Girls Basketball Preview 2023

Paden City Turning To New Chapter In ‘Learning Year’

PADEN CITY – Coming off a 7-14 campaign last year, Paden City’s girls’ basketball team will have to go it without their top scoring threat for 2023, due to graduation, as well as dealing with youth as the Lady Wildcats do not have a senior player on the roster. Coach Josh Fulks watched 20-plus point per game scorer McKenzie Thomas pick up her diploma last Spring, however, Paden City will have four returning starters set to hit the floor this season. Leading the way will be juniors Kimberley Burch (5-5) at power forward and Lexi Mathis (5-3) at shooting guard. Sophomores Ashton ...

Ferry Tackling D-II With Retained Nucleus, Exciting Freshmen

MARTINS FERRY – Martins Ferry finished 15-8 last year, returns all but one player that saw extended action and has a fantastic freshmen class. However, the Purple Riders have moved Division III to Division II. “We have a really good nucleus coming back. We might be the most talented bunch I’ve had, but I don’t know if we’re the best team I’ve had,” veteran head Dave Reasbeck said. “We don’t have what you would call a ‘rim-protector,’ but we a lot of girls are 5-8, 5-9, 5-10 that can run and jump. They have good basketball builds.” While Reasbeck has five ...

Magnolia’s Experienced Roster Stepping Into Different Roles

NEW MARTINSVILLE – Magnolia girls’ basketball coach Kasey Sapp welcomes back only one starter from last season, however, Sapp will have a core group that features three seniors and a junior. Junior Sienna McKeever (5-10, guard) is the Blue Eagles’ only returning starter but will be joined by seniors Maleigha Tamborello (5-5, guard), Madeline Delaney (5-9, forward) and Gracie Keene (5-2, guard). A trio of other girls who are back from last year could also see starting time in sophomores Josy Nice (5-7, forward), Aubrey Warder (5-11, forward) and Gabby Hudson (5-6, guard). The ...

Bellaire Bringing a Lot Back For Season With Heightened Expectations

BELLAIRE – When it comes to veteran experience, the Bellaire girls basketball team will have plenty of it. “Last year, we finished up the regular season 12-10. We bring back five girls that all have started at least 20 games in their careers. So we are very experienced. We lack size but hope to overcome that with our experience and athleticism,” Big Reds coach John Farrier said. The lone starter not returning to the roster this year is Lizzie McAninch. But she won’t be too far from the court as she will help coach at the Middle School level. Junior Zara Harveth returns ...

St. Clairsville Enters Year With Young But Athletic Group

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — St. Clairsville girls’ basketball coach Stacey Agnew watched a bulk of last year’s roster collect their diplomas, leaving a lot of positions up for grabs this season with a young roster. Gone from last year’s 7-15 squad include first team all-district standout Megan Malin, along with Katlyn Gray, Jocelyhnn Zucco, Madison Sadler and Lacy Tuttle. “They worked hard,” Agnew said of last year’s seniors. “We probably lost 80 percent of our scoring and rebounding so we’ll be rebuilding a little bit to start this season.” Despite the loss of some key ...

Bruins Experiencing Turnover For 2023-24 Season With Tough Slate

WELLSBURG—There will be plenty of fresh faces in the girls lineup for the Brooke Bruins in 2023, similar to the boys’ team. But unlike the boys, who are presently dealing with a rash of injuries, the girls’ roster changes are because of graduation losses which saw four starters depart. Gone are seasoned post players Ava Bolen and Bailey Serevicz, along with guards Angelina Lippoli and Michela Villa. Brooke entered 2022-23 with a number of returners back and finished an even .500 against a daunting schedule. The Bruins won only 12 games, but were competitive in nearly all of ...

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