Parkersburg’s Lauren Flanagan (1) and Kennedy Porter hug after winning the Class AAAA state championship earlier this month in Charleston. (Photo by Jordan Holland)

PARKERSBURG — Even though the 2025-26 basketball season is over, the state champion Parkersburg girls are still enjoying the ride.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” said PHS head coach Chris Murray, who has been selected to coach the West Virginia team in Friday’s Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis All-Star Classic. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.

“I wish we could do this every year. It’s been the greatest time ever. Right now, we’re on like a mini Mid-Ohio Valley tour of going to city councils and board of education meetings. Been getting some free meals. It’s been legit. The community has been awesome.”

State tournament MVP Kennedy Porter and four of her classmates will get to play for Murray one last time Friday. Lauren Flanagan, Lucie Cline, Eden DeBord and Kenslee LeMaster all will be in action.

“They’ve just been the best kids,” Murray said. “When we got them as freshmen, we had a feeling it was going to be a special group. To see them succeed is great. There are so many teams who come through at the high school level who never reach that potential. For us to accomplish it shows how hard they’ve worked.”

Murray previously coached in the BACF game on the Ohio boys side in 2010 when he was in charge at Federal Hocking. He was an assistant under Amy Way at Warren from 2011 to 2014, became the Belpre girls head coach from 2014 to 2021 before getting hired at PHS.

“It’s an awesome honor to coach in this game,” Murray said. “I’m excited to coach my seniors one last time. I think this area has tremendous talent. It’s great to not only get to showcase that, but to use the game of basketball to benefit a good cause and have some good outreach.”

Also suiting up for the Mountain State will be Emilee Owens and Tae Richards, who helped lead Parkersburg South to the state championship game.

“Having Emilee and Tae from South on the team is cool,” Murray said. “We’ve competed against them for four years. There’s a mutual respect there.”

Another player Murray is excited to coach is Williamstown’s Arissa Burt, a first team all-stater.

“I like watching her play,” he said. “I’ve seen her from her freshman year to her senior year from summer and fall leagues. I’ve seen the way she’s improved her game. She used to just be back-to-the-basket. Now, she can step out and shoot. She’s really stepped up her game.”

Payton Trent from Doddridge County impressed Murray in Monday’s practice session.

“She’s shooting like 41-footers,” Murray laughed.

Parkersburg Catholic’s Macy Singer and Williamstown’s Anna Cosner round out West Virginia’s roster.

“We should have some shooters and be able to get out and run our lanes,” Murray said. “The goal is to pitch the ball up and get high scoring opportunities. The more we can push it and get it in transition, the better we’re going to be. I think that’s the most enjoyable style to play. I just want to let it rip. It’s our goal to win this game. We’re coming out here to compete at a high level.

“I appreciate Bill Camp for considering me for this. I’m grateful for the opportunity and I’m grateful to do it with this group.”

WEST VIRGINIA BOYS

For the third time in his career, Mike Fallon will be coaching the West Virginia boys.

Fallon is fresh off guiding the Parkersburg South Patriots to another state tournament berth. He’ll get the chance to coach two of his own one last time as Taj Joyce and Chase Offenberger will be suiting up for the Mountain State.

“They’ve both been around since second, third, fourth grade growing up with Cam (Fallon),” Fallon said. “It’s been awesome seeing those guys grow over the years. Taj this last half of the year was unbelievable. He averaged around 30 points a game the last six games of the season. Chase has always been dependable. He plays hard and does all the little things that nobody notices but us. Any time you get to coach those kids, it’s a great opportunity.”

Fallon will lead a West Virginia squad that has a 14-8 advantage over Ohio in the all-time series.

“It’s an honor to coach in this game,” Fallon said. “Bill Camp does a good job with it and takes a lot of pride in it. It gives local kids the opportunity to learn about cystic fibrosis and help find a cure. That’s the reason for the game.”

Fallon is familiar with most of the West Virginia players on this year’s roster. He’s looking forward specifically to coaching Jerin Westfall from Buckhannon-Upshur.

