CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Girls high school basketball season culminates Saturday inside the Charleston Coliseum with all four No. 1 seeds in action and in position to face a significant challenge from the opposition in state title games.
MetroNews will carry a live high definition broadcast for each of the four finals.
A closer look at each matchup:
Class AAAA
No. 1 Spring Valley (21-2) vs. No. 2 Morgantown (20-3), 5 p.m.
The Timberwolves and Mohigans have been on a collision course to battle on this stage.
Spring Valley won the regular season meeting exactly one month ago in Morgantown, 48-40.
Both teams have an abundance of experience, talent and depth that has put on display through two state tournament games, which have led to both squads totaling 171 points and at least 80 in all four contests.
SVHS handled both Spring Mills and St. Albans and relies heavily on standout guard Sophi Hutchison, who has 51 points and 16 steals thus far in Charleston.
“We’re happy to be there, but we don’t want to just be there,” Timberwolves’ head coach Bo Miller said. “We want to finish.”
Morgantown counters with its own standout in the backcourt in Kayli Kellogg, who has 54 points in this year’s state tournament.
“If we take care of the ball, we can be successful against any team,” MHS head coach John Fowkes said.
Class AAA
No. 1 Nitro (21-4) vs. No. 2 Wayne (21-4), 12:30 p.m.
The top two seeds in their respective classification battled back on January 24 and the Wildcats prevailed in a defensive slugfest, 30-25.
More points can be expected this time around as both squads have shown in state tournament games. The Wildcats are averaging 63.5 points over quarterfinal and semifinal wins, while the Pioneers are at 61.5 and fresh off an 11 for 20 showing on three-pointers in a hard-fought victory against Greenbrier East.
“We’re familiar with them and they’re familiar with us,” Nitro head coach Pat Jones said. “It’s going to be knockdown, drag out. We usually look for the head of the snake, but they have four of them. We have to stay composed and play our game.”
The Wildcats look inside often and Natalie Smith is a key piece of the team’s success, having totaled 35 points and 22 rebounds in state tournament action.
Nitro is seeking its third state championship in five seasons, but will have to find a way to slow a balanced Pioneers’ attack that features several capable scorers, including guard Jayce Sammons. She has 35 points and five three-pointers thus far in Charleston.
“We’re not going to change a whole lot of what we do. These girls have won a lot of games in high school,” Wayne head coach Wade Williamson said. “We want to do what we do well and try to take some stuff away just like anybody else and see where it goes.”
Class AA
No. 1 Wheeling Central Catholic (23-2) vs. No. 3 Charleston Catholic (19-6), 10 a.m.
The Maroon Knights knocked off the Irish twice during the regular season, although both were competitive contests and the total margin was 13 points.
Wheeling Central has scored 56 first-quarter points in state tournament victories against Philip Barbour and James Monroe, utilizing fast starts to win both matchups in convincing fashion.
At the forefront of the Central is attack is 5-10 post presence Kaitlyn Blake, who has been as productive as any player at the state tournament through the semifinal round. Blake has scored 65 points on 25-for-33 field-goal shooting to go with 17 rebounds, keying an explosive offensive attack that’s produced 78 and 83 points, respectively.
“It’s going to come down to desire and effort and our girls have the desire and effort,” Central head coach Roberta Olejasz said. They thought they left something on the floor last year when we were here. We have great leadership and our girls really like each other.”
A defensive-minded Irish team has allowed a total of 85 points at the state tournament.
CCHS sharpshooter Molly Messer has torched the nets for 34 points with seven triples over a pair of games this week.
“They take coaching and understand whatever we’re trying to do to put them in position to be successful,” Irish head coach Wes Hevener said. “I’m elated for these girls.”
Class A
No. 1 Gilmer County (22-4) vs. No. 2 Tug Valley, 7:30 p.m.
The Titans are in the state final for the third time in four seasons and hoping this is the instance they can break through.
GCHS is defensive-minded and has a dynamic duo in paint guard Allie Ellyson and Ava Dobbins, who at 6-4 makes a major impact on both ends.
Gilmer has allowed only 42 points against Notre Dame and Cameron, limiting the latter to two field goals in the semifinal round.
“We have to focus on us and committing to what we do,” Gilmer head coach Amy Chapman said.
The Titans will look to slow the Panthers, who enter off a strong offensive performance one night earlier that included 12-for-24 shooting and
43 first-half points in a 25-point triumph against Greenbrier West.
“I have all the confidence in the world in them,” Panthers’ head coach Seth Ooten said. “All year long, their practice and preparation wasn’t for a regional championship or to make it to the state tournament. It was for this right here.”