MORGANTOWN — The Trinity Christian girls’ basketball team has secured the top spot in Section 2 of Region 2 in Class AA. The Warriors (12-10) will once again enjoy home court throughout the sectional tournament as they seek to earn a trip to Charleston for the state tournament next month.
First up for head coach Mike Baldy and his squad is No. 4 Notre Dame, who TCS defeated 63-14 earlier in the season. The other semifinal in section 2 is No. 3 South Harrison at No. 2 Braxton County.
“The overall mindset is that every one of our girls needs to play their best basketball the rest of the season,” Baldy said. “In order to accomplish our goal of making it to states, we have to reach our potential individually, and as a team. I think we have played good ball all year, but with just a few exceptions.”
One of those exceptions is holding onto leads that the Warriors manage to build, particularly in the first half of games. In three separate losses this season (Charleston Catholic, Frankfort and Ravenswood) TCS held a first-half lead before allowing the other team to fight back. A 12-10 record may not say just how good the Warriors can be.
“What we are doing now is closing games out instead of blowing leads,” Baldy said. “We keep telling them to be the best version of themselves and play to their potential if we want to make states.”
One deciding factor, and really the story of the season for TCS, is the play of junior standout Jenna Barnett, one of the first players to average over 20 points for the Warriors in a while. She can single-handedly change the course of a game for TCS in multiple ways, shooting from deep, or driving to the basket and being aggressive.
“She has grown up so much this year and has been an incredible teammate,” Baldy said of Barnett.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. Wednesday between TCS and NDHS on the hill in Sabraton. The winner will advance to the sectional championship on Friday.
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