CHARLESTON — Magnolia’s move from Class AA to Class A at the start of the 2012-13 school year was expected by some to be quickly accompanied by dominance in boys’ major sports.

Those expectations were fueled not only by the school’s history of success in Class AA, but also the personnel on its current basketball, football and baseball teams.

Through two seasons among the division including the state’s smallest schools, Magnolia has yet to win a state championship. It does, however, have two all-state captains to its credit.

The West Virginia Sports Writers Association named Blue Eagle senior forward Mark Winters captain of the Class A all-state boys basketball team. Winters averaged 29 points and 12 rebounds and became the 19th player in Mountain State prep basketball history to surpass the 2,000-point career scoring mark, leading Magnolia to a 21-5 record and a state tournament berth.

Winters said the school’s first season in Class A was an eye-opener.

“I was kind of bummed about dropping to single-A, but I’ve realized there’s a lot of good players in it,” he said. “Brewer, Newsome, George, to name a few.

“It’s a great honor to be named captain.”

Winters knows his competition well. Unbeknownst to him, he named three other all-state selections in relating his list of quality small-school players.

Greater Beckley Christian also reached the state tournament, and 6-1 Crusader senior Keith Mullins (19.1 ppg) landed a spot on the all-state team.

“Keith is an extension of the coaching staff on the floor,” Greater Beckley coach Dan Burd said. “Sometimes we’re not able to say things because the gym is so loud, and Keith knows what adjustments we need to make.”

“He’s able to handle tough situations,” Burd added. “Anytime a team would press us it would be difficult for them because Keith is so smart with the basketball. He rebounds well. He boxes out well. He does all those things a player needs to be successful.”

The Tug Valley guard duo of Austin Brewer and Mikey Newsome led the Panthers — who also dropped to Class A this season — to their second consecutive state championship. Tug won the Class AA title in 2012.

Both seniors, Newsome led the Panthers in scoring, at 18.4 points per game while Brewer ran the point and did more than a little of everything for the club.

Brewer averaged 15.1 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists per game for coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson’s team, which finished the season with a 25-3 record.

Charleston Catholic 6-4 junior forward Nick George (15.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg) was a second-team selection a year ago, and led the Irish to the Class A title game. In three seasons as a starter, George has played in nine state tournament games, and helped the Irish win the state championship in 2012.

Of the four remaining first-team picks, two reached the state tournament. Buffalo 6-2 senior forward Levi Jordan led the Bison to a 21-5 record and their first tournament appearance since 2008. Of Buffalo’s five losses, four came to Charleston Catholic.

Parkersburg Catholic 5-10 junior guard Jake Ullman averaged 22.3 points per game and made the first-team list, as did Trinity senior Cody Triplett. A key figure on the Warriors team that reached the 2011 state title game, Triplett’s final season saw him average 21.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.

Triplett was the only repeat selection from the 2012 all-state team.

Magnolia was stunned by rival Wheeling Central in the first round of the state tournament after it had beaten the Maroon Knights three times in as many previous meetings this season. Winters said that while he was disappointed in his showing in Charleston, he has moved forward from the loss.

Notre Dame 6-4 junior Cal Cistaro, who averaged 19.1 points and 11 rebounds, was named captain of the second team while Wheeling Central 6-4 junior David Park was the third-team captain. Park averaged 16.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Class A All-State

First Team

Austin Brewer, Tug Valley, sr. 15 ppg, 8 rpg, 6 apg

Nick George, Charleston Catholic, jr., 15.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg

Levi Jordan, Buffalo, sr.  17.2 ppg

Keith Mullins, Greater Beckley Christian, sr., 19.1 ppg

Mikey Newsome, Tug Valley, sr., 18 ppg

Cody Triplett, Trinity, sr., 21.8 ppg, 9.8 rpg

Jake Ullman, Parkersburg Catholic, jr., 22.3 ppg

Mark Winters, Magnolia, sr. (Captain) 29 ppg, 12 rpg

Second Team

Anthony Aviles, Gilmer County, sr. 17.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.4 steals per game

Cal Cistaro, Notre Dame, jr. (Captain), 19.1 ppg, 11 rpg

Chase Harler, Wheeling Central, fr. 18.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.2 apg

Josh Martin, Greenbrier West, sr.  17 ppg, 12 rpg, 6 blocks per game

Garret McCarty, Charleston Catholic, jr. , 12.4 ppg, 7.2 apg, 2.3 steals per game

Logan Opyoke, Clay-Battelle, sr. 17 ppg

Tyler Snyder, Tucker County, sr., 18 ppg

Javonne Staunton-Bailey, Greater Beckley Christian, jr., 18.1 ppg

Third Team

Kalob Bell, Wirt County, jr. 25 ppg

Raeshawn Breckenridge, Valley (Fayette), jr., 15 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 steals per game

Zach Chilser, Clay-Battelle, jr., 16.6 ppg

Andrew Cosper, St. Marys, sr., 16.3 ppg, 4.8 apg, 2.6 steals per game

Anthony Ghiardi, Trinity, sr.  18.0 ppg, 7 rpg

Logan Kirby, South Harrison, sr.   14.6 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 4.5 blocks

David Park, Wheeling Central, jr. (Captain), 16.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.5 apg

Brandon Pritt, Tygarts Valley, sr. 14.2 ppg

Honorable Mention

Kolby Abruzzino, Notre Dame; Ryan Adkins, Man; Alex Armentrout, Harman; Thomas Baisden, Tug Valley; Evan Arrington, Pendleton County; Anthony Bayless, St. Marys; Zach Bennett, Richwood; Hunter Bradley, Wahama; Will Bowser, Madonna; Tyler Burns, Hannan; Kennedy Cain, Paden City; Richie Carter, Midland Trail; Adam Cassell, Tygarts Valley; Zach Casto, Charleston Catholic; Austin Cunningham, Gilmer County; Colby Ennis, Greenbrier West; Brandon Elswick, Van; Justin Goff, Notre Dame; Nathaniel Goldstein, Tucker County; Laythen Good, Buffalo; Brett Griffith, Tygarts Valley; Jake Grimmett, Midland Trail; Tristan Haught, Clay-Battelle; Ashton Hinzman, Doddridge County; Bryce Jones, Bishop Donahue; Garrett Keller, Moorefield; Jon Keffer, Man; Michael Mayes, St. Joseph; Tyler Mongold, East Hardy; Aaron Muncy, Tug Valley; Cody Muncy, Sherman; Travis Murphy, Union; Ian Nichols, Tucker County; Joe Padden, Parkersburg Catholic; Logan Pomeroy, Meadow Bridge; Stephen Rogalski, Magnolia; Dylan Romine, Tyler Consolidated; Tommy Retton, Trinity; Logan Routt, Cameron; Zach Semple, Fayetteville; Shawn Skovron, East Hardy; Dylan Smith, South Harrison; Adam Snyder, Moorefield; Payton Sturm, Parkersburg Catholic; Mark Walker, Cameron; Zac Warden, Valley Fayette; Ben Weber, Richwood; River Weese, Paw Paw; Cody White, Meadow Bridge; Jordan Whitehair, St. Marys; Zach Wilhoite, Magnolia