“We’ve played against him for years in the offseason,” Fallon said. “He’s probably going to be an all-stater. I’m really looking forward to coaching him.”

The BACF game is almost always fast-paced. Last year, Ohio won by a final score of 169-130, the highest-scoring game in the history of the series. The fast tempo perfectly suits a Fallon-led squad.

“We like to play up and down at South,” he said. “We press and run. The kids want to do it. It gives you a lot of freedom and it’s a fun style to play.”

Fallon will have a talented collection of players in his arsenal. Matthew Stellato and Blake Justice (Ripley), Landon Thomas and Jaden Solomon (Doddridge), and Preston Randolph, Leonardo DeAngelo and Luke Anderson (Parkersburg Catholic) all helped lead their programs to the state tournament.

Anderson and Solomon give West Virginia some size inside, as will Ritchie County’s Isaac Hodges. Hodges, who helped guide the Rebels to a state tournament berth, putting up 32 points and 16 rebounds in a state quarterfinal loss.

Tyler Consolidated’s Cole Lemasters, Riverside’s Isaiah Coles and Cabell Midland’s Samuel Phillips round out West Virginia’s roster.

Fallon has a 244-124 record in 25 seasons at the helm for PSHS. This year, the Patriots made it to the Class AAAA state quarterfinals before falling to Washington.

“I’m almost back to normal,” Fallon laughed. “Anytime you lose like that, it sticks with you. “The more I go back, the injury to Matthew Mullen was bigger than I anticipated, but I thought other kids stepped in and did a great job.”

Fallon is hoping some West Virginia kids will step up in crunch time Friday night.

“Early in the game it kind of goes back and forth, but as the end starts to get close, that competitive spirit kicks in,” he said. “The opportunity to get the chance to coach in this game is always a good thing. As coaches, we should give back more. This game is an opportunity to give back to the community.”

OHIO GIRLS

Heath Saliba’s Caldwell Redskins won 19 games and were district runners-up this winter.

Saliba’s quad was powered by five seniors who helped the program reach new heights. Two of those seniors will play for Saliba one last time Friday.

Saliba was selected to coach the Ohio girls squad, while Laynie Sidwell and Lexi Franklin accepted invitations to play.

“I feel very privileged to coach this team,” Saliba said. “It’s for a great cause. It’s going to be fun to get out there with my girls again and some other girls from the area. I feel like our area, West Virginia and Ohio, has such an excellent group of girls basketball players right now.”

After going just 7-15 a year ago, Caldwell increased its win total by 12 this season.

“It was a very special year,” Saliba reflected. “We had a great season. Being able to go out there again with Laynie and Lexi will be fun. Lexi is a girl who has so much perseverance. She has dealt with so much adversity over the past four years. Coming back after a second ACL tear last year, she never gave up and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Her goal was to play her whole senior year, and she exceeded her expectations. I’ve never met anybody as tough as she is.

“Laynie plays with so much toughness as well. Her defense is what got us so far this season. She was incredible defensively this year. To go out as seniors and have such a good senior year meant a lot to me and our community.”

The Ohio girls are coming off an 84-73 win over West Virginia in 2025. The all-time series is tied at 11-all. Saliba knows what the Buckeye State is up against with this year’s West Virginia squad.

“We’ll have our hands full, but we’ve got some good Ohio girls,” Saliba said.

From Fairland’s Final Four team, a pair of second team All-Ohioans in Bailey Russell and Addison Godby will help aid the Ohio cause.

Federal Hocking’s Elite Eight team will be represented by Rorie Tabler and Takira Walker. Belpre’s Chey Parsons and Southern’s Kiersten Rose will also rep the TVC.

Hayleigh Chidester gives the Marietta Tigers some representation.

“She had an excellent career at Marietta,” Saliba said.

Two Trimble Tomcats in Rilynn Foutts and Kenzie Eing will suit up for the Buckeye State, and rounding out the Ohio roster will be Buckeye Trail’s Josey Rome.

Rome, born with TAR Syndrome, scored 12.3 points per game for the Warriors and shot 30% from the 3-point line.

