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Williamstown High School girls eye repeat at Fenton Shootout

Williamstown’s Sam Dedrick guards Tyler Consolidated’s Josey Jones during the 2016-17 regular season opener for both teams. (Photo by Steve Hemmelgarn)

WILLIAMSTOWN — The 22nd annual Donnie Fenton Shootout, set to get underway at 6 p.m. today with the first semifinal between Wheeling Central and Clay County, has plenty of firepower in it once again.

Veteran Williamstown head coach Fred Sauro’s Yellowjackets will play the late semifinal against Poca, which will tip around 7:30 p.m.

A year ago, the Yellowjackets topped the Maroon Knights, 65-56, to win the Donnie Fenton Shootout title for the fifth time in school history.

Williamstown, which carries a No. 4 preseason Class A ranking, has played just once this season — an easy 86-45 victory against Tyler Consolidated. All-state point guard Ashley Morris led the way with 19 markers, but the ‘Jackets got plenty of support in the scoring column. Sauro’s deep squad also had double figure scoring efforts from Bethany Wager (15), Samantha Dedrick (12) and Jenna Pridemore (11).

“I got an opportunity to see Poca. They are quick, strong and can shoot the 3,” Sauro said of the Dots, who received votes in the preseason Class AA poll who are 2-1 on the season with wins against Point Pleasant and Nitro along with a loss to Winfield.

“Kenny Sayre, their coach, has done an outstanding job with that team. We will have our hands full, but that’s what we want in this venue.”

The Panthers, who were tied for 11th in the double-A preseason poll and face the No. 8 Class A Maroon Knights, won their opener with a 92-30 blowout of visiting Doddridge County. Clay County was led in the opener by senior Sarah Boggs’ 17-point effort. However, the Panthers also got plenty of scoring from elsewhere thanks to Erica Boggs (15), Kacey Butcher (12), Kaleigh Brown (11) and Makayla Horrocks (10).

Wheeling Central head coach Penn Kurtz’ Maroon Knights trailed 32-28 at home in their opener on Wednesday against Magnolia, but exploded for a 27-9 posting in the third quarter en route to a 72-52 blowout win versus the Blue Eagles. Junior Taylor Duplaga led the victors with 19 points. Kaitlyn Ferns pitched in 11 points, Eden Gainer had 10 and Riley Blaha contributed nine markers. Riley Bennington, who had an off-night shooting but is always a threat, added six counters.

“The shootout is more of a barometer or indicator of what we need to do to get better,” Sauro added. “You never know what you have to work on unless you play really good teams.

“I’ve said this many times before, but in this shootout for the last 21 years there have been at least two teams that have come in here and left with two losses for the weekend and in March those teams won the state championship. This speaks to the quality of the opposition that has been in here. We are looking forward to it.”

The consolation game between Friday’s semifinal losers will tip at 1 p.m. Saturday with the championship game to follow.

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