MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The WVSSAC Boys Basketball State tournament will begin on March 18 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 Spring Mills (21-1) vs. No. 8 Martinsburg (12-7) – Wednesday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m.
Eastern Panhandle Athletic Conference rivals will meet for the third time this season in the Class AAAA quarterfinals. Spring Mills defeated Martinsburg, 60-37 on January 24 and 61-45 on February 14.
Spring Mills has been under the direction of interim head coach Shannon Layton for the months of February and March. Layton has replaced Luke Samples, who has been on administrative leave for the last nine games. The Cardinals have posted a 9-0 record in that stretch. Spring Mills defeated Jefferson in their lone regional game to clinch a state tournament berth.
The Cardinals advanced to the Class AAAA Championship game in 2024 before falling to Morgantown in overtime.
This winter, Spring Mills has posted a 4-1 record against state tournament opponents. They also defeated Virginia state semifinalist, Handley.
Spring Mills owns the third-best scoring offense (67.7 points per game) and scoring defense (43.9 points allowed) in Class AAAA.
Martinsburg has qualified for the state tournament for the first time in four years. The Bulldogs defeated Washington in their lone regional game to claim the Region II co-championship.
The Bulldogs struggled down the stretch in the regular season, losing five of their last six games before defeating WHS. Four of their five losses came against state tournament qualifiers. Martinsburg won ten of their first twelve games to start the season.
Veteran Martinsburg head coach Dave Rogers led the Bulldogs to state titles in 1994, 2009 and 2013.
No. 2 Morgantown (19-2) vs. No. 7 Parkersburg South (15-8) – Wednesday, March 19 at 1 p.m.
As Morgantown continues their quest for a fourth consecutive Class AAAA state championship, the Mohigans’ path could pit them against the two teams to defeat them in the regular season. Spring Mills and Parkersburg South both went 1-1 against the Mohigans. MHS received a forfeit victory from South in the semifinal round of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference 5A Tournament. The Patriots later defeated the Mohigans on February 24, 60-51.
Morgantown has played in the Class AAAA title game in four consecutive seasons. MHS won the OVAC 5A Tournament title last month.
The Mohigans defeated Preston in their lone regional game to secure another state tournament spot. They are seeking a fifth state title under Dave Tallman in the state’s largest classification (Class AAA title in 2016).
Morgantown is 6-1 against state tournament qualifiers.
Five Mohigans average in double digits in points per game. Waylon Colistra leads the way at 13.5 points per game. Marty Johnson (13.3), Max Frey (12.2), Demarcus Bandy (10.4) and Brady Savage (10.0) follow.
Parkersburg South is making their 17th state tournament appearance and their 11th in the last 13 seasons. South defeated Capital and Huntington in the regional round to advance to the state quarterfinal round. The Patriots last played at states in 2023 when they fell to Morgantown in the title game.
The Patriots own the ninth-best scoring defense in Class AAAA (53.0 points per game).
Junior Harry Silvis leads South in scoring at 17.4 points per game. Senior Navi Hewitt averages 14.2 points per game and junior Taj Joyce adds 10.7 per game.
No. 3 George Washington (19-4) vs. No. 6 University (18-5) – Wednesday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m.
George Washington is back at the state tournament after a one-year absence. The Patriots were the last team to claim a championship (2021) since Morgantown’s three-peat began a year later. GW defeated St. Albans in their lone regional game.
The Patriots opened their season on a 13-game winning streak. They own a 3-2 record against state tournament qualifiers. GW owns the fourth-best scoring defense in Class A at 43.9 points per game. The Patriots finished as runners-up to No. 4 seed Spring Valley in the Mountain State Athletic Conference Tournament. They split their season series with the Timberwolves.
Veteran head coach Rick Greene has led the Patriots to three state championships (2011, 2018 and 2021).
Junior Noah Lewis leads the Patriots in scoring.
University has qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 2020. UHS won the Class AAA state title a year earlier. The Hawks clinched a spot in Charleston after a regional win over Buckhannon-Upshur and the Hawks enter the state tournament on a seven-game winning streak.
UHS owns a 4-3 record against state tournament qualifiers. The Hawks average 62.7 points per game, good enough for ninth-best in Class AAAA. Glenn Brown leads a trio of Hawks that average double-digits in points pregame. Brown (12.2) is followed by Luke Byrer (11.5) and Zach Demidovich (10.6).
