CHARLESTON – The Morgantown and University High School girls’ basketball teams secured top-four seeds in this week’s WVSSAC Class AAAA state basketball tournament and will take the floor in Charleston on Wednesday in the quarterfinals.
The second-seeded Mohigans will battle 7-seed Washington at 1:00 p.m. in Charleston. Both teams enter the state tournament winners of 18 games in the regular season.
MHS, seeking its fourth-consecutive appearance in the Class AAAA state championship game, advanced to the state tournament with a 64-49 victory over John Marshall in the Region I co-finals.
Sophomore Kayli Kellogg leads MHS in scoring at 21.1 points per game while averaging nearly four defensive steals. Senior Sadaya Jones, a UMBC signee, is scoring 15.2 points and grabbing a team-leading 8.4 rebounds per contest. The Mohigans have four players averaging nearly five boards.
MHS has won 12 of its last 13 games, with the only loss coming to top-seeded Spring Valley 48-40.
The Patriots enter the state tournament winners of eight of their last nine games, the most recent victory coming over Martinsburg 46-26, to secure a spot in Charleston.
“Washington has our attention; you don’t go 18-4 for no reason,” first-year MHS head coach John Fowkes said. “They play great defense and their guards are very talented players that we must pay attention to. They play extremely hard in the post and scrap for rebounds and loose balls. Our girls have watched a lot of film and we know what we are preparing for.”
Washington is led by senior guard Mary Rivera, who averages 15.2 points per game this season at a 54% shooting clip. Fellow senior guard Lexi Adams join her in double-digit scoring with 12.8 points per game.
“Regardless of opponent, we will have to do what we have done all year,” Fowkes said. “Play hard, play fast, and defend. Playing the game with intensity on both sides of the ball puts us in a rhythm, and our offense is based on rhythm.”
The Hawks of University High enter the week as the fourth seed in the Class AAAA bracket after defeating defending state champion Wheeling Park 65-35 in the Region I co-finals.
UHS is making its first appearance at the state tournament since 2020 and will meet fifth-seeded St. Albans in the nightcap on Wednesday at 9:00 p.m.
Senior Hannah Stemple leads The Hawks on offense with 14.4 points a game. Junior Bri Fox joins her with 13.4 points and 3.7 assists per contest. Senior Lexi Simpson contributes 10.8 points and leads the team with 8.4 rebounds a game.
St. Albans also ends a state tournament drought, qualifying for the first time since 2017. Senior duo Jaycee Elzy and Samyah Riggan lead the Red Dragons. Elzy is averaging 19.3 points and seven rebounds per game, with Riggan adding 14.1 points.
“They (St. Albans) are an excellent team,” UHS head coach Nick Lusk said. “They give great effort and will defend for the entire game and we have to be ready to match that effort. We must stay locked in defensively and rebound the basketball at a high level. Then, offensively, sharing the ball is when we are at our best.”
Winners of Wednesday’s quarterfinals will advance to play in the Class AAAA semifinals on Friday in Charleston.
