AAA Post Season Preview

<p>The AAA postseason has been nothing short of exciting in the past couple years after the change to four classes. This year has some possible new faces with class shake ups but the traditional programs will definitely be lurking around come regionals time. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">REGION I</h2>   <p>This is the region that certainly appears to be the most wide open with several teams with young and inexperienced rosters and just when we thought Fairmont Senior might be slipping, they put a great second half of the year together and end up with the one seed in the region. Behind the fire power of [player_tooltip player_id='2375557' first='Trea' last='Cumberledge'] Fairmont has been able to come together late and appear to be a lock for Charleston. [player_tooltip player_id='2377003' first='Darrell' last='Claybrook'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1578753' first='Julz' last='Butler'] are the other names to look for if you're watching the state tournament. Playing the winner of East Fairmont and Brooke to advance, Fairmont should probably plan on heading south in a couple weeks as they've handled East twice including a 20 point and 30 point victories. Brooke is young an inexperienced but has length and talent but has struggled to close out games. </p>   <p>The bottom of the bracket could be a real crap shoot but we think it will come down to a second round qualifying battle between [player_tooltip player_id='2528455' first='Levi' last='Wanless'] led Elkins squad and a North Marion squad led by the high powered offensive skill of [player_tooltip player_id='2340983' first='Connor' last='Balwanz']. Balwanz has been great all year and kept North in games where they were affected by injuries and a short bench. Elkins won the first contest by six and would host if there's a rematch. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">REGION II</h2>   <p>Everyone knows by now Bridgeport is the name to know in this region, but also the odds on favorite by many to win it all in Charleston. They are absolutely stacked and deep with size, shooters, talent and athletes. In the middle WVU football recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2366404' first='Carter' last='Zuliani'] is a space eater, help defender and cleans up the boards with put backs. Also obviously has the muscle to guard post players effectively. Guards are the strength of this group with sharp shooting [player_tooltip player_id='1573156' first='Landon' last='Sanders'], brothers [player_tooltip player_id='2638868' first='Jax' last='McDougal'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2337756' first='Anderson' last='McDougal'] add scoring and depth, sophomore point guard sensation [player_tooltip player_id='2337762' first='Gavin' last='Williams'] has serious next level talent and is a force on both ends, Anthony Spatafore is a big athletic guard/wing who can play many positions and maybe the biggest matchup problem is [player_tooltip player_id='2410034' first='Phoenix' last='Sickles'] who at 6'5" is deadly from deep but puts it on the floor and posts up when necessary. This squad was my pick to win AAA from the start and I'm sticking with it. </p>   <p>The bottom of the bracket presents a challenge in terms of projecting a qualifier but we've seen Robert C. Byrd struggle lately losing 3 of the last four including one to Bridgeport, but they also strung together a nine game winning streak that included wins over North Marion and Fairmont Senior. RCB's [player_tooltip player_id='2465872' first='Camryn' last='Newsuan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2465874' first='Emanuell' last='Holmes'] have been great in some big games and are athletic threats every time down the floor. Byrd also presents some athletic length with [player_tooltip player_id='1578764' first='Rylee' last='Dickerson'] who can get to 20+ any game. [player_tooltip player_id='2306139' first='Logan' last='Boyce'] is probably Byrds most complete player on both ends, he can play either guard spot as well as guard any guard on the floor. Boyce shoots it well but is most dangerous off the bounce.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">REGION III</h2>   <p>Region three is easily the most stacked with good teams as well as talent. Shady Spring of course at the top of the seeds and everyone's favorite to qualify and many think repeat as state champions. Jack Williams, Khi Olsen, [player_tooltip player_id='2375273' first='Jalon' last='Bailey'], [player_tooltip player_id='2425394' first='Eli' last='Sexton'] are the quartet that leads the charge most nights. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2425395' first='Gabe' last='Short'] provides support off the bench as well as [player_tooltip player_id='2211914' first='Brody' last='Radford']. Shady has struggled to stay consistent with a recent loss to three seed Greenbrier East but wins against Princeton and Logan but also had a tough loss to AA Westside. The talent is there to get to championship Saturday but they will have to face a likely tough qualifying game with Sissonville who brings alot of talent with college offered [player_tooltip player_id='1578756' first='Max' last='Moore'], [player_tooltip player_id='2367481' first='Luke' last='Michael'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2488810' first='Drew' last='Payne']. Herbert Hoover and Princeton will be an interesting matchup in the first round with talent all over the floor for both. Hoover with [player_tooltip player_id='1408520' first='Dane' last='Hatfield'], [player_tooltip player_id='2366398' first='Donovan' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2561912' first='Riley' last='Johnson'] have a chance to shoot their way into anything. Princeton has size and skill everywhere with [player_tooltip player_id='2437132' first='Jayce' last='Gum'] being the X factor and matchup problem for many, but [player_tooltip player_id='2364913' first='Britt' last='Beasley'] is a dynamic point guard who has unlimited range from deep. </p>   <p>Looking in the bottom half of the bracket is the big question mark for everyone, Greenbrier East who just beat Shady Spring last night. GE is led by do everything [player_tooltip player_id='2462309' first='Brody' last='Hamric'] who's a big, strong and very athletic guard. Hamric has a solid cast around him with size as well. Donovan Penn can play either guard spot and shoots it very well deep. The 6'6" [player_tooltip player_id='2739640' first='Samuel' last='Hawver'] and 6'4" soph Brylon Godfrey add great size inside for East. The depth is at guard spots with Reed McCraw, Layne Lambert and another big guard in 6'3" [player_tooltip player_id='2704995' first='Nathan' last='Dixon']. East has been playing well and steadily improved over the course of the season as a good team should. They would be my pick as the second qualifier from this region. I think darkhorse doesn't apply to Ripley being they are the two seed, but as talented as PikeView and Indy are, its not a clear picture either. PikeView has a couple super sophs in [player_tooltip player_id='2508620' first='Nate' last='Vestal'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2683161' first='Ryan' last='Robinette'] and Independence has sharp shooting juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2303401' first='Ashton' last='Arthur'], Sylas Nelson as well as freshman post [player_tooltip player_id='2754039' first='Brock' last='Green']. Ripley's top players are [player_tooltip player_id='2306370' first='Matthew' last='Stellato'], Brady McVay and [player_tooltip player_id='2794539' first='Brandon' last='Sias'] who have been very solid all year long and are seasoned with playing a challenging schedule.</p>   <p></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">REGION IV</h2>   <p>This region is a legit four team race with any two of the four capable of advancing. Top seed Nitro returns most of its roster from a state tournament team last year. [player_tooltip player_id='2377000' first='Ty' last='Stephens'], [player_