No. 4 Spring Valley (19-2) vs. No. 5 Woodrow Wilson (18-3) – Wednesday, March 19 at 9 p.m.
Mountain State Athletic Conference Champion Spring Valley has qualified for the state tournament for the second consecutive season under head coach Rick Chaffin.
The Timberwolves defeated Parkersburg in their lone regional game. Spring Valley owns the top scoring offense in Class AAAA at 71.7 points per game. They opened the season on a 12-game winning streak.
Junior Harrison Riggs leads the Timberwolves in scoring at 23.0 points per contest. In 16 games prior to injury, Clay Roberson averaged 22.1 points per contest. Senior Colton Caldwell averages a double-double with 10.9 points and a team-best 12.1 rebounds per game.
Woodrow Wilson averages 70.8 points per game, good enough for second in Class AAAA behind only the Timberwolves. The Flying Eagles are 4-2 against state tournament qualifiers. Their current nine-game winning streak includes victories against Riverside and South Charleston in the regional round.
Senior Jaylon Walton leads the Flying Eagles in scoring (17.5) and rebounding (9.6). A trio of Beckley juniors also average in double digits in scoring — Zyon Hawthorne (17.0), Coby Dillon (12.5) and Preston Clary (11.3). Dillon averages 5.9 assists per game to lead the team.
Beckley owns 16 state championships in their decorated history.
Class AAA:
No. 1 Bridgeport (23-1) vs. No. 8 Elkins (13-10) – Tuesday, March 18 at 7:15 p.m.
Big 10 Conference rivals meet in the state quarterfinals. Both teams are back in Charleston after a one-year absence. The Indians defeated the Tigers in their lone regular season meeting, 62-49 on February 6.
Bridgeport defeated Berkeley Springs and Hampshire to secure the Region II co-championship. BHS’ lone loss came to Nitro on December 21 and the Indians have won 20 consecutive games since. The Indians own a 6-1 record against state tournament qualifiers.
Allowing 38.7 points per game, Bridgeport owns the best scoring defense in Class AAA by an eight-point per game average. The Indians also own the fourth-best scoring average in Class AAA (64.4).
Four Indians average double-digits in points per game. Landon Sanders leads the team in scoring at 12.7 points per game. Phoenix Sickles (12.4), Anthony Spatafore (10.3) and Anderson McDougal (10.0) also average in double digits. Sickles leads the team in rebounding (7.2).
Elkins advanced to the Class AAA semifinals in 2023. The Tigers defeated Grafton and North Marion to qualify for the quarterfinals. Elkins has won six of their last seven games after a 7-9 start to the season. Five of their ten losses have come against state tournament qualifiers.
The Tigers feature the fifth-best scoring defense in Class AAA at 47.8 points per game.
No. 2 Shady Spring (19-4) vs. No. 7 Robert C. Byrd (15-6) – Wednesday, March 19 at 7:15 p.m.
Shady Spring is seeking a successful state title defense and their third championship since 2021. The Tigers defeated Sissonville and Herbert Hoover to return to the state tournament. Shady opened the season on a seven-game winning streak and they won 11 of their first 12 games. Three of their four losses, including a pair against Beckley, have come against state tournament qualifiers.
The Tigers feature the third-best scoring offense in Class AAA (65.5 points per game). Seniors Jack Williams (18.3 points per game), Jason Bailey (16.7) and Khi Olson (7.5) lead the Tigers in scoring.
Robert C. Byrd is back at the state tournament for the first time since the 2021 season. The Flying Eagles, mainstays at the state level for many years under Bill Bennett, are now led by Basil Lucas. Lucas was an assistant for Bennett prior to being named head coach in 2022.
Byrd does not have a senior on this year’s roster.
RCB owns the ninth-best scoring defense in Class AAA at 49.5 points per game. A midseason nine-game winning streak included a signature victory over No. 4 seed Fairmont Senior. The Flying Eagles defeated the Polar Bears, 52-50 on a buzzer-beating shot from Junior Smith. Five of their six losses have come against state tournament qualifiers.
Robert C. Byrd defeated Lincoln and Lewis County in the Class AAA Region II tournament.
No. 3 Nitro (17-6) vs. No. 6 Ripley (19-5) – Wednesday, March 19 at 11:15 a.m.
