MORGANTOWN — The Morgantown girls’ basketball team enters the 2022-2023 season as the preseason no. 1-ranked team in Class AAAA.
After finishing 22-4 and losing in the state championship to Huntington a year ago, long-time assistant coach Doug Goodwin will take over as head coach, following the retirement of Jason White.
“I really look forward to this group on a daily basis, they are a pleasure to not only coach but just be around,” the new head coach said. “I have known most of them since grade school when they came to summer camps. These young ladies are hard workers that love to compete and are driven to get better every day.”
The Mohigans return not only four of their starters, but nearly the entire roster. Kerrington Peasak, who started but only played about 12 minutes per game, was the lone graduate. While Peasak was often known as the “coach on the floor” for MHS, she wasn’t a huge scoring threat.
Now, MHS has a plethora of experienced players (four seniors and two juniors) that have all played in big games and will look to use that for a return to the title game and, this time, a state championship. A core of seniors in Revaya Sweeney (5-9), Lindsay Bechtel (5-7), Mia Henkins (5-3) and Kate Hawkins (5-7) lead the way for Goodwin and his squad.
“Every person on our team has a role and knows what it is,” Sweeney said. “Also having an older team with six seniors, we all set an expectation and work to meet that every day, practice or game.”
Behind those four, however, come two juniors in Sofia Wassick (5-8) and Lily Jordan (6-0). Wassick, a first-team all-state selection last year, may be one of the best guards in the entire state. While Jordan, who came off of the bench a year ago, was the most consistent scoring threat on the team.
A guard-heavy offense with a four-out, one-in approach allows MHS to take advantage of its shooting ability. Nearly every player on the roster can step out and knock down shots from the perimeter. This also allows for the players like Jordan to find space around the high post area for open looks also, as she boasts a strong mid-range game.
“Defense will always be a big focus for us, but our real advantage may be how well-balanced we are this season,” Goodwin said about his team. “We are hoping that our defensive efforts turn into transition points and I feel we are able to be patient in the half court when we need to be.”
MHS will open the 2022-2023 season this weekend with two games in the Musselman Mixer. The Mohigans and Applemen will play Friday night at 6:00 p.m. then MHS will return on Saturday for a matchup against Jefferson.
The following weekend, MHS will go across town to University for two games against Kennedy Catholic and Albert Gallatin, both out of PA.
Then in its fifth game of the season on December 20th, MHS will visit Wheeling Park in one of the most-anticipated games of the regular season in Class AAAA. A year ago, the Patriots and Mohigans went to five overtimes in the sectional tournament (MHS eventually winning), and it’s no doubt that both teams will be strong once again.
The Mohigans ultimate goal though will be to return to the state tournament and finish this year with a championship after being so close a season ago.
“We still feel the sting of last year but it isn’t dwelled upon,” assured Goodwin. “It is our primary goal this season, but we have to continue to improve and put ourselves in a position to get there. It would mean a lot for me to win a title, but it’s more about the players. I want nothing more than for them to have that experience.”
Makayla Chipps (6-0) and Tonyia Anderson (5-8) round out the senior class while Emma Howell (5-7), Abby Smith (5-8) and Paige Smith (5-8) are the other juniors.
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