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Ravenswood’s Isaiah Morgan named Class A first team all-state captain

Photo by Jay W. Bennett Ravenswood’s Isaiah Morgan, the state of West Virginia’s all-time career free throw percentage leader, shoots a foul shot during Friday’s Class A state semifinal against Tug Valley at the Charleston Civic Center.

RAVENSWOOD — You always hear coaches say “I want the ball in (star player’s) hands when the game is on line.”

If that star player is Ravenswood’s Isaiah Morgan, you are better off taking your chances letting him shoot from the field instead of the free-throw line. And even that likely won’t matter.

This season, Morgan went an impressive 190 of 202 at the free-throw line, bringing his career total to (441-for-479, 92.1 percent – a state record for a career, according to Ravenswood coach Mick Price).

Add in his 25 points per game, 8.3 rebounds and taking the Red Devils to the Class A state championship for the second straight season, you have one of the most complete players any coach could ask for.

After another fantastic season, Morgan was named captain of the Class A boys basketball first team, as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.

“What a career he has had here,” Price said. “He has made us a pretty good basketball team, but more importantly, is just a great kid and very deserving of this award.”

Last season, Morgan was captain of the second team and makes the jump up after helping rewrite the Ravenswood record books.

He shot 59 percent from the field and his 1,842 points are second in school history behind Dusty Mullins.

“He works so hard and his work ethic, all the kids see it,” Price said. “He is not a big talker, but you can follow him with the way he plays. He is a tireless worker and that is what makes him special. He is going to West Virginia Tech and will be the perfect college player. A 4.0 student, never made a B in his life.”

Joining him on the first team is teammate Stephen Dawson.

Dawson scored 14.5 points (52 percent from the field) with 8.3 rebounds.

“This is quite a tribute to our program,” Price said. “Stephen is a hard worker. He is 6-foot-4 and can play inside and outside and that is one of the reasons we have been so successful. Very versatile. He can take you off the dribble or can step out and shoot a 3. A tough matchup for teams.”

Unfortunately for Ravenswood, it was unable to capture the state championship.

That trophy belongs to Wheeling Central and the Maroon Knights are well-represented on the first team.

Making the squad from the Class A champs are Brent Price and Owen Gainer.

“They are deserving as anyone could be,” Wheeling Central coach Mel Stephens said. “They have been our leaders all year. Other teams knew that and they were still able to do what they needed to do. You could tell in their eyes when they got to Charleston that they were really focused on winning a championship.”

Gainer led the Maroon Knights with 20 points per game and three assists. He was always there with the big shot and hit 91 3-pointers.

“He got so much better from a confidence standpoint,” Stephens said of Gainer. “He put in the work over the summer and I think that helped him realize how good he could be. He got stronger and worked on his game continuously. There were plenty of nights I was leaving the gym and he said his dad was coming later and asked if he could stay and shoot.”

Price brought crowds to their feet with his electrifying dunks. But he was more than that. He could drive to the basket, pull up and shoot a jumper or dish off to a teammate.

His motor was still going in the final 15 seconds of a game as it was the first, no matter the score.

He scored 19.5 points, with five rebounds, seven assists, while totaling 61 steals and 22 blocks.

“To see how much he has grown maturity wise since his sophomore season is unbelievable,” Stephens said. “We told him back then that he had to work on his outside shot. People can take away your ability to drive. Now he is right up there with Owen on shooting percentage.

“His court vision and court sense is second to none. He averaged seven assists and a lot of nights had double-digits. He is an incredible talent.”

Rounding out the first team is Cade Ullman of Parkersburg Catholic (26 ppg, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.7 steals, 103 3-pointers, 87 percent free-throw shooter), Tug Valley’s Tyler May (19.5 ppg, 5 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 61 blocks), Greater Beckley Christian’s Jay Moore (22.5 ppg) and Notre Dame’s Gabe Zummo (22 ppg).

