MORGANTOWN — Selena Jenkins saw the University girls’ basketball program hit near rock bottom to lift itself above the surface during her time with the Hawks.
The senior shooting guard will take the court Thursday as the Hawks face Martinsburg in the quarterfinals of the state tournament at the Charleston Coliseum and Civic Center.
It’s the first time since 2009 that UHS will play in the final eight, and the road back hasn’t been an easy one for the Hawks.
Even in Jenkins’ time at UHS, it’s been a long, slow growth back to a contender in Class AAA. During her freshman season in 2016, Jenkins and the Hawks went 9-14 and lost in the first round of the sectional tournament to eventual state champion Morgantown. The only teams in West Virginia that UHS beat were Preston, Weir and Brooke twice.
“When I got to UHS, we lost almost every game,” Jenkins said. “To know we have made it to states three short years later, is unbelievable. It’s a good feeling. It feels like all the sweat, tears and hard work have paid off. We’ve bonded and worked as a team to get to this point. It feels like we’re peaking at the right time.”
The Hawks are 20-5, an 11-game improvement from 2016, but the major improvement wasn’t instantaneous — UHS went 13-11 in Jenkins’ sophomore year, but thing went downhill again last season when the Hawks finished 8-15.
But players such as Jenkins, Zoe Murphy, Mallory Napolillo, Ashten Boggs and Abbie Coen — all upperclassmen — have stuck together through the losses, and that’s the reason for the turnaround, according to Jenkins.
“The chemistry and bond the team has now compared to then is a big difference,” she said. “We also had a lot of young players when I was a freshman and those who stuck with it have worked hard to get to where we are, along with those who have joined along the way.”
Like the team, it’s been a career of ups and downs for Jenkins, who has been the starter at the 2-guard spot most of the season.
She contributed off the bench most of her career, but there were times when she struggled to believe she could play consistently at the varsity level.
Coach David Price “would always call me on my confidence because I had the skills to be good, I just didn’t use them in games,” Jenkins said. “My confidence was down. I finally started getting it back this year and have improved on offense and defense.”
Basketball isn’t Jenkins’ only passion, though. Her voice usually filled the UHS gym prior to UHS home games this season with the national anthem. She’s also performed before Black Bears games at Mon County Ballpark and other community events.
Jenkins also sang Feb. 22 at a talent show that benefited four boys involved in an vehicle accident Feb. 15 in Preston County.
“If I’m not playing basketball, then I’m singing and playing the guitar,” Jenkins said. “I’ve sang my entire life, and it’s a huge part of my life. It’s the way I express myself — it’s always been my passion. It’s something to turn on when I need to calm down, relax and have fun — a stress reliever, really.”
But while her music career will continue, and Jenkins will begin in the WVU nursing program this fall, this could be the last time she takes the court in a basketball uniform, and she wants to make the most of it.
“I’m just looking forward to being in the atmosphere and getting the opportunity to play in such a big event with so many great teams,” she said.
UHS, the No. 3 seed, will take on No. 6 Martinsburg at 7 p.m. Thursday.
