Who’s making noise in the Class AAAA race?
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Region I Hannah Stemple Hannah Stemple 5'5" | SG University | 2025 State WV , University, Fr., So., 5-5 – Stemple’s small stature only masks her upside, it doesn’t hamper it. She’s energetic and always moving around the court. She…
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Continue ReadingRegion I
Hannah Stemple Hannah Stemple 5'5" | SG University | 2025 State WV , University, Fr., So., 5-5 – Stemple’s small stature only masks her upside, it doesn’t hamper it. She’s energetic and always moving around the court. She quickly turns on her scoring chops with a strong shot that is usually on point. If she’s in the gym, she will pull the trigger. She moves around the court well and knows how to run a fast break.
LaLa Woods, Wheeling Park, G, Fr., 5-6 – LaLa Woods doesn’t mind taking on the big assignments. It’s almost as if sister Shanley never left. Handling the keys to the Wheeling Park offense, LaLa really doesn’t miss a beat. She’s a solid leader on the floor, keeps her head up on the fast break, and isn’t afraid to assert herself if need be.
Region II
Kelly Ours, Hedgesville, G, Sr., 5-11 – Jefferson definitely owns a height advantage down low.
There’s no getting around it. None.
Taliyah Lindsay is six feet, while Olivia Hedrick stands at 6-foot-4. What does this mean? Easy boards and putbacks. So, how can Hedgesville go about playing around it? Using the athleticism of Ziayah Lomax to create problems, that’s how. She’s long and able to cause headaches for slower players. Her length allows her easy steal opportunities. She easily threatens in making it a long night down low for the opposing Cougars.
Mary Rivera Mary Rivera 5'4" | PG Washington | 2025 State WV , Washington, PG, Fr., 5-4 – Who makes the Spring Mills engine run?
Preslee Treadway Preslee Treadway 5'8" | SF Greenbrier West | 2025 State WV .
Who’s the most important person to shut down for the Cardinals? Bolduc.
Hopefully, Rivera’s up for the challenge. Anything less and the Spring Mills is probably going to the state tournament. Bolduc runs a smooth offense and already opens up the floor so much with her abilities. Taking her out of the game makes things a little harder for the Cardinals to get going. Of course, Rivera could match Bolduc’s scoring output and that would pull off a similar trick for the Patriots. Rivera, being Washington’s leading scorer, probably will receive the same defensive attention. So, it’s best she comes ready to shut down Bolduc.
Region III
Abby Dillon Abby Dillon 5'4" | PG Woodrow Wilson | 2025 WV , Woodrow Wilson, PG, Fr., 5-4 – Abby Dillon Abby Dillon 5'4" | PG Woodrow Wilson | 2025 WV screams leader when out on the court. Each and every time. Not only in the games where everyone is watching, but in the games where limited people are watching.
What’s so special about Dillon?
How about the fact she showed a lot of confidence and bravery stepping in at point guard this year for head coach Brian Nabors. Keanti Thompson Keanti Thompson 5'4" | PG Woodrow Wilson | 2023 State WV ’s baffling absence created a hole, and Dillon’s filled it well. She shows off a high basketball IQ when on the floor and picks her shots and spots wonderfully. She never forces anything. She shoots when she thinks her team needs her. And she’s usually always right.
On defense, she’s just as intense.
Cadence Stewart Cadence Stewart 5'8" | SG Greenbrier East | 2023 State WV , Greenbrier East, Jr., SG, 5-7 – Cadence Stewart Cadence Stewart 5'8" | SG Greenbrier East | 2023 State WV is a great shooter.
She knocks down open, challenging, trick, and any kind of shot imaginable. When her team needs her, she’s almost always there. When her opportunity appears, she nearly always capitalizes on it.
Hopefully, she’s ready to hit all of them against GW if the Spartans hope to advance to Charleston. Now, that is a huge challenge obviously, because Patriot defender Finley Lohan Finley Lohan 5'11" | SF George Washington | 2024 State WV ’s done a great job guarding Stewart in two matchups this season.
However, as Stewart knocks down more and more shots, her teammates react confidently, and Jim Justice usually stands more amenable in unleashing the 2-2-1 press. He’s much more likely in letting chaos rain when Cadence hits shots. Everyone responds with more energy and more enthusiasm when their teammate knocks down anything and everything. By hitting her shots, she starts the Spartans and puts more pressure on any ballhandlers for the Patriots, who enter the group playing better but still isn’t the confident team they should become next season. No pressure, Cadence.
Region IV
Gracie Shamblin Gracie Shamblin 5'10" | C Parkersburg South | 2024 State WV , Parkersburg South, C, So., 5-8 – A legend was born last Friday inside the PHS Coliseum.
Is the story destined to grow?
We are about to find out.
Shamblin showed off exactly why so many Parkersburg South fans were excited she was fully recovered from her injury. Everything came together during the Patriots big win over the Big Reds. No. 2 put on an absolute show. She flashed her shooting chops, especially behind the arc. It was magical. Her eight 3s propelled the Patriots into a regional final against Cabell Midland. Now, the Patriots need more from her as the Knights’ one through eight have no problems creating points. Scoring won’t be at a premium. The opportunities will be there. Shamblin’s smooth stroke and willingness to attack should help her in this task. She’s relentless and once she gets hot, her confidence ends up exploding through the roof.
Dionna Gray Dionna Gray 5'3" | PG Huntington | 2022 State WV , Huntington, PG, Sr., 5-5 – There’s no neutralizing Dionna Gray Dionna Gray 5'3" | PG Huntington | 2022 State WV .
Even though she spent a lot of the season dishing out assists to her teammates with limited shots, it doesn’t mean she forgot how to score. Wish for something different. But she’s showing up when it matters most.
That was apparent during her 33-point performance against Cabell Midland in the sectional final. With the Big Reds facing them once again, bringing with them deadly shooters, it needs to be true one more time. There’s just a feeling it is going to be. Good thing she dials in during the postseason, and her start appears no different this year.