MaxPreps 2013-14 West Virginia preseason girls basketball Fab 5

By Joseph Santoliquito Nov 22, 2013, 12:00am

St. Joseph Central is our pick as the top girls basketball team in West Virginia this season. Also watch out for Logan, Parkersburg South, Spring Valley and Morgantown.

Graphic by Bryce Escobar

MaxPreps 2013-14 West Virginia Girls Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard

Click here to see the girls basketball preseason Fab 5 from every state

1. St. Joseph Central (Huntington)
Head coach: Shannon Lewis
2012-13 finish: 25-1, won 1A state title for fifth-straight year

The Fighting Irish, the sister school of national boys powerhouse Huntington Prep, have a five-year in-state winning streak and return the best player in West Virginia in Notre Dame-bound Mychal Johnson (5-8, Sr., G), who averaged 21.7 points per game last year. UNC Charlotte commit Griffin Dempsey (5-6, Sr., G), who averaged 18 points, Asia Petitte (5-10, Sr., F), who averaged 11.7 points, Rachel Lee (5-8, Sr., F) and Mychal's little sister Mychelle Johnson (5-6, So., G) also return. “I think this will be the best team we’ve ever had — but whether we go 25-1 is another thing, because our schedule is tougher,” coach Shannon Lewis said.
 
2. Logan
Head coach: Kevin Gertz
2012-13 finish: 17-10, 3A state runnerup to Parkersburg South
 
The Wildcats return three starters, led by Marshall commit Shayna Gore (6-0, Jr., G), who averaged 21 points per game, Monica Mitchell (6-2, So., C), who averaged 15 points and 16.5 rebounds, and Kyra Cline (5-7, Jr., G). Adding depth is Hannah Kolovich (5-7, Sr., F) and Summer Collins (5-5, Jr., G). Lexi Hines (5-8, Fr., G) shows great promise. Gore could arguably be the best 3A player in the state. Coach Kevin Gertz is excited about this season. He should be. He built the program into a state-level competitor. “For our school, without a doubt, this is the best team we’ve ever had — on paper,” Gertz said. “We’ve never had a strong girls’ basketball program. We’re starting to catch up to the rest of the state. I’m really looking forward to the season.”
 
3. Parkersburg South
Head coach: Scott Stevens
2012-13 finish: 20-7, won the 3A state championship over Logan
 
The Patriots were very young last year. At one time during the state title game, they had four freshmen and a sophomore on the court. Keya Bartlett (5-4, Jr., G) is a deadly 3-point threat, whose accuracy led to tying a single-game state tournament record seven 3-pointers and broke a state tourney record by making 14. Heady point guard Taryn McClutcheon (5-5, So., G) will quarterback the offense. Anna Hayton (6-2, So., C) is a formidable inside presence. She snared 11 rebounds as a freshman in the state semifinal victory over Morgantown.
 
4. Spring Valley (Huntington)
Head coach: Bo Miller
2012-13 finish: 23-4, lost to Logan in semifinals
 
Marshall commit Madison Morris (6-1, Jr., F), who averaged 16 points per game, is back, along with Brooke Heck (5-10, Jr., G), Sarah Kelly (5-10, Jr., G), Jordan Ratcliff (6-0, Jr., C) and Kassidy Lemons (5-9, Jr., G). “We were young last year and it would be a disappointment if we don’t get as far as we did last year,” Spring Valley coach Bo Miller said. “We expect big things from this group. They’ve gotten a lot stronger and they’re really hungry.”
 
5. Morgantown
Head coach: Jason White
2012-13 finish: 20-6, lost to eventual state champion South in semifinals
 
Jason White takes over as head coach, with some returning talent that includes Olivia Seggie (5-3, Jr., G), Katie Ferrebee (5-8, Sr., G), Brie Guliani (5-10, Jr., F), Maria Williams (5-8, Sr., G) and Sydney Holloway (5-10, So., C). “We’re looking to win a sectional championship, and a regional, and we have a challenging schedule that will prepare us,” White said. “We would like to be one of those in the mix come March.”