16 / THE INSIDER /
January 2019
Tri-State Girls High School Basketball Preview
State Title Contenders
Huntington St. Joe, Wayne and Boyd County top the local Girls High School Basketball scene compiled by Dave Walsh THE INSIDER writer
With four starters back, along with a solid bench, Huntington St. Joe finds itself atop one West Virginia Class A girls basketball preseason poll (Associated Press) and more than capable of making yet another run at a state championship.
After a 73-56 win at Parkersburg on Jan. 3, St. Joe’s record was 9-1. It was the first loss for the Class AAA Big Reds (8-1). “As long as we stay unselfish, I think it’s going to be a good year,” Lewis told Greg Carey of WV MetroNews after the game.
Two returning starters, Paige Shy and Dena Jarrells, already have signed to play college basketball. Shy is headed to Marshall and Jarrells to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Other starters back are Bailee Adkins and Hannah Roberts. Adkins, a junior, is getting plenty of college looks. Shy, Jarrells and Adkins made first-team All-State last season. Top players off the bench are Abby Lee and Laney Whitmore.
Shy averaged 16.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game a year ago when the Lady Irish reached the state championship game where Wheeling Central prevailed. Jarrells went over 1,000 career points in her sophomore season. She’s averaged 16-plus points a game the past two seasons.
“I’m sure with the success we’ve had, coaches and the press will us up one or two,” Lady Irish coach Shannon Lewis said. “The kids know it. They’re working hard and handle it (notoriety) well.”
Lewis said the Lady Irish have plenty of motivation for this season. They started the season with two convincing wins over Class AAA schools in a weekend doubleheader in Morgantown.”They feel a little chip on their shoulder. They let one slip away,” Lewis said of the loss to Wheeling Central in the 2018 title game. “They’re focused.” St. Joe does have a demanding road schedule as usual. The Lady Irish didn’t play their first home game until Jan. 12.
West Virginia HUNTINGTON: Alezha Turner, Madison Slash and Ravyn Goodson can put points on the board for the Highlanders, who knocked of Class AAA No. 2 Parkersburg South after dropping their opener to Class AA Wayne. CABELL MIDLAND: Kirya Kingery and Gracie Hightower are two of the top players back for the Lady Knights, who routed Clay County in their opener. SPRING VALLEY: Bre Saunders is one of the top scorers for the Lady Timberwolves and freshman Ella Edwards can excel on the boards. Haley McComas is the team’s lone senior starter. WAYNE: The Lady Pioneers will rely on Whitney Sansom, Lakyn Adkins, Alana Eaves and Haley Wallace. Adkins totaled 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Class AA Wayne beat Class AAA Huntington in its opener for the first time in school history. The Lady Pioneers started the season 9-0.
