HIGH SCHOOL WBB BASKETBALL PREVIEW

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.

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.

“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.”

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.

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.

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.

LINCOLN COUNTY: Junior Gracie Brumfield had a triple-double (10 points, 10 steals, and 10 assists) to lead the Lady Panthers past Point Pleasant.

TOLSIA: Sarah Jude, a 5-10 senior, returns and can handle the point or play inside. The Lady Rebels lost five seniors off last season’s 8-win team.

TUG VALLEY: Clyde Farley returns to coach the Lady Panthers. He went 67-27 in his first stint from 1999-2004. Farley has one senior on the young squad. Top returnee is sophomore Makayla May.

POINT PLEASANT: DaNayla Ward, Nancy Vettese, and Brooke Warner are the scoring threats for the Lady Knights. HANNAN: Freshman Kaleigh Sturgeon and Julie Frazier are players to watch for the Lady Cats.

WAHAMA: Emma Gibbs had a double-double (14 points, 13 rebounds) in loss to South Gallias. Hannah Rose can score, too, for the Lady Falcons.

COVENANT: Eden Bumgardner and Karleigh Collins are two big guns to watch.

GRACE CHRISTIAN: Hazley Matthews can score, dish out assists and record steals for the Soldiers. Samantha Wells and Emily Hutchinson can put up points, too.

Ohio

FAIRLAND: Allie Marshall, Jenna Stone, Harlie Lyons and Kelsie Warnock are players to watch for the Lady Dragons.

IRONTON: Haylee Stevens, Ellie Williams and Samantha LaFon are leading point producers for the Lady Tigers. Stevens had 19 in a win over Fairland. Scoring threat Lexi Arden suffered a preseason knee injury and it’s not known how long she’ll be out.

SOUTH POINT: Emilee Whitt and Emilee Carey provide the scoring punch for the Lady Pointers and Ashley Perkey in a threat inside.

CHESAPEAKE: Maddie Ward and Karli Davis are Lady Panthers to watch. Chesapeake also needs to be consistent as it had just five second-half points in a home loss to South Point.

PORTSMOUTH: The Lady Trojans have a new head coach in Amy Hughes and her debut was a success as they rallied from a 16-2 deficit to defeat Ironton, 42-38. Jasmine Eley is player to watch as she tallied 25 against Ironton.

ROCK HILL: Rylie Morris appears to be the top scoring threat for the Redwomen. She had 21 in a win against Ironton St. Joe.

COAL GROVE: Sophomore Addi Dillow is one spark as she scored 19 points in a season-opening loss to Oak Hill.

GALLIA ACADEMY: Jordan Deel is the new head coach for the Blue Angels. Players to watch include Hunter Copley, Maddy Petro and Brooklyn Hill.

IRONTON ST. JOE: The Lady Flyers are playing in a new facility, the Parish Life Center. Faith Mahlmeister and cousins Emma and Bella Whaley also are players to keep an eye on.

WHEELERSBURG: Kaylee Darnell, Abbie Kallner and freshman Alaina Keeney provide the scoring punch for the Lady Pirates.

RIVER VALLEY: Senior Kelsey Brown and Hannah Jacks are two big scoring threats for the Lady Raiders.

GREEN: Freshman Kasey Kimbler appears to be the player to watch as she had 19 points in a season-opening loss at Raceland.

SYMMES VALLEY: Jenna Malone and Rachael Hayes are Lady Vikings to watch.

SOUTH GALLIA: Jessica Rutt and Kiley Stapleton are two scoring threats for Lady Rebels.

OAK HILL: Caitlyn Brisker, Payton Crabtree and Olivia Clarkson are players to watch for the Lady Oaks.

Kentucky

BOYD COUNTY: Senior guard Savannah Wheeler, who has signed with Marshall, started 2018-19 with a 44-point game in a win over Johnson Central. She is a top contender for the Miss Basketball award. The Lady Lions started the season 11-1.

ASHLAND: Julia Parker hit for 28 points in a win over Henry Clay. Mikayla Martin also can score for the Kittens.

RUSSELL: Coach Mandy Layne will count on Kaeli Ross and Campbell Jachimczuk. The Lady Red Devils started 9-2.

GREENUP COUNTY: Grace Jackson paced the Lady Musketeers with 22 points in a win over Elliott County.

FAIRVIEW: Opponents had better watch out for Gracie Crisp, who had 29 in a win over Morgan County.

RACELAND: Holly Bryant, Kierston Smith, Emilee Garvin and Chloe Collins can put up points for the Lady Rams.

ROSE HILL CHRISTIAN: Bellamee Sparks and Baylee Trimble are scoring threats for the Lady Royals