“Her story is pretty special,” Saliba said. “We played them this season and she really impressed me. I’m excited she’s on the team.”

At Caldwell, Saliba has implemented an uptempo brand of basketball. She plans on sticking to that on Friday.

“That’s my strategy in any game,” she said. “I like to push the ball up the floor. Get out and go. That’s basketball. We’re going to run up and down the floor and let the girls have some fun. I’m sure a lot of the girls on both sides know each other and have played against each other. Of course it’s always competitive and everybody wants to win, but it’s mainly for a good cause and getting the girls on the floor one more time.”

Saliba and Murray have some coaching tree ties. Saliba used to be an assistant at Warren under head coach Amy Way. Way was an assistant under Murray at Parkersburg this season and will assist him Friday.

“Amy and I are good friends,” Saliba said. “Chris is an excellent coach. I’m just honored to be a part of it.”

OHIO BOYS

Though Southern head coach Jeff Caldwell is a first-time coach in the Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis All-Star Classic, he’s no stranger to the event itself.

“I’ve been coming to the game for quite a few years,” said Caldwell, who guided the Tornadoes to their first district championship in 17 years this season. “We’ve had players in it in the past. I think it’s a special event. It’s done really well. Bill Camp does a great job. It’s for a great cause. I never envisioned the chance to coach in such a great event. It’s an honor to be asked to coach, and it’s exciting knowing it’s based on our team’s accomplishments.”

Caldwell just completed his 19th season as Southern’s head coach after being in the same role at Beaver Eastern for nine years prior.

This year’s Southern squad was the undefeated champion of the TVC Hocking. The Tornadoes defeated Notre Dame 45-37 in the district final before bowing out to Malvern 58-56 in the Sweet 16.

“It was so much fun,” Caldwell said. “The community really got behind this team. It’s something that hadn’t happened here in many, many years. The guys brought an exciting brand of basketball. It was a great season that we didn’t want to end. I think they brought basketball fever back to the community. Hopefully it leads to more success in the future.”

One of Southern’s top players was honorable mention All-Ohioan Andre Chandler, who will be playing under Caldwell one last time in the BACF game, which is slated for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Rod Oldham Athletic Center.

“It’s pretty special to get to coach him one more time,” Caldwell said. “Andre’s the type of kid who’s going to play as hard as he can Friday night. He always plays to win. It’ll be tough after the game is over to say ‘Wow, that’s the last time I get to coach Andre.’ We brought him up to varsity as a freshman and he was so small, but he’s always played bigger than what he is. He’s a tremendous competitor.”

The Ohio team, which put up 169 points in last year’s contest, has no shortage of talent elsewhere.

Marietta, which won its first district championship since 1977 this season, will be represented by three of its seniors — Trey Hawkins, Zaiden Wittekind and Owen Riley.

“Marietta had an outstanding season,” Caldwell said. “I had seen some video of them and thought they were an outstanding team. I’m excited to coach those guys.”

After leading Jackson to a 20-win season, Stephen Jenkins and Jax Carroll will suit up as teammates one last time.

Special mention All-Ohioan Avery Powell will represent Frontier while Warren’s Hudson Elzey rounds out the Washington County portion of the roster.

Due to TVC ties, coach Caldwell is familiar with the Federal Hocking duo of Cam Joy and Mo Cottrill as well as Nelsonville-York’s Alex Thompson and Trimble’s Luke Orsborne.

Noble County will be represented by Caldwell’s Guiler Preston and Shenandoah’s Braxton Barnett.

“We got to practice (Tuesday) night. There’s some kids from really good programs, so they know how to play the game,” Caldwell said. “We’ve got a good group of athletes. Very quick. Some good shooters. We’ll have to use our quickness to play a fast style of game, because West Virginia does have a bit of size on us. Hopefully they just play well together.”

The Buckeye State will try to bring home the win for the second year in a row.

“We want to make sure it’s fun and everybody gets their time on the court. They deserve it,” Caldwell said. “We want to compete. We want to get out and try to score, but also make it tough on the other team. We have some good competitors, and the best way to have fun is to compete to the best of your ability.”