MaxPreps 2013-14 West Virginia preseason girls basketball Fab 5

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.”