By JOE ALBRIGHT
News and Sentinel
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — Trinity’s Jaclyn Smith was named Class A all-state honorable mention by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association for her work last season.
She averaged 17.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for the Warriors (12-12).
Huntington St. Joe’s 5-foot-7 senior guard Bailee Adkins could have displayed her considerable scoring talent across a challenging schedule during her senior season.
But as the heartbeat of the Irish, Adkins sacrificed those high point totals. Instead, she efficiently ran both the offense and defense. She sparked the Maxpreps.com nationally-ranked team on a nightly basis with her 10 points, 7.3 assists, four rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
“That’s my game and it always has been my game,” said Adkins. “And everyone knew their roles this year and I just ran the floor and tried to be the leader of the team.”
Adkins led the Irish to a 22-1 record as well as the top seed of and state championship favorite status in the West Virginia Class A state tournament.
Today, Adkins once again leads a group of highly talented players after she was voted the captain of the Class A girls basketball All-State first team.
’I am just honored to be named captain,” said Adkins. “I would not be here right now if it wasn’t for my teammates and family and coaches, I definitely thank them. I get a little lazy sometimes and my mom pushes me to work out to get better.”
The 2020 W.Va. Gatorade Player of the Year and junior teammate Grace Hutson benefited from much of that hard work. The Irish’s first-year player shot her way onto the top team with her 19.5 points per game. She also filled up the stat sheet with her averages of 4.5 rebounds, two assists and 2.8 steals.
FIRST TEAM
Bailee Adkins, St. Joseph; Sr. (Captain); Taylor Issac, Summers County; Jr.; Madeline Huffman, Parkersburg Catholic; Sr.; Grace Hutson, St. Joseph; Jr.; Leslie Huffman, Parkersburg Catholic; Soph.; Kalyee Reinbeau, Wheeling Central; Sr.; Trinity Bancroft, Gilmer County; Soph.; Gavin Pivont, Summers County; Jr.
SECOND TEAM
Aaliyah Brunny, Parkersburg Catholic; Jr. (Captain); Terra Kuhn, Tucker County; Sr.; Kyndra Pilant, Magnolia; Sr.; Sydney Baird, Webster County; Fr.; Kaylea Baisden, Tug Valley; Soph.; Hannah White, Wheeling Central; Sr.; Laila Calhoun, Pocahontas County; Sr.; Annie Hunt, Ravenswood; Jr.
THIRD TEAM
Hannah Roberts, St. Joseph; Jr. (Captain); Kenley Posten, Greenbrier West; Sr.; Josie Montgomery, Calhoun County; Jr.; Rebekah Rupert, Ritchie County; Fr.; Dionna Gray, St. Joseph; Soph.; Grace Mitchell, Greater Beckley Christian; Sr.; Kylie Wright, St. Marys; Jr.; Hannah Rahin, Charleston Catholic; Jr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Julie Agee, Greenbrier West; Olivia Alexander, Montcalm; Trinity Amick, Richwood; Kira Bircher, Pocahontas County; Kadie Colebank, Tucker County; Abby Darnley, Buffalo; Emily Dickerson, Midland Trail; Jonna Ferrell, Doddridge County; Lara Fetty, St. Marys; Emilee Henderson, Notre Dame; Imani Hickman, St. Joseph; Bianca Howell, Doddridge County; Karli LaFauci, Van; Abby Lee, St. Joseph; London Hood, Tucker County; Katie Marcum, Tolsia; Makayla May, Tug Valley; Jazzy Melnyk, Madonna; Taylor McHenry, Gilmer County; Jenna Montgomery, South Harrison; Lilli Neely, Cameron; Caraline Nelson, Sherman; Alyssa Newsome, Tug Valley; Nicole Reynolds, Williamstown; Riley Richmond, Summers County; Lindsey Rinker, Moorefield; Kayli Sauro, Williamstown; Kylie Saltis, South Harrison; Hailea Skeens, Sherman; Jacyln Smith, Trinity; Morgan Turner, Notre Dame; Grace Wellings, Gilmer County; Jayla Wiseman, Williamstown; Emma Wyer, Wirt County; Bailee Yokum, Notre Dame.