CLEAR FORK — Westside might be a perfect 21-0, but Jamie Lusk’s young team hasn’t exactly breezed through its schedule.

“We’ve had a lot of close games,” Lusk said. “It comes down to the heart of the girls.”

And probably a few heart palpitations for the coach as well.

The Renegades were in donnybrooks they trailed before winning — 66-60 over Bluefield, 54-50 over Tug Valley, 67-59 over Logan, 48-47 over Gilbert and 51-50 over PikeView — during the regular season.

Last week they survived another stern test from Bluefield, 59-54 in the Region 3 co-final, to earn a berth in this week’s state tournament in Charleston.

Fourth-seeded Westside will play No. 5 Ravenswood at 9 p.m. Wednesday in a first-round game at the Charleston Civic Center.

The Renegades are youthful — only two of their nine-player rotation are seniors — but they’re battle-tested.

“A lot of our kids played as freshmen,” Lusk said. “That experience is paying off. They’re making a lot better decisions.”

The team leaders are a pair of 5-foot-5 sophomore guards, Cheyanna Lusk and Tori Patrick.

Lusk averages 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Patrick chips in 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals per game.

They do more than lead by example, however.

“They’re good, vocal leaders,” Jamie Lusk said. “They’ll let the girls know when they’re not working hard. They’re competitors.”

Their playing styles contrast quite a bit.

“Cheyanne is more of a slasher. She likes to drive the ball to the basket,” Lusk said. “She also has that natural ability to make plays when we need a big basket or a big steal.

“Tori is just a natural scorer. Her form is textbook. She knows how to put the ball in the basket.”

Lusk shoots 75 percent at the foul line. Patrick has 48 3-point goals.

Together, they pose quite a problem for opposing coaches.

“It’s hard to figure out what defense to use against us,” Jamie Lusk said. “If someone goes zone, Tori will have a big game. If they play us man-to-man, Cheyanna will usually have a big game. It’s a big asset for us.”

The third guard, 5-5 junior Emily Strother, averages four points and four rebounds a game.

Defense, not scoring, is Strother’s game.

“Emily is by far our best defender,” Lusk said. “She’s got a nose for the ball. She knows how to get position.”

Forward Kyleisha Kirkendall, a 5-8 junior and three-year starter, can play any position. Lusk calls her the team’s most consistent player.

“When we need a big basket or a key rebound, Kyleisha will do it,” Lusk said. “She made the three-pointer against Wyoming East her freshman year that sent us to Charleston.”

Kirkendall averages eight points and seven rebounds per contest.

The Renegades’ only seniors, Hannah Brown and Brittany Cook, are 5-9 posts who average around five points and five rebounds a game.

“Hannah starts and is our most physical player, but they’re both really strong girls,” Lusk said.

MacKensie Davis, a 5-11 sophomore center, 5-5 junior guard Emily Fleshman and 5-7 freshman guard Morgan Spolarich (7 ppg) complete the rotation.

Although Westside is undefeated, Lusk has no complaints with the No. 4 seeding.

Scott, the only AA team to give Summers a close game this season, is No. 2 while Tolsia, which defeated Scott in the sectional, is seeded third.

“That’s fine. All three of them are great teams,” he said. “Tolsia beating Scott probably hurt us, but they deserve it.

“We’re happy. You have to get a reputation before you can move up the ladder.”

A win over Ravens-wood would certainly help.

“It would be big,” Lusk said. “(Ravenswood) can shoot the basketball, so we’ll have to be aggressive, especially on defense.

“When our girls come ready to play, they can play with anybody. I have confidence in them.”

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Also Wednesday, 24-0 Summers County faces No. 8 Frankfort at 5:30 p.m. in another first-round game.

Two area Class A teams play Thursday. No. 8 Meadow Bridge clashes with top seed St. Joseph at 5:30 p.m. while No. 5 Pocahontas County takes on fourth seed Charleston Catholic at 9 p.m.

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