When it comes to being part of a dynasty, there's no question it happens in West Virginia prep girls basketball.
One has to look no further than the success of Summers County, which won five straight Class AA crowns from 2007-11.
Unfortunately for our talented area Class A girls hoops programs, the current dynasty is Huntington St. Joseph.
The Irish are once against the favorite, at least according to the preseason poll conducted by state coaches, to hoist the single-A banner come March for a fifth straight time.
Fans at last weekend's Donnie Fenton Shootout in Williamstown had the opportunity to watch preseason No. 1 St. Joe and No. 2 Wheeling Central in the semifinals. It was a rematch of last year's state title.
Although the Williamstown girls of head coach Fred Sauro lost to Scott and didn't get a chance to face the Irish, the Yellowjackets did have a classic battle with Wheeling Central in the consolation affair.
Having known coach Sauro for quite a while, I know he's never a fan of losing and coming out on the short end of anything.
However, when I was talking with him after the Wheeling Central setback, he did note "that's an 0-2 I'll take."
I've thought about that quote a good deal in the past few days, but the more I ponder it, the more I realize he has a pretty good point. Williamstown, which was No. 5 in the preseason poll, came in behind No. 4 Parkersburg Catholic and No. 3 St. Marys.
Even though the 'Jackets failed to win a game at their own tournament, coach Sauro understands there are so-called bigger fish to fry as the season goes along.
Sure, it's obvious the WHS coaching staff and girls wanted to win and played to win. But as is the case in basketball, boys or girls, nothing matters until tournament time. It just so happens Howard Meeks' Blue Devils and Marty Vierheller's Crusaderettes could be sectional-tournament obstacles standing in the way of Williamstown and what it hopes to achieve on the hardwood.
Obviously, it should be a great atmosphere come Friday night when Williamstown heads to Pleasants County to take on St. Marys in the first of two Little Kanawha Conference North Division showdowns. I've watched both teams in the early going and it should be an interesting contest to say the least.
Yes, this is a different year for coach Sauro and his team as Liz Flowers is no longer on the floor, but it will be fun to watch how this season unfolds. WHS already won a state track title this calendar year and proved they were the best volleyball team in the state.
Now, the question is whether or not they can complete the trifecta.
Since the state volleyball tournament went to three classes back in 2002, only two programs have managed state titles for girls hoops and basketball during the same season - Summers County in 2010 and Winfield in 2006.
Although WHS isn't a favorite to add its name to that list, I'm not counting them out.
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com
