MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The WVSSAC Boys Basketball State tournament will begin on March 14 at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center. Radio broadcasts of all state tournament games will air on the MetroNews Radio Network and will be streamed at wvmetronews.com. MetroNews will also produce HD video broadcasts of the four championship games.
Class AAAA:
No. 1 Morgantown (23-2) vs. No. 8 Bridgeport (18-7) – Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.
The Mohigans are one of three defending champions to qualify for this year’s state tournament. They are seeking their third title under head coach Dave Tallman since 2016. Morgantown is unbeaten (20-0) against in-state opponents and 5-0 against state tournament squads. The Mohigans defeated Bridgeport, 70-66 on February 14. Junior guard Sharron Young recently returned to the lineup after missing nearly a month with a hand injury. He leads the team at 21 points per game. The four other starters average in double digits: Brody Davis (14), Cam Danser (12), Izzy Everett (10) and Garrison Kisner (10). MHS is one of there schools (North Marion and Cameron) with a chance to win boys and girls state basketball titles this year.
Bridgeport advanced to the state tournament thanks to Anthony Spatafore’s buzzer-beating basket in the Region I co-final against Wheeling Park. Spatafore entered the year as the lone player on the roster with significant varsity experience. The Indians have qualified for the Class AAAA tournament for the first time in the three-year run of the newest classification. BHS went 2-3 in December but rallied back to win 12 of their next 13 games. That streak included wins against state tournament teams North Marion and Elkins. Spatafore leads the team in scoring at 17 points per game. BHS allows the second-fewest points per game in Class AAAA (45.7).
No. 2 George Washington (22-3) vs. No. 7 Jefferson (16-7) – Tuesday, 1 p.m.
This is one of three regular season rematches in the Class AAAA quarterfinals. The Patriots defeated the Cougars, 79-54 in the Par Mar Shootout on February 7. GW won their fourth consecutive Mountain State Athletic Conference title while the Cougars are back-to-back champions of the Eastern Panhandle Athletic Conference. GW head coach Rick Greene surpassed the 500-win plateau (now 518-180) in January. Brendan Hoffman is MSAC Player of the Year and fellow senior Ben Nicol has signed with Ohio University. The Patriots opened the year on a 12-game win streak. They are 6-2 against state tournament opponents.
Jefferson advanced to the Class AAAA semifinals last year. Head coach Richard Lewis is the EPAC Coach of the Year. Guard Will Shively (14.5 points per game) reached the 1,000-point mark in his senior season. Sophomore Jamari Jenkins and junior Jaiden Gladney lead the Cougars in scoring at 15.8 points per game. JHS is fourth in Class AAAA in scoring (72 points per game).
No. 3 Parkersburg South (19-6) vs. No. 6 Hedgesville (20-5) – Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.
The Patriots are back in Charleston after advancing to the Class AAAA final last March. South features the highest-scoring offense in Class AAAA (76.9 points per game). PSHS enters the state tournament with wins in seven of their last eight games, including three playoff victories by a combined 81 points. Youngstown State football signee Cyrus Traugh (14.5 points per game) leads the team in scoring. Aiden Blake (13.9), Nathan Plotner (12.9) and Jackson Smith (12.7) also average in double figures.
Hedgesville is 13-3 against in-state opponents. The Eagles avenged a pair of regular season losses to Spring Mills with a 59-51 win at the Cardinals in the sectional final. HHSÂ enters the state tournament with wins in seven of their last eight games. Hedgesville allows the fewest points per game in Class AAAA (42). The Eagles are one of three teams in Class AAAA to reach the 20-win mark.
No. 4 Huntington (19-5) vs. No. 5 South Charleston (18-7) – Tuesday, 9 p.m.
MSAC rivals will meet for the second time this season. The Highlanders defeated the Black Eagles, 59-45 on February 9 to clinch a berth in the conference title game. Four of Huntington’s five losses have come against state tournament opponents. Former Black Eagle Duane Harris leads the Highlanders in scoring at 17.5 points per game. Mikey Johnson (17.3) and Jaylen Motley (14.1) also average in double digits. Johnson is also the team’s leading rebounder (10.3). The Highlanders average 70.7 points per game, good enough for fifth-best in Class AAAA.