Nitro is seeking their second victory of the season against Ripley. The Wildcats defeated the Vikings, 62-56 on December 17.
NHS opened their season on a seven-game winning streak. They are the only team to defeat No. 1 seed Bridgeport this season. Nitro knocked off the Indians, 52-44 on December 21. Three of Nitro’s six losses came against state tournament qualifiers.
Nitro is back at the state tournament for the second consecutive season.
Three Wildcats average in double digits in points per game. Senior Ashton Crouch leads the way at 14.0 points per game. He is also the team’s leading rebounder (6.9). Junior Ty Stephens averages 13.0 points per game and sophomore Collin Crouch chips in with 11.0 points per game. Senior Derek Lowe leads the Wildcats in assists (5.1).
Nitro defeated Winfield in their lone regional game to clinch a state tournament berth.
Ripley is making their third appearance at the state level and their second in the last three seasons. The Vikings are tied for second in Class AAA with 19 victories. Ripley is third in Class AAA in scoring defense at 47.0 points per game.
RHS defeated PikeView and Greenbrier East in the regional round to secure the Region III co-championship. They head to Charleston on a six-game winning streak.
Junior Blake Justice leads the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game and fellow junior Matthew Stellato follows closely behind at 11.7. Junior Kyler Doss chips in with 10.2 points per game. Senior Brandon Sias is the Vikings’ leading rebounder (4.9).
No. 4 Fairmont Senior (17-5) vs. No. 5 Chapmanville (15-7) – Tuesday, March 18 at 11:15 a.m.
The Polar Bears and the Tigers are meeting in a rematch of the 2018 and 2019 Class AA state championship games, both won by CHS. Chapmanville most recently won the state title in 2023, their third under head coach Brad Napier. Fairmont Senior head coach David Retton has led the Polar Bears to four state titles in the last decade (2016, 2017, 2022 and 2023).
FSHS owns the sixth-best scoring offense in Class AAA (62.1) points per game and they have the fourth-stingiest defense (47.7). The Polar Bears are 4-4 against state tournament opponents. Fairmont Senior defeated Brooke in their lone regional game to return to the state tournament.
Senior Trea Cumberledge is FSHS’ leading scorer at 22.4 points per game. Junior Darrell Claybrook is second in scoring at 12.7 points per game and fellow junior Julz Butler adds 9.4 points per game.
Chapmanville is playing in Class AAA this season after advancing to the Class AA quarterfinals in 2024. The Tigers (68.3 points per game) own the second-highest scoring offense in Class AA. CHS went 4-3 against state tournament opponents.
The Tigers defeated Wayne in their lone regional game to advance to Charleston. Senior Joey Gollihue leads Chapmanville in scoring at 19.8 points per game. Four more Tigers also average in double-digits — Keaton Terry (14.9), Dakota Dalton (11.6) and Jay Brock (10.8), Benji Adkins (10.5).
Class AA:
No. 1 Williamstown (19-3) vs. No. 8 Buffalo (10-14) – Tuesday, March 18 at 5:30 p.m.
Williamstown is seeking their second state championship under Scott Sauro to go along with their championship in 2021. The Yellowjackets defeated Tyler Consolidated in their lone regional game.
WHS is 5-2 against state tournament opponents, including victories over Wheeling Central Catholic, Tucker County and Logan. Williamstown owns the second highest-scoring offense in Class AA at 69.5 points per game. Their defense is sixth-best at 49.0 points per game. After a 4-3 start, WHS enters the state tournament on a 15-game winning streak.
Three Yellowjackets are double-digit scorers. Senior Jaden Bryant leads the way at 17.3 points per game. Parker Schramm (16.7) and Cruz Islay (13.6) also pace the Jackets.
Williamstown won the Little Kanawha Conference Championship with a victory over fellow state qualifier, Doddridge County.
Buffalo rebounded from an 0-5 start to reach the state tournament. The Bison defeated Roane County and Scott in their regional games to claim the Region IV co-championship. They are in the state tournament for the first time in 12 years.
Sophomore Asher Flanery leads Buffalo in scoring at 15.4 points per contest and fellow sophomore Wesley Mallett adds 12.5 points per game. Mallett also leads the team in rebounding (7.2).
No. 2 Wheeling Central Catholic (21-2) vs. No. 7 Ritchie County (17-7) – Tuesday, March 18 at 1 p.m.
