Morgantown’s Sofia Wassick, who helped the Mohigans reach the Class AAAA state championship game this month, was named first team all-state by the West Virginia Sports Writers Assocation.
She averaged 9.5 points per game from her guard position, along with 3.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
As good as her offense was, Wassick’s defense was perhaps even better, a staple under head coach Jason White. Wassick averaged 3.4 steals per game.
Her teammate Lily Jordan was named to the second team after averaging 10.7 points and 6.7 rebounds, which led the team in both categories, this season.
MHS’s Lindsay Bechtel and Sadaya Jones, along with University’s Hannah Stemple and Preston’s Carsynn Sines, were named honorable mentions.
The rest
Dionna Gray can pack another honor into her suitcase before she heads off to play at Kent State University.
The Huntington High School senior guard on Wednesday was named the captain of the West Virginia Class AAAA girls all-state basketball team as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
The 5-foot-4 guard averaged 21.7 points, 7.3 assists, 5.8 steals and 5.1 rebounds per game last season to lead the Highlanders to a 24-1 record and a second consecutive state championship.
“Dionna is a super quick point guard and excellent verbal leader,” Kent State coach Todd Starkey said of Gray, the state Gatorade player of the year. “She is a relentless competitor with the ability to be a disrupter on the defensive end. Offensively, Dionna has the ability to score on all three levels.”
Huntington coach Lonnie Lucas has coached dozens of college players and four state championship teams. He said Gray, the daughter of former Marshall University men’s point guard Chris Gray, ranks among the better he’s had in 54 years on the sideline.
“She’s full of energy,” Lucas said of Gray. “She never has a down moment, despite the score. She’s very positive.”
As great as she is, Gray said she is far from the player she wants to be.
“I’ve worked a lot on my floater game and getting my release quicker,” Gray said. “Shooting. My all around game. I’m just trying to improve every aspect of my game.”
Gray’s teammate, 5-11 center Imani Hickman, joined her on the first team. The Alderson Broaddus signee averaged 9.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals, 1.8 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game.
Cabell Midland junior Jayda Allie made the first unit after averaging 15.6 points, 4.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game to lead the Knights to the state semifinals.
Also named to the first team were freshman Alexis Bordas of Wheeling Park, Capital senior Taleyan Boxley Buckhannon-Upshur senior Shelby McDaniels and Bridgeport junior Gabby Reep. Bordas averaged 21.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals. She scored 50 points against Parkersburg South. Wassick scored 9.5 points per contest to go with 3.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds. Boxley scored 13.7 points and pulled down 10.2 rebounds a game. McDaniels averaged 16 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game. Reep averaged 22.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.9 steals.
Junior Cadence Stewart of Greenbrier East captained the second team, which included Cabell Midland junior Jazmyn Wheeler, George Washington sophomore Finley Lohan, Parkersburg junior Brilynn Florence, Wheeling Park freshman LaLa Woods, Parkersburg South senior Skylar Bosley and Spring Mills freshman Kilah Dandridge.
Players earning honorable mention were: Hallie Bailey, Allie Daniels and Dria Parker, Spring Valley; Lauren Dye, Hurricane; Amara Jackson and Jada Turner, Huntington; Avery Lucas, Lincoln County; Emily Anderson, Bridgeport; Trinity Balog, Parkersburg; Kaitlyn Blake, John Marshall; Ava Bolen, Brooke; Sadie Boggess, Princeton; Olivia Bolduc, Spring Mills; Mackenzie Brezovec, Jefferson; Kyra Brown, Capital; Kendal Currence, Buckhannon-Upshur; Natalie Daugherty, Wheeling Park; Brooke Davis, Greenbrier East; Abby Dillon, Woodrow Wilson; Corin Edsell, Spring Mills; Alaira Evans, George Washington; Kaila Fitzpatrick, Musselman; Catherine Hunnell, John Marshall; Justus Lee, Jefferson; Samiah Lynch, Oak Hill; Olivia Mayer, Martinsburg; Alanna McKenzie, Riverside; Shayla Montgomery, St. Albans; Haven Murray, Jefferson; Kelly Ours, Hedgesville; Samyah Riggin, St. Albans; Mary Rivera, Washington; Kisten Roberts, Parkersburg; Natalyia Sayles, Capital; Natalie Smith, South Charleston; Maddie Stull, Princeton; Daisha Summers, Greenbrier East; Hannah Wingrove, Parkersburg South; and Olivia Ziolkowski, Woodrow Wilson.
