Class A boys state preview: Unbeaten Webster County the top seed in a deep field

Wheeling Central and Notre Dame split two regular-season meetings. The Maroon Knights are the No. 2 seed in the state tournament, while the Irish are the No. 3 seed.

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It’s been since Paden City in 1987 that a Class A boys basketball team completed an unbeaten season.

Webster County, the No. 1 seed in this year’s state tournament, is three wins away from doing so. However, the Highlanders will have their work cut out for them in Charleston as all eight teams in the field have at least 16 wins.

Webster County (25-0) will take the court Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. to face St. Marys, which comes to states with a 16-8 record, but is 0-5 against teams in the Class A state tournament.

“Our defense is really what we’re known for right now and I like our defense,” Webster coach Michael Gray said. “If we win a championship or get deep in the state tournament, it’s going to be because of our defense. But we also shoot the ball well and have good guards. We’re really active around the rim, so we can control the boards.” 

The remainder of Wednesday’s Class A quarterfinal schedule is as follows: No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 6 Parkersburg Catholic, 9:30 a.m.; No. 2 Wheeling Central vs. No. 7 Williamstown, 1 p.m.; and No. 4 Greenbrier West vs. No. 5 Trinity, 9 p.m.

While the second-seeded Maroon Knights and third-seeded Irish are the last two state champions, Webster County has established itself as the Class A favorite this year.

The Highlanders’ two wins over Greater Beckley Christian, including a 65-57 victory in a regional co-final, are their only games this season that have been won by fewer than 10 points.

Webster’s starting five and its top six scorers are all seniors, and although the Highlanders don’t have state tournament experience similar to some of the other teams in the field, they did get to Charleston last season before suffering a quarterfinal loss against Ravenswood.

“When we left states last year, one of the things we talked about when we got home was making it back and getting above a six, seven or eight seed,” Gray said. “Not necessarily getting an easy draw, but being maybe the better team and getting through that first game. The whole thing is getting these kids to settle down and play like they’ve been playing.”

Notre Dame (21-4) will look for its third win this season against Parkersburg Catholic (17-7), though the regular season meetings were far different games. Three months ago, the Irish won on the road 76-59, while they edged the Crusaders at home, 70-69.

A loss to Wheeling Central late in the regular season was the Irish’s only setback to a Class A team until they were beaten by Trinity on a last-second shot in the sectional championship.

But ND rebounded to win at Tucker County in its regional co-final, setting up a third matchup against the Crusaders.

“The strength of schedule that we’ve played has grinded on us. The injury bug has bitten us a little bit, so we kind of limped to the finish line,” Irish coach Jarrod West said. “Now the state tournament is here and you get that little juice. We played pretty well the other night and with a lot of energy. 

“Now we have to navigate through the first game of the tournament on Wednesday. If you win, that’s the best game in the world, because you have a day and-a-half to be a fan and enjoy it. If you lose, it’s as if you never even really got in the tournament.”

Parkersburg Catholic was won 11 of its last 13 games and got past Tug Valley to advance to states.

The defending state champion Maroon Knights (20-4) lost four of their first nine games, but bring a 15-game win streak to Charleston. All but one of the victories have been by at least 10 points and three have come against teams still vying for a Class A title, including an 88-56 win over Wednesday’s opponent — Williamstown.

“I think we’re playing as well as we can play right now,” Central coach Mel Stephens said. “It changes a little bit when you get to Charleston just because of the atmosphere and the impact of how big of a deal it really is. We’re hoping that we just continue to kind of stay the course and do what we’ve done all year.”

The Yellowjackets (19-6) won at Tolisa in a regional co-final six days after a one-point loss to the Crusaders in their sectional title game.

In the nightcap Wednesday, Greenbrier West (21-4) and Trinity (20-5) will square off in what looks to be an evenly-matched game.

At their best, both teams are legitimate Class A title contenders. 

Trinity’s had a tough path to get to this point. The Warriors eliminated a much-improved South Harrison team before winning a sectional championship at Notre Dame, which allowed them to stay at home for a regional co-final win over Pendleton County.

In Charleston, Trinity will likely rely heavily on its defense much like the Warriors have done late in the season. During the team’s current eight-game win streak, opponents are scoring only 37.6 points per game.

“Defensively, I think we’re playing as well as anybody in the state,” Warriors’ coach John Fowkes said. 

Six of the Warriors’ top seven scorers are seniors, but they’ll have to contend with the Cavaliers, who have won eight straight.

Greenbrier West has postseason victories over Charleston Catholic and Greater Beckley Christian to its credit, allowing the Cavaliers to make their first state tournament since 1992 — when they won the Class AA championship.

In addition to 6-foot-9 Riley O’Dell and 6-8 Collin O’Dell, the Cavaliers also have senior guard Noah Midkiff, who leads the team with 22.6 points per game.

CLASS A BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Wednesday, March 13

Game 1: 9:30 a.m. – No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 6 Parkersburg Catholic

Game 2: 1 p.m. – No. 2 Wheeling Central vs. No. 7 Williamstown

Game 3: 5:30 p.m. – No. 1 Webster County vs. No. 8 St. Marys

Game 4: 9 p.m. – No. 4 Greenbrier West vs. No. 5 Trinity

Friday, March 15

Game 5: 9:30 a.m. – Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner

Game 6: 1 p.m. – Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner

Saturday, March 16

Class A state championship, noon





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