The Black Eagles advanced to the state semifinals last March. South Charleston is one of just two teams to defeat George Washington this season. They went 1-2 against the Patriots. The Black Eagles were the only Class AAAA team to win on the road in the regional round. They won at Oak Hill, 61-50 in the Region III co-finals. SCHS allows 51.2 points per game, good enough for fourth-best in Class AAAA.
Class AAA:
No. 1 Shady Spring (21-3) vs. No. 8 Hampshire (14-10) – Thursday, 5:30 p.m.
Shady Spring is seeking their second state championship in three years. The Tigers’ lone loss to an in-state opponent came in their season opener at Class AAAA defending champion Morgantown (56-52). Shady is currently enjoying a 17-game win streak and they are 6-1 against teams that qualified for the state tournament. Ronnie Olson’s club leads Class AAA in scoring at 73 points per game. Senior guard Braden Chapman leads the team in scoring at 18.7 points per game. Junior Ammar Maxwell (13.8) and senior Cam Manns (13.1) also average in double digits.
Hampshire is in the state tournament field for the second time in the last three seasons. The Trojans advanced to the semifinals in 2021. HHS allows just 48.1 points per game, which is third-best in Class AAA. Hampshire was one of two Class AAA teams (North Marion is the other) to win a regional game on the road. The Trojans defeated Weir, 53-46 in the Region I co-finals.
No. 2 Fairmont Senior (24-1) vs. No. 7 North Marion (13-10) – Thursday, 1 p.m.
Defending state champion Fairmont Senior returns to Charleston trying to claim their fourth title in seven years. The Polar Bears’ lone loss came at Shady Spring (86-65) on January 28. Fairmont is 5-1 against state tournament teams, and that record includes an 81-40 win over North Marion on February 2. Junior guard Zycheus Dobbs, who scored the winning basket at the buzzer in last year’s state championship game, leads Fairmont in scoring at 21.2 points per game. Senior DeSean Goode (18.4) and junior Andre Grant (10.3) also average in double figures. The Polar Bears yield the fewest points per game in Class AAA (43.1) and they own the second-highest scoring offense (69.9).
North Marion has qualified for the state tournament for the second consecutive year. The Huskies started the year with a 4-6 record before closing the regular season by winning eight of their last eleven games. Senior Harley Sickles leads the Huskies in scoring (13.3) and rebounding (7.7). Senior Preston Williams is second on the team in scoring at 12.5 points per game.
No. 3 Ripley (23-2) vs. No. 6 Elkins (16-9) – Thursday, 9:30 a.m.
The Vikings opened the season on a 14-game winning streak and they head to Charleston as winners of their last eight contests. Ripley is 5-0 against state tournament opponents. The Vikings average 68.5 points per game, which is third-best in Class AAA. Senior center Luke Johnson leads the team in scoring (22.2) and rebounding (11.6). Junior Brady Anderson is second in scoring at 13.3 points per game.
Elkins is a regional champion for the first time in 23 years. The Tigers come to Charleston on a five-game winning streak which began with a win at Charleston Catholic. A trio of Elkins seniors score in double figures: Malachi Watson (14), Cory Harper (14) and Tanner Miller (10). The Tigers defeated East Fairmont, 58-55 in the Region II co-finals.
No. 4 Herbert Hoover (18-6) vs. No. 5 Scott (16-9) – Thursday, 9 p.m.
The Huskies are regional champions for the third consecutive year. After an 0-4 start, while football players were getting back into the lineup following a run to the Super Six, Herbert Hoover has won 18 of their last 20 games. Senior guard Eli Robertson leads the Huskies in scoring at 22.7 points per game. Sophomore guard Dane Hatfield averages 17.8 points per game. The Huskies are fifth in Class AAA in scoring at 65.9 points per game.
