The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

High School Sports

February 11, 2013

Area teams holding tight in AP hoops polls

Defending girls champs Greenbrier East, Westside stay on top as postseason nears

Although there was a shuffle at the top of a few classes in the latest Associated Press West Virginia high school basketball polls, released Monday, there was very little movement when it came to the area teams and where they stand.

On the boys’ side in Class AAA, Woodrow Wilson, which was 15-4 heading into Monday night’s clash with Wyoming East, held tight at the No. 3 spot, although the two in front of the Flying Eagles switched places. Martinsburg (17-2) moved into the top spot with 86 points, one point ahead of No. 2 South Charleston (16-1).

Beckley will have a chance to possibly move closer to No. 1 when it takes on South Charleston Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Mountain State Athletic Conference Night of Champions at South Charleston.

Hot on the Flying Eagles’ tail is Greenbrier East (17-1) which moved up one spot to No. 4 after a win over Bluefield on Friday. The Spartans will host Princeton, which received two points to come in 12th in the Class AAA poll, tonight in a critical contest when it comes to sectional seeding.

Parkersburg South (15-3), Washington (13-4), Hedgesville (13-4), Morgantown (14-4), Huntington (13-4) and George Washington (13-4) occupied the final six spots in the AAA top 10.

Despite its loss in Fairlea last week, Bluefield still remained the clear choice for No. 1 in Class AA. The Beavers (14-2) received all nine first-place votes and finished 16 points ahead of Poca (15-2), which jumped from fourth to second. Fairmont Senior (13-5) was third, with Robert C. Byrd (11-6) and Tolsia (12-6) tying for the fourth spot.

Westside (15-6) stayed at No. 6 after winning four games in five days, just ahead of Wyoming County rival Wyoming East (12-6), which came in seventh.

Webster County (12-3) was eighth, after splitting a pair of contests with Liberty last week, while Roane County (13-4) and Bridgeport (12-5) tied for ninth.

Liberty and Summers County each received one point to tie for 14th.

In Class A, Tug Valley’s one-point win over Greater Beckley Christian Saturday at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center helped it leap over Charleston Catholic and into the top spot.

Tug Valley (15-3) received 89 points, while Charleston Catholic (15-2), the former No. 1, received 79.

Tucker County (14-2) was third followed by Magnolia, Parkersburg Catholic and St. Mary’s, which won the Division I title at the West Virginia Hometown Invitational Tournament Saturday in Summersville.

Greater Beckley (10-2) actually jumped up a spot to No. 7 after its near-win against Tug Valley. The Crusaders ranked in front of Buffalo (15-2), Tygarts Valley (13-4) and Valley (11-6) in Class A. Greenbrier West received two points to come in No. 12.

On the girls’ side, the area’s two defending champions remained on top.

Greenbrier East (17-0), heading into Monday’s meeting with Capital, received all seven first-place votes in Class AAA to hold down the top spot. The Spartans will finish the regular season with a flurry, hosting Man (Wednesday), Musselman (Thursday) and Hedgesville (Friday) before wrapping up a possible perfect regular season Saturday at Fayetteville at 5:45 p.m.

Princeton is the only other area team ranked in Class AAA. The Tigerettes (15-3) dropped a spot to No. 6 this week.

Behind Greenbrier East, Spring Valley, Huntington, University and Morgantown round out the top 5 in the state’s largest class. Parkersburg South, George Washington, Wheeling Park and Preston came in 7-10.

Westside (17-1) received six of seven first-place votes to remain on top in Class AA. The Renegades finished five points ahead of No. 2 Bridgeport (17-2), last year’s Class AAA runner-up.

Nicholas County (16-2) was third in Class AA, while Robert C. Byrd (15-4) and Clay County (15-4) finished out the top five.

Summers County (14-5), which will host Westside on Wednesday, was sixth, while Fairmont Senior, Berkeley Springs, North Marion and Sissonville rounded out the top 10.

Two area teams remained in the top 10 in Class A on the girls’ side.

Pocahontas County (14-5) remained No. 6, while Fayetteville (13-3) stayed at No. 8. Valley received four votes to finish one spot out of the top 10.

Saint Joseph Central (13-1) was a unanimous No. 1 in Class A, followed by St. Mary’s, Wheeling Central, Tucker County and Clay-Battelle.

Parkersburg Catholic was No. 7, Gilmer County was No. 9 and Tygarts Valley came in at No. 10.

— E-mail: chuffman@register-herald.com and follow on Twitter @CamHuffmanRH.

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