Wheeling Central Catholic is seeking their seventh state championship since 2004 and their first since 2018. The Maroon Knights defeated Ravenswood in the regional round to qualify for the state tournament.
WCCHS owns the highest-scoring offense in Class AA at 70.7 points per game. They also hold the fourth-best scoring defense (48.4). Central’s 21 wins are tied for third-best in the state across all classes. The Maroon Knights are currently on a nine-game winning streak that includes victories over state tournament qualifiers Logan and Chapmanville. Central won the Ohio Valley Conference 3A championship with a 60-56 victory over Monroe Central, Ohio on February 15.
Eli Sancomb leads the Maroon Knights in scoring at 26 points per game. Max Olejasz (9.7) and Tyler Dean (9.0) are second and third on the team on scoring.
Ritchie County is headed to the state tournament for the first time in four years. The Rebels defeated South Harrison and Philip Barbour in the regional rounds.
Ritchie heads to Charleston with wins in ten of their last eleven games. That stretch included a victory over Route 50 rival and state tournament qualifier Doddridge County.
Junior Isaac Hodges leads Ritchie in scoring (23.7) and rebounding (13.0). He also chips in with 3.6 assists, 2.5 assists and 2.5 blocks per game. Sophomore Seth Cronin averages 14.4 points per game and senior Rhett Johnson chips in with 11.1 points per game.
No. 3 Westside (16-5) vs. No. 6 Doddridge County (20-4) – Tuesday, March 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Both Wyoming County schools will represent Region III in the Class AA state tournament. The Renegades have the sixth-best scoring offense in Class AA (62.8). Westside defeated Mingo Central and Midland Trail to clinch a spot in Charleston.
After a 1-3 start, the Renegades have won 14 of their last 16 games and they are currently on a six-game winning streak. WHS is 5-4 against state tournament qualifiers with significant wins over Wyoming East, Logan, Chapmanville and Shady Spring.
Four Westside players score in double digits. Kadien Vance leads the way at 14.2 points per game and he is followed by Austin Bishop (13.7), Coltin Smith (12.1) and Bryson Blankenship (10.9). Vance is the team’s leading rebounder at 8.8 points per game.
Doddridge County is in the state tournament field for the second consecutive season under head coach Paul Burnside. Their 20 wins are second-best in Class AA. DoCo owns the fifth-best scoring offense (63.0) and fifth-best scoring defense (48.9) in Class AA.
The Bulldogs defeated Moorefield and Liberty Harrison in the Region II Tournament. They finished as the runner-up in the Little Kanawha Conference Tournament to No. 1 seed Williamstown
Doddridge opened the season on an 11-game winning streak, which included a win over Class AAA state tournament qualifier Robert C. Byrd.
Junior Jerod Trent leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 10.9 points per game. Jaden Solomon is second in scoring (9.5) and he is also the team’s leading rebounder (7.0). Landon Thomas averaged 9.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest.
No. 4 Wyoming East (18-3) vs. No. 5 Logan (14-9) – Tuesday, March 18 at 9 p.m.
The third game in the three-game season series between Wyoming East and Logan will take place in the Class AA quarterfinals. East defeated the Wildcats 59-51 on January 14 and 65-63 on March 1.
East defeated Summers County and Bluefield in their regional playoff games.
The Warriors are currently enjoying a nine-game winning streak. East owns the fourth-highest scoring offense in Class AA (64.5) and the third-best scoring defense (48.2).
Konnor Fox leads the Warriors in scoring at 15.0 points per game. Broc Johnson adds 14.0 points per game.
Logan is in the state tournament field for the second consecutive season after reaching the Class AAA quarterfinals last year. The Wildcats defeated Charleston Catholic in their lone regional game.
At 67.2 points per game, the Wildcats own the third-highest scoring offense in Class AA. Logan opened their season on an eight-game winning streak, which included victories over state tournament qualifiers Chapmanville and Williamstown. Each of their nine losses have come against state tournament qualifiers.
Freshman Lucas Lambert leads the Wildcats in scoring (17.0). Zayden Sherrod (13.0), Ivan Miller (10.0) and McCormick Ilderton (10.0) also average in double digits.
Class A:
No. 1 Tug Valley (22-2) vs. No. 8 Montcalm (17-6) – Thursday, March 20 at 5:30 p.m.