Scott advanced to the state semifinals last March as the No. 7 seed with a victory over Logan. Senior guard Reece Carden leads the Skyhawks in scoring at 21.3 points per game. Fellow senior Jayden Sharps is second in scoring at 14.5 points per game. Senior Isaac Setser leads the team in rebounding (9 per game). Herbert Hoover defeated Scott, 80-71 on January 27.
Class AA:
No. 1 Williamstown (24-0) vs. No. 8 Trinity (14-11) – Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.
Williamstown is the only unbeaten basketball team in West Virginia. The Yellowjackets lead the state in scoring at 85.5 points per game. WHS is 5-0 against state tournament opponents, including a 79-43 win over Trinity on January 28 and a 76-72 in over South Harrison in the Little Kanawha Conference championship game. A very deep Williamstown roster features three players who average double digits in points per game. Sophomore guard Parker Schramm leads the team with a 15.7 scoring average. Senior Alex Irvin (15.2) and Jayden Bryant (12.7) are second and third respectively. The Jackets are seeking their second title in three years.
The Warriors are making their first state tournament trip since 2019, when they advanced to the semifinal round. TCS is the lone Class AA team to win on the road in the regional round. Trinity defeated Frankfort, 58-41 in Short Gap. Carter Hartsock leads Trinity in scoring (19.1) and Chayce Adams is second on the team in coring (16.3). Ben Lohmann is second on the team in rebounds per game (7.1).
No. 2 Bluefield (18-7) vs. No. 7 Wheeling Central Catholic (14-10) – Wednesday, 1 p.m.
The Beavers are making their 12th consecutive appearance at the state tournament, which is the longest current streak for a West Virginia boys basketball team. Bluefield is unbeaten against Class AA competition and that includes a 74-63 win over No. 3 seed Chapmanville in the Par Mar Classic. Bluefield advanced to the state championship game last March and fell to Poca, 65-48. Four Beavers average between 12-15 points per game. Senior guard Caleb Fuller leads the team at 14.7 points per game. William Looney (14), Kamron Gore (13) and R.J. Hairston (12) also score in double digits.
Wheeling Central Catholic is coming off back-to-back trips to the Class AAA semifinals. The Maroon Knights are one of just two teams (Williamstown is the other) to defeat South Harrison this year. Central defeated the Hawks, 50-49 on January 13. Junior guard Quinton Burlenski leads the team in scoring at 18.9 points per game. Troy Anthony is second at 12.5 points per game. Central is seeking their 13th WVSSAC state championship.
No. 3 Chapmanville (20-3) vs. No. 6 Ravenswood (19-5) – Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.
The Tigers are back at the state tournament after a brief one-year absence. CHS advanced to the championship game from 2017-2019, winning a pair of titles. Chapmanville started the season 14-1 before back-to-back losses to Bluefield and Logan. The Tigers are 4-1 again state tournament opponents. Senior Sal Dean (21.1), junior Zion Blevins (19.7) and WVU baseball signee Brody Dalton (14.1) are the Tigers’ top three scorers.
Ravenswood head coach Mick Price owns a 737-361 record as head coach. The Red Devils defeated defending Class AA state champion Poca, 42-39 in the regional round. Ravenswood has the third-highest scoring offense in Class AA at 64.2 points per game. Four of the Red Devils’ five losses have come against state tournament opponents. Senior Matthew Carte leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 22.6 points per game. Andrew Hunt averages 11.1 points per game.
No. 4 Charleston Catholic (20-5) vs. No. 5 South Harrison (23-2) – Wednesday, 9 p.m.
Charleston Catholic returns to the state tournament after a one-year absence. The Irish advanced to the 2021 Class AA semifinals in the first year of the four-class system. CCHS has lost just once to an in-state opponent. Catholic enjoyed a 13-game midseason winning streak, which included victories over Ravenswood, Poca and Wheeling Central Catholic. Junior Jayallen Turner leads the Irish in scoring at 19.4 points per game. Sophomore Max Wilcox is second on the team at 14 points per game. Charleston Catholic yields the fewest points per game in Class AA (42.4)
South Harrison earned their second consecutive regional title with a pair of postseason wins by a combined 54 points. The Hawks’ two losses have come against state tournament teams, Wheeling Central Catholic (50-49) and Williamstown (76-72) in the Little Kanawha Conference championship game. Senior Corey Boulden leads the team in scoring at 23.6 points per game. Fellow senior Noah Burnside is second in scoring at 18 points per game. Senior Austin Peck scored 64 points and drained 20 3-point field goals in a February win over Calhoun County. South is second in Class AA in points per game (70.6) and third points allowed (44.2).
