— by Chris Johnson, For the WVSWA
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Fresh off a historic run to the state championship, Webster County leads the way on the Class A all-state team with a pair of first-team selections in guards Dorian Groggs and Tyler Gray.
Parkersburg Catholic’s Cade Ullman was chosen as the first-team captain for the all-state team, which was released Wednesday by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
Groggs and Gray were two key reasons the Highlanders finished with the school’s first-ever state title and the state’s first-ever 28-0 record. Groggs averaged 20.0 points per game as well as 2.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.1 steals. Gray, in addition to drawing the task of defending the other team’s best player, averaged 16.0 points per game with five rebounds, five assists and five steals.
“Dorian and Tyler worked their butts off,” Webster County coach Michael Gray said. “They are the type of players that get in the gym on Saturdays and Sundays and do whatever it takes. They are a big reason why we got to this point in the season.”
Ullman also helped Parkersburg Catholic make history at the state tournament as the Crusaders became the first No. 6 seed in Class A to advance to the title game. Ullman had 33-point and 27-point performances as the Crusaders beat No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 2 Wheeling Central and added 10 points in the title game loss to the Highlanders.
The 70 points scored in Charleston gave him 1,920 for his career — the most in school history. For the season, Ullman averaged 23.9 point per game along with 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.3 steals.
“Class A is so deep in talent right now,” Parkersburg Catholic coach Rob Strucula said. “Being named the captain of the all-state team is an absolute honor.
“Cade is very deserving of it with what he has accomplished the past two years, especially this year. You don’t normally put up the kind of points he does and be as efficient as he is when you are being double-teamed and seeing triangle and two’s and box and one’s. I think he proved he’s one of the best players in the state.”
Ullman is also one of three repeat first-teamers, joined by Notre Dame’s Gabe Zummo and Greater Beckley Christian’s Jay Moore.
Zummo helped the Fighting Irish reach the state tournament for the seventh straight season and a 21-5 record after averaging 21.0 ppg as well as 9.0 rpg and 4.0 apg.
Moore was one of the state’s most explosive scorers, averaging 29.2 ppg along with 7.5 rpg, 1.8 apg and 1.6 spg.
The first team, which features all seniors, is rounded out by Greenbrier West’s Noah Midkiff, Charleston Catholic’s Robby Williams and Tyler Consolidated’s Grffin Phillips.
Midkiff led the Cavaliers at 23.0 ppg and added 5.0 rpg, 4.0 apg and 3.0 spg.
Williams finished the season with a scoring average of 24.5 ppg.
Phillips averaged 23.1 ppg in addition to 6.0 rpg, 5.9 apg and 4.1 spg.
Williamstown senior Cullen Cutright (19.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg) was named captain of the second team. He is joined by five other seniors on second team: Trinity’s Joel Robertson (17.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 3.0 spg), Richwood’s Jacob Holliday (28.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 6.2 apg, 3.7 spg), Wheeling Central’s Anthony Robbins (12.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.0 apg), Greenbrier West’s Collin O’Dell (15.0 ppg, 11.0 rpb, 3.0 bpg) and South Harrison’s Caleb Jenkins (22.3 ppg, 7.3 apg).
The second team is rounded out by a pair of underclassmen in Wheeling Central sophomore JC Maxwell (12.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.3 apg) and Notre Dame freshman Jaidyn West (15.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.0 spg).
Tolsia freshman Jessie Muncy is the third-team captain after averaging just under 20 points per game for the Rebels.
The remainder of the third team is: Trinity senior Briston Bennett (14.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 3.0 spg), South Harrison senior Brent Barnette (21.0 ppg, 10.2 rpg), Parkersburg Catholic junior Jeb Boice (12.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 6.1 apg, 3.2 spg), Van senior Gavin Smith (14.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.1 spg), Greater Beckley Christian senior Chance Potter (17.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.4 spg), Summers County senior Samuel Wykle (21.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 spg) and Tucker County senior Corrick Ambrose (17.0 ppg, 6.0 apg).
The Class A All-State Boys Basketball Team as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association:
First team
Cade Ullman, Parkersburg Catholic, Sr. (captain)
Dorian Groggs, Webster County, Sr.
Noah Midkiff, Greenbrier West, Sr.
Jay Moore, Greater Beckley Christian, Sr.
Gabe Zummo, Notre Dame, Sr.
Griffin Phillips, Tyler Consolidated, Sr.
Robby Williams, Charleston Catholic, Sr.
Tyler Gray, Webster County, Sr.
Second team
Jacob Holliday, Richwood, Sr.
Joel Robertson, Trinity, Sr.
Cullen Cutright, Williamstown, Sr. (captain)
Anthony Robbins, Wheeling Central, Sr.
J.C. Maxwell, Wheeling Central, So.
Caleb Jenkins, South Harrison, Sr.
Jaidyn West, Notre Dame, Fr.
Collin O’Dell, Greenbrier West, Sr.
Third team
Jessie Muncy, Tolsia, Fr. (captain)
Brent Barnette, South Harrison, Sr.
Gavin Smith, Van, Sr.
Jeb Boice, Parkersburg Catholic, Jr.
Chance Potter, Greater Beckley Christian, Sr.
Samuel Wykle, Summers County, Sr.
Corrick Ambrose, Tucker County, Sr.
Briston Bennett, Trinity, Sr.
Honorable Mention
Chris Abbott, Sherman; Clayton Bee, Ritchie County; Evan Boniti, Madonna; Trevor Carder, Calhoun County; Boston Caruthers, Williamstown; Ethan Colegrove, Tug Valley; Dalton Coleman, Hannan; Connor Cunningham, Doddridge County; Gavin Dietrich, Madonna; Adam Falbo, Valley Fayette; Nick Fenstermacher, South Harrison; Brady Fitzwater, Gilmer County; Aden Funkhouser, East Hardy; Jake Gamble, Magnolia; Logan George, Tygarts Valley; Lucca Giannini, Valley Fayette; Nate Gibson, Buffalo; Jared Gladwell, Meadow Bridge; Alec Hanshaw, Buffalo; Nathan Hanshew, Midland Trail; Tyler Hardesty, Notre Dame; Nate Helm, Notre Dame; Hunter Hickman, Wirt County; Drew Holcomb, Webster County; Braydon Huffman, Harman; Eli Inman, Williamstown; Austin Issacs, Midland Trail; Avery Kincade, Valley, Wetzel; Leon Lambert, Montcalm; Tanner Lett, Doddridge County; Joel Maurer, Notre Dame; Caleb May, Tug Valley; Dillon Meintel, Cameron; Travis McCoy, Hundred; Travis Mickey, Cameron; Nick Moore, Calhoun County; Riley O’Dell, Greenbrier West; Bray Price, Wheeling Central; Caleb Price, Van; Devin Raines, Ravenswood; Ryan Reasbeck, Wheeling Central; Coby Ridgeway, Paw Paw; Kobe Rozell, Meadow Bridge; Mark Rucker, Tyler Consolidated; Matt Saxon, Paden City; Marcus Sites, Pendleton County; Trey Slider, Paden City; Jeffrey Snyder, Tucker County; William Steele, St. Marys; David Stewart, Van; Ty Sturm, Parkersburg Catholic; Zion Suddeth, Charleston Catholic; Cole Taylor, Webster County; Luke Vass, Fayetteville; Tyler West, Tyler Consolidated; Daniel Woods, Trinity