MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A delayed and compressed high school basketball season is set to begin within just a few weeks. After twice delaying the start of winter sports seasons, Governor Jim Justice has announced that teams can begin official preseason practice on February 15. Girls basketball teams open regular season play on March 3 and boys teams can begin on March 5.
Postseason basketball dates:
- Girls sectionals – April 12-17
- Girls regionals – April 20-22
- Girls state tournament – April 27-May 1
- Boys sectionals – April 19-24
- Boys regionals – April 27-29
- Boys state tournament – May 4-8
New postseason setup with Class AAAA added to the mix
In the first season of a two-year trial period, a new fourth class has been added for both boys and girls competitions. State tournaments will swell from 42 games in the span of 11 days to 56 games in 12 days. Here’s a look at some of the most challenging regions in each class: (Full tournament alignments can be viewed here):
- Boys Class AAAA – Region 1 (Morgantown, Wheeling Park and University are annual state tournament contenders. Bridgeport has entered the region as well after moving all the way up from Class AA).
- Boys Class AAA – Region 2 (State tournament fixtures Fairmont Senior, Robert C. Byrd and Notre Dame are now grouped together after the Irish opted to play ‘up’).
- Boys Class AA – Region 1 (Williamstown returns key players from a 24-win team. Magnolia, Parkersburg Catholic and St. Marys have each qualified for the state tournament in the past two seasons).
- Boys Class A – Region 4 (Man won 17 games in Class AA last season and Tug Valley returns the bulk of their roster from a regional championship team).
- Girls Class AAAA – Region 3 (George Washington welcomes back State Player of the Year Kalissa Lacy. Woodrow Wilson advanced to the state semifinals and South Charleston went 17-7 last winter).
- Girls Class AAA – Region 4 (In a region heavily influenced by Cardinal Conference teams, Nitro, Wayne and Winfield combined for 61 victories last winter).
- Girls Class AA – Region 1 (Parkersburg Catholic is coming off an unbeaten season. Magnolia, St. Marys and Williamstown are traditionally strong programs).
- Girls Class A – Region 4 (Gilmer County advanced to the Class A semifinals last winter and Tug Valley won 17 games).
Coming off 20-win seasons
Over two dozen teams statewide reached or surpassed the 20-win mark last winter. That plateau will be much more difficult to reach this spring with many teams playing much shorter regular seasons.
Boys 20-win teams:
- University (22-3)
- Morgantown (20-5)
- Martinsburg (21-3)
- Hedgesville (20-5)
- Shady Spring (23-1)
- Cabell Midland (21-4)
- Robert C. Byrd (22-2)
- Chapmanville (22-2)
- Bluefield (21-3)
- Frankfort (20-4)
- Poca (21-3)
- Greater Beckley Christian (20-4)
- Williamstown (24-1)
- Pendleton County (23-0)
Girls 20-win teams:
- Wheeling Park (21-4)
- Frankfort (23-2)
- North Marion (25-1)
- Greenbrier East (21-4)
- Parkersburg (20-5)
- Woodrow Wilson (20-5)
- Winfield (24-2)
- Fairmont Senior (20-6)
- Parkersburg Catholic (26-0)
- Huntington St. Joseph’s (23-1)
- Pocahontas County (21-4)
- Gilmer County (21-5)
In-season tournaments still on
Despite the late start to the season, some traditional midseason tournaments will still be held, but on different dates. Most notably:
- West Virginia State University is scheduled to host their annual tournament, previously known as the Little General Shootout, March 15-17. Over two dozen games are traditionally played in the event.
- The New River CTC Invitational is set to be played at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center from March 31-April 3.
- The annual West Virginia Hometown Invitational Tournament (WVHIT) will begin play on March 9. The final games of the tourney will be hosted at South Harrison High School in Lost Creek on April 9-10.
Class of 2021 signees
While several more student-athletes will sign with college programs in the spring, some seniors in the Class of 2021 have already put pen to paper on letters of intent during the fall signing period.
- Kaitlyn Ammons (Morgantown) – DePaul University
- Autumn Lewis (Cabell Midland) – Alderson Broaddus University
- Kalissa Lacy (George Washington) – Morehead State University
- Skylar Davidson (Wyoming East) – Glenville State College
- Taylor Isaac (Summers County) – Alderson Broaddus University
- Alana Eves (Wayne) – Alderson Broaddus University
- Aiden Satterfield (Charleston Catholic) – West Liberty University
- Zion Suddeth (Charleston Catholic) – Wheeling University
- D.J. Saunders (Wheeling Park) – Wheeling University
New leaders on the sidelines
A handful of new coaches will be taking over teams that are coming off successful seasons as of late.
- D.J. Williams (Winfield girls) – Williams takes over for Kelsey Spang after the Generals won 24 games and advanced to the Class AA semifinals last March.
- Tracy Raban (PikeView girls) – A former All-American at Glenville State, Raban takes over after the retirement of veteran coach Karen Miller. PikeView advanced to the Class AA semifinals in Miller’s final season.
- Steve Harbert (North Marion boys) – Veteran NMHS assistant coach Steve Harbert steps in for Chris Freeman. The Huskies advanced to the regional round and won 18 games last winter.
- Mike Fallon (Parkersburg South boys) – After one season away, Fallon is back leading the Patriots. Brett Rector has rejoined the staff at the University of Charleston.
- Daniel Collie (Parkersburg Catholic boys) – After leading the Crusaders to the Class A state final in 2019, Rob Strcula resigned last spring. Former PCHS player Daniel Collie has returned to lead the Crusaders.