Class A:
No. 1 James Monroe (22-2) vs. No. 8 Cameron (14-11) – Tuesday, 7:15 p.m.
The defending state champs from James Monroe are unbeaten against Class A opponents. Their only losses are to Class AAAA Woodrow Wilson (52-50) and Class AAA Shady Spring (55-52). The Mavericks are 5-1 against state tournament teams and they head to Charleston on a 15-game winning streak. James Monroe leads Class A in scoring at 76.3 points per game and they are second in scoring defense (46 per game). Senior Eli Allen leads the Mavericks in scoring (21), rebounding (7.6), assists (9.1), steals (3.1) and blocks (1.6). Fellow senior Collin Fox (15.9 points per game) and Josh Burks (12.9 points per game) also average in double digits.
Like the Mavericks, Cameron has advanced to the state tournament for the third consecutive season. The Dragons won their three playoff games by a combined 44 points. Cole Burkett leads the team in scoring at 17.1 points per game. Lance Hartley (16.5) and Colson Wichterman (12.8) also average in double digits.
No. 2 Tug Valley (22-3) vs. No. 7 Wahama (17-8) – Wednesday, 7:15 p.m.
Tug Valley owns the second-highest scoring offense in Class A at 72.8 points per game. The Panthers are unbeaten against Class A opponents. In their current 18-game win streak, 17 of those victories have come by 10 points or more. Sophomore Joey Gollihue leads the Panthers in scoring at 17.1 points per game. Parker Davis (16.9) and Ashton Davis (16.2) also average in double digits.
The White Falcons average 67.6 points per game, which is tied for third-best in Class A. Wahama enters the state tournament on a nine-game winning streak and they have won 12 of their last 13 games. WHS defeated Gilmer County, Huntington St. Joseph’s and Tolsia in postseason play. Sawyer Vanmeter leads the White Falcons in scoring at 16.8 points per game. Josiah Lloyd averages 14.9 points per game.
No. 3 Tucker County (19-4) vs. No. 6 East Hardy (18-7) – Wednesday, 11:15 a.m.
For the second consecutive season, Tucker County will face a Potomac Valley Conference rival in the state quarterfinals. Tucker is 2-1 against East Hardy this year with the latest victory coming in the sectional championship game. The Mountain Lions have won eleven consecutive games. Tucker County yields the fewest points per game in Class A (39.2). Trevan Bonner leads Tucker County in scoring at 13.6 points per game. Ethan Rosenau averages 11.1 points per game. The Mountain Lions have won their three postseason games by an average of 40 points per contest.
East Hardy has qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 1996. The Cougars average 67.6 points per game, which is tied for third-best in Class A. They also own the fifth-best scoring defense in Class A at 49.5 points per game. Junior James Teets leads the team in scoring (18.1), assists (3.7) and steals (4.1). Senior Ashton Haslacker averages 16.2 points per game.
No. 4 Clay-Battelle (19-6) vs. No. 5 Webster County (18-7) – Tuesday, 11:15 a.m.
For the second time in three years, the Cee-Bees and the Highlanders meet in the No. 4 vs. No. 5 Class A quarterfinal. After an 8-6 start to the season, Clay-Battelle has won eleven consecutive games. The Cee-Bees average 67 points per game, good enough for fifth-best in Class A.
Webster County averages 66.3 points per game. The top three scorers for the Highlanders are juniors. Rayden Triplett leads the way in scoring at 17.4 points per game. Riley Clevenger averages 16 points per game and Logan Leichliter scores 9.2 points per game. Senior Dakota Blankenship is the Highlanders’ top rebounder at 8.8 per game.