It’s official: Parkersburg’s CrossTown Showdown is headed to Charleston.

Parkersburg and Parkersburg South will square off in the Class AAAA state championship at 7:30 p.m. today inside the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.

Thinking back to early January, a conversation was had within the Parkersburg News and Sentinel sports department between reporters.

The Patriots had just upset the rival Big Reds 48-47 at Rod Oldham Athletic Center. The atmosphere inside the gym that night was electric.

“Imagine if South and PHS met in the state championship game,” a veteran reporter posed. “It’s always possible.”

Yep. It was always possible.

As PHS fought tooth and nail to withstand the inevitable Morgantown rally? It was always possible.

When Parkersburg South had to dig itself out of a six-point hole in the final minutes of regulation against the daunting George Washington Patriots? It was always possible.

When Kennedy Porter came down with her 24th and final rebound, a state tournament single-game record? It was always possible.

After South freshman Lindsey Logston stepped onto West Virginia’s biggest stage for the first time and put up a game-high 25 points? It was always possible.

Once Shay Kirby joined the PHS coaching staff last year, reuniting with the team she helped lead to back-to-back state titles in 2018 and 2019? It was always possible.

From the moment Ed Davis returned as head coach at Parkersburg South in 2021, a position once occupied by his close friend, Scott Stephens? It was always possible.

Two great teams from one great city, meeting in the ultimate rivalry showdown with a state championship on the line, backed by two great fanbases representing one great community?

Nope — that one’s an absolute certainty.

Contact Jordan Holland at jholland@newsandsentinel.com.