By Dan Stillwell
Register-Herald Sports Writer
BECKLEY — The sign will read “Summers County” outside the Bobcats’ dressing room at the Charleston Civic Center.
It should probably say “Home, sweet home.”
Summers practically owned the place as it claimed consecutive Class AA state championships the past three seasons.
“We feel like the Civic Center is home to us,” coach Wayne Ryan said. “We’re very familiar with the atmosphere. It’s a special place.”
The top-seeded, 25-0 Bobcats begin their quest for a fourth title when they play Frankfort at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Their 89-59 victory over Lincoln last March capped off a state-record 28-0 campaign.
Despite losing three 6-foot players from that team, the Bobcats have cut a swath through their opponents this season. They were only seriously threatened three times — twice by No. 2 tournament seed Scott and once by AAA power Woodrow Wilson.
Summers makes no secret of planning to match that 28-0 mark again Saturday.
“We don’t consider failure an option at this point,” Ryan said. “We’ve accomplished a lot, but we want to finish this mission.”
The Bobcats feature state player of the year runner-up Hallie Gunnoe, a junior guard who averaged 20.6 points, 5 assists, 6 steals and 7 rebounds per game.
She’s joined by returning third-team all-staters Leslie Mack (18.5 ppg) and Ashley Brown (10 ppg), posts Hanna Gunnoe (14 ppg) and Candace Brown (10 ppg) and versatile Kelsie Lively (6 ppg).
“I like their ability to play full-court, whether with defensive pressure or running the floor,” Ryan said. “It’s a special team in the way they can run the floor and play together.”
Summers also won the 2000 state championship and made state tournament appearances in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
“Tournament experience is valuable,” Ryan said. “We’re looking forward to playing.”
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Class AA Westside and Class A Meadow Bridge and Pocahontas County are also familiar with the Civic Center, but each looking for their first state tournament victory.
Westside appeared in the 2007 and 2008 tournaments, but was eliminated by Shady Spring last season.
“We made a pact (after that game) we would get better and get back,” coach Jamie Lusk said. “We played in summer leagues, went to camps and did everything we could to get better.”
The Renegades come into this year’s tournament as the only undefeated AA team besides Summers. The 21-0, fourth-seeded Renegades will play No. 5 Ravenswood at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Sophomore guards Cheyanna Lusk and Tori Patrick averaged 15 points apiece.
Senior post Hannah Brown (5 ppg), junior forward Kyleisha Kirkendall (8 ppg/7 rpg) and junior guard Emily Strother (4 ppg) round out the starting five.
“I’m extremely happy to be undefeated with such a young team,” Jamie Lusk said. “Hopefully we’ll get even better in the future.”
Pocahontas County (15-6) is making its fourth appearance at states under coach Tim McClung.
The No. 5 Warriors will face fourth-seeded Charleston Catholic at 9 p.m. Thursday in a Class A quarterfinal.
They also made the trip to Charleston in 2002, 2003 and last season.
“We haven’t won at states, so our ultimate goal this year is to get one under our belt,” coach Tim McClung said. “After that, anything can happen.”
Like Westside, Pocahontas County is young. Three seniors graduated from last year’s team, and the most experienced returnee, Adrienne Nottingham, was lost early in the campaign to an injury.
“We’ve overachieved, to be honest,” McClung said. “We have a tough schedule, but we got better each game.”
Sophomore forward Chloe Bland averages 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Warriors.
Other starters include sophomore center Miranda McNabb (8.9 ppg), junior guard Shelby Snead (14.8 ppg) and sophomore guards Lyndsey Barlow (8.4 ppg) and Erin White (3.2 assists).
Meadow Bridge (12-9) is making its first state tournament appearance since 2004.
The Wildcats defeated Valley 53-40 last week in the regional co-final. The Greyhounds had won two earlier meetings.
“We’re on Cloud Nine,” coach Steve Taylor said. “But (today) we come back to reality and start preparing for St. Joe.”
That’s Huntington St. Joseph, the defending state champion and No. 1 seed.
“They’re a really talented team with awesome players,” Taylor said. “But we’re not taking away what we’ve done. We’ve worked hard to get to the state tournament.”
Three seniors start for Meadow Bridge, guards Cayli Bolen (5 ppg) and Chelsea White (3 ppg) and forward Holly Gunnoe (7 ppg, 8 rpg).
Freshman guard Chandra Harrah (14 ppg) and junior Kristen Redden (14 ppg, 8 rpg) are the Wildcats’ top scorers.
“Three or four games got away from us early in the season, but we’re now where we thought we’d be,” Taylor said.”
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