Van senior Taylor Jarrell captains the second team and is joined by seniors Spencer Dean and Nick Gipson of Valley Fayette, Joseph Zini of Trinity Christian, Noah Minor of Midland Trail and Mason Layne of Tug Valley, along with juniors Grffin Phillips of Tyler Consolidated and Robby Williams of Charleston Catholic.

Junior Noah Midkiff of Greenbrier West captains the third team. Other third teamers are Cameron’s Robert Milliken, Webster County’s Tyler Gray, Tug Valley’s Jonathan Blankenship, Greater Beckley Christian’s Chance Potter, Williamstown’s Cullen Cutright, Paw Paw’s Landon Ridgeway and Magnolia’s Leo Herrick.

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West Virginia Boys All-State Teams

Class A, First Team

Isaiah Morgan, Ravenswood, Sr. (Captain)

Cade Ullman, Parkersburg Catholic, Jr.

Brent Price, Wheeling Central, Sr.

Tyler May, Tug Valley, Sr.

Jay Moore, Greater Beckley Christian, Jr.

Owen Gainer, Wheeling Central, Sr.

Gabe Zummo, Notre Dame, Jr.

Stephen Dawson, Ravenswood, Sr.

Second Team

Taylor Jarrell, Van, Sr. (Captain)

Spencer Dean, Valley-Fayette, Sr.

Nick Gipson, Valley-Fayette, Sr.

Joseph Zini, Trinity, Sr.

Noah Minor, Midland Trail, Sr.

Griffin Phillips, Tyler Consolidated, Jr.

Mason Layne, Tug Valley, Sr.

Robby Williams, Charleston Catholic, Jr.

Third Team

Noah Midkiff, Greenbrier West, Jr. (Captain)

Robert Milliken, Cameron, Sr.

Tyler Gray, Webster County, Jr.

Jonathan Blankenship, Tug Valley, Sr.

Chance Potter, Greater Beckley Christian, Jr.

Cullen Cutright, Williamstown, Jr.

Landon Ridgeway, Paw Paw, Sr.

Leo Herrick, Magnolia, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Corrick Ambrose, Tucker County; Brent Barnette, South Harrison; Devon Brooks, Montcalm; Colby Brown, Cameron; Gunner Brummage, Clay-Battelle; Trenton Burdette, Wirt County; Malachi Cade, Harman; Patrick Copen, Parkersburg Catholic; Levi Davis, Tug Valley; Logan Dilly, Pocahontas County; Chase Dunaway, Doddridge County; DeMoni Edwards, Mt. View; Jared Fagan, Notre Dame; Adam Falbo, Valley Fayette; Nick Fenstermacher, South Harrison; Logan George, Tygarts Valley; Jared Gladwell, Meadow Bridge; Todd Griffith, Notre Dame; Aaric Gross, Mt. View; Garret Haggerty, Moorefield; Nathan Hanshew, Midland Trail; Jacob Holliday, Richwood; Garrick Hopkins, St. Joseph; Eli Inman, Williamstown; Evan Lamp, St. Marys; Tanner Lett, Doddridge County; Noah Litchfield, Wahama; Cody Lowther, Webster County; Eric Maloskey, Sherman; Tyler Morlachetta, Buffalo; Collin O’Dell, Greenbrier West; Riley O’Dell, Greenbrier West; Bray Price, Wheeling Central; Trenton Reed, Union; Dylan Roberts, Tyler Consolidated; Jayden Rhodes, Ravenswood; Andrew Richmond, Summers County; Anthony Robbins, Wheeling Central; Matt Saxon, Paden City; Trey Scott, Cameron; Tony Sellitti, Madonna; Brett Smith, Tygarts Valley; Gavin Smith, Van; Wes Snyder, Tucker County; Levi Streets, Valley Wetzel; Chase Sullivan, Ritchie County; Cole Taylor, Webster County; Brett Tharp, East Hardy; Luke Vass, Fayetteville; Tyler West, Tyler Consolidated; Briar Wilfong, Pocahontas County; Daniel Woods, Trinity

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