.
In class AAA, North Marion return nine of their top ten players from last season on a very deep and talented squad. Rival University High also return a very strong squad and are picked second. But Class AAA may also be about who is not available as much as who does return. State player of the year, Whitney Bays of Huntington High, will use the first half of the season to recover from knee surgery along with Parkersburg South’s Asia Greenleaf. Both could have a big impact on the second half of the season.
Summers County dominated Class AA this past season, and with five of their first six returning from a very tall and talented team, the AA coaches on the poll are predicting them to repeat in Class AA. Scott, Tolsia, Ravenswood and Oak Glen are expected to present their largest challenge.
Dusti Chapman returns to lead the Irish of Huntington St. Joes in their quest to repeat as class A champs. A strong cast of class A schools are expected to challenge led by Williamstown, Parkesburg Catholic, Charleston Catholic, St. Marys and Wheeling Central are predicted to make the most serious challenge.
The girls season begins for some schools this week. The SSAC is offering schools the option to have an additional week this season to get in games due to teams not being able to play their full schedule in the past due to weather.
Class AAA
Pl School Record FPV T-Point
1 North Marion 6 55
2 University 1 34
4 Huntington 32
3 Parkersburg South 30
5 Morgantown 27
6 South Charleston 23
7 Martinsburg 15
8 George Washington 12
9 John Marshall 10
t-10 East Fairmont 4
t-10 Robert Byrd 4
Other Teams Receiving Votes
Beckley Woodrow Wilson 3, Greenbrier East 1, Hedgesville 1, St. Albans 1, Bridgeport 1, Wheeling Park 1
Class AA
Pl School Record FPV T-Point
1 Summers Co 7 56
2 Scott 49
3 Tolsia 36
4 Ravenswood 29
5 Oak Glen 22
6 Berkeley Springs 16
7 Sissonville 12
8 Lincoln 11
9 Pikeview 7
10 Poca 4
Other Teams Receiving Votes
Bluefield 3, Weir 3, Wyoming East 2, James Monroe 1, Roane Co 1, Shady Springs 1, Westside 1
Class A
Pl School Record FPV T-Point LW
1 Huntington St. Joes 7 56
2 Williamstown 38
3 Parkersburg Catholic 37
4 Charleston Catholic 32
5 St. Marys 29
6 Wheeling Central 26
7 Tucker Co 15
8 Pocahontas Co 7
9 Beckley Christian 4
10 Fayetteville 3
Other Teams Receiving Votes
Cameron 2, Doddridge Co 1, Gilbert 1, Bishop Donahue 1
Article by David N. Gaudino, you can contact him at: Dgaudino@stratuswave.net
