League Previews – Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (1A)
Two-time Class 1A champion Beallsville lost its Ashleys—Ashlie Louden and Ashley Howell—to graduation. That opens the door for runner-up Cameron, along with Madonna, both of which return a lot of talent. However, the governor of West Virginia announced that all…
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Continue ReadingTwo-time Class 1A champion Beallsville lost its Ashleys—Ashlie Louden and Ashley Howell—to graduation. That opens the door for runner-up Cameron, along with Madonna, both of which return a lot of talent. However, the governor of West Virginia announced that all winter sports, including practices, will be delayed until Jan. 11 at minimum. That gives the Ohio side schools a huge advantage come OVAC tourney time.
5 Players to Watch:
Lily Neely, 5-6, 2021, Cameron
Jazzy Melnyk, 5-9, 2021, Madonna
Jaclyn Smith, 5-5, 2021, Trinity Christian
Halle Bommer, 5-7, 2023, Beallsville
Katie Zatta, 5-6, 2022, Steubenville Catholic
4 Sleepers
Alaina Moore, 6-1, 2021, Madonna
Kenzie Clutter, 5-5, 2024, Cameron
Emily Seidel, 5-4, Conotton Valley
Mahalah Britton, 6-0, 2021, Hundred
4 Thoughts:
Cameron last won a conference title in 2018 and head coach Holly Pettit’s team returns an all-conference caliber player in Neely and a host of other experienced players. The Dragons also have a top-notch freshman class coming in, headlined by Clutter who won area coach one of the top two incoming point guards in the entire conference. Could this season be the start of a nice run for the Dragons?
Madonna is in a similar situation, losing only one senior. That senior, Kennedy Martin, while talented, missed the majority of last season with an injury. Her absence allowed Melnyk and Moore to flourish. Both have been relentless in offseason conditioning and skill work and are ready to lead an experienced roster. That should help lead the transition for first-year coach Cory Wingett.
Beallsville lost a lot of its scoring, but seldom is the cupboard bare in Blue Devil country and it isn’t this season. Head coach and recently married Tori (Jarrett) Lang is confident her team is capable of big things again in 2020-21. A lot of that has to do with sophomore Hallie Bommer, a fitting last name for the team’s top 3-point threat a season ago. The Devils roster was less than 10 players a season ago and all that return possess meaningful playing experience. Add in a couple of talented newcomers and the Devils legitimately could make a push to three-peat.
Only two 1A teams have yet to taste conference championship victory in Paden City and Hundred. That group expands to include Valley, Wellsville, and Steubenville Catholic when considering only tournament-era championships, though the Crusaders were runner-up in 2A last year, falling to Wheeling Central.
3 Big Games:
Madonna at Beallsville, Dec. 3*
Trinity Christian at Caldwell, Jan. 16*
Cameron at Madonna, Jan. 25*
*Note: All games involving West Virginia teams be rescheduled because of Governor Jim Justice’s announcement that winter sports will not resume until January 11.
2 Fun Facts:
Trinity’s Smith is primed for a breakout senior season. As a junior, she averaged nearly 17.9 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Warriors.
West Virginia moved to four classifications for basketball this season and with it, new methods of classifying teams. In short, the usual stumbling block for all Region I teams to Charleston, Wheeling Central, is now playing in Class AAA. The pathway to Charleston is now open to teams who’ve never had the enrollment or depth to compete with the Maroon Knights. It should make for an interesting postseason.
1 League Champion Prediction:
Madonna