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CHARLESTON -- Action from the girls' state basketball tournaments is almost underway from the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, and one contest in the Class A side of things pits two teams against each other in a big 3-6 matchup.
When No. 3 Gilmer County meets No. 6 Wheeling Central Catholic at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, both teams are laying everything on the line.
Gilmer County (20-5) makes its way back to the capitol after defeating Moorefield 75-48 in the regional co-final. In the win, Grace Wellings buried five triples en route to her 21-point night. Trinity Bancroft scored a game-high 23 in the victory, as her inside game thwarted any attempt of a Moorefield comeback. Those two aren't the only ones who can score. Depth helps GCHS in a matchup where its opponent has marquee playmakers, as well. That depth is something head coach Amy Chapman uses to her advantage.
"That is just part of our team this year. Different kids on different nights will step up and have big nights," she said. "If someone is trying to take Trinity, someone like Grace steps in, and it just goes throughout the team. Malaysia and Haley will come off the bench and do well. We do a nice job of distributing the offense, and everyone does a great job settling into their roles."
While this Gilmer County group is largely new to the bright coliseum lights, Wheeling Central Catholic (14-11) returns a pair of girls from its 2018 title run. Hannah White and Kaylee Reinbeau return, and they also come in having led the Maroon Knights in scoring. In the team's 74-42 win in the Section I championship over Ritchie County, White paced everyone with 33 points. Both players battled through injuries and had missed time, but they are now prepared for the business trip down in Charleston.
Now, the previously banged up Knights are hoping they are healthy at the right time. Other players have contributed in the absence of key contributors, and that experience could pay dividends in this matchup.
"Kaylee Reinbeau came back a little bit early. Initially, she was going to be out four to six weeks, which was almost everything when she hurt it, so to have her come back was a big boost," WCC head coach Penn Kurtz said.
"And then Amiah McKenna we got back right before the OVACs for Shadyside and in the championship game. Hannah (White's) hips started to respond to therapy, and that has started showing up the last few games. Just getting everybody healthy was a big step. Injuries might have helped us a little bit, because we had to play those young freshmen. They had to grow up, and some other players like Marissa Horan stepped up big time for us. Tristan Wright just kind of said, 'Hey, whatever it takes.'"
A team like Wheeling Central is no stranger to bonus basketball, as Kurtz and company are there for the 25th time in the last 28 years. In regard to who the Knights will look to lock down, Kurtz says Gilmer County has plenty of options.
"They are balanced. Typically, you can go into a game and focus on stopping one or two players, and with them they can all score. So, if you try and focus on one player the other ones will hurt you. The other thing, is they get up and down the floor pretty quickly, and we have not done a good job of stopping transition all year. It will be interesting to see how we do with that."
On the other end, Chapman says her girls have to work together to stop Reinbeau. The Knight senior is averaging a double-double at 19.2 points and 12.7 rebounds per game.
"Grace has been playing really well for us this year. I know she is little, but she plays very strong. She has been more active defensively and doing a nice job on the boards at getting after it and getting in position. I think Grace will be fine. It is going to be a challenge for her obviously, but Grace has a great mindset. And the other ones in Haley Gibson and Malaysia Morgan are coming along too and playing hard defense and accepting challenges."
Contact Josh Hughes at jhughes@newsandsentinel.com