The Panthers are seeking their fourth state championship and a successful title defense. Tug Valley heads to Charleston riding an 18-game winning streak. They own the highest-scoring offense in Class A at 70.5 points per game and their 22 wins are second-most in the state across all classes.
TVHS split a regular season home-and-home series with Tucker County, the team they defeated in the 2024 Class A title game. The Panthers are 6-1 against state tournament qualifiers, including a win over Class AA No. 1 seed Williamstown and two wins against Logan.
Tug Valley defeated Gilmer County and Sherman in their regional games.
Junior guard Braydun Ferris leads the Panthers in scoring at 20.4 points per game. Kaden Hale (15.5), Carson Newsome (13.4) and Ashton Davis (10.0) also average double digits in points per game.
Montcalm has qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 1978. Allowing just 37.8 points per game, the Generals have the best scoring defense in Class A. MHS defeated Richwood and Webster County in the Region III tournament. Montcalm has won five consecutive games.
No. 2 Tucker County (19-2) vs. No. 7 Magnolia (16-8) – Thursday, March 20 at 1 p.m.
The Mountain Lions have posted back-to-back state runner-up seasons. Tucker averages 68.2 points per game, which is the second-best total in Class A. They allow just 47.2 points per contest, good enough for fourth-best in their class.
Tucker defeated Pendleton County in their lone regional game. TCHS is the only in-state team to defeat No. 1 seed Tug Valley. The teams split a regular season home-and-home series.
The Mountain Lions opened their season with 12 consecutive victories and they have won their last six games.
Senior Trevan Bonner (20.6) and Garrett Wilfong (13.6) lead the team in scoring. Wilfong is Tucker’s top rebounder (9.6). Junior Mikey Mitchell averages 9.6 points per game.
Under the direction of Dave Tallman, Magnolia is headed to the state tournament for the first time since 2022. MHS defeated Cameron and Valley Wetzel in their regional games.
The Blue Eagles average 64.5 points per game, good enough for sixth-best in Class A. After a 6-8 start to the season, Magnolia comes to Charleston riding a ten-game winning streak.
Junior Kingsten Christen leads Magnolia in scoring at 21.5 points per game. Senior Dubale Greathouse (12.1) and senior Hunter Oates (10.0) also average in double digits per contest.
No. 3 East Hardy (19-5) vs. No. 6 Clay-Battelle (18-6) – Thursday, March 20 at 9:30 a.m.
The Cougars advanced to the state semifinals in 2024. East Hardy allows just 42.3 points per game, which is the second-best total in Class A. Their current ten-game winning streak includes regional round victories over Pocahontas County and Tygarts Valley.
The Cougars defeated Clay-Battelle, 56-47 on January 28 in Blacksville.
Clay-Battelle is back at the state tournament after a one-year absence. The Cee-Bees advanced to the Class A semifinals in 2023.
CBHS defeated Madonna and Parkersburg Catholic in the regional rounds. The Cee-Bees are on a seven-game winning streak and they are unbeaten in their last eleven games against in-state opponents.
Senior Preston Luzader leads the Cee-Bees in points (23.4) and rebounding (14.0). Junior Cooper Payton adds 13.9 points per game.
With Clay-Battelle in the state tournament field, all three of the Monongalia County public high schools have qualified for this year’s state tournament.
No. 4 Greater Beckley Christian (15-8) vs. No. 5 Huntington St. Joseph’s (16-7) – Thursday, March 20 at 9 p.m.
The two teams split a regular season home-and-home series. Greater Beckley Christian took the first meeting, 75-57 on January 17 in Beckley. St. Joseph’s avenged the loss at home, 66-60 six days later.
Greater Beckley Christian has returned to the state tournament field for the first time since 2022, when they finished as the runner-up to James Monroe in Class A. The Crusaders defeated Meadow Bridge and Mount View in the Region III tournament to qualify for the state tourney.
GBCHS averages 68.0 points per game, the third-best mark in Class A. Keegan Davidson leads the Crusaders in scoring (15.8) while Andrew Fitzwater adds 14.9 points per contest.
After a 7-7 start to the season, the Irish have won their last nine games. HSJHS defeated Tolsia and Wahama in the regional rounds. Freshman Noah Keaton leads the Irish in scoring at 16.3 points per game. Isaiah Sanders (14.2), Nymir Bryant (13.2) and Micaiah Eririm (12.3) also average in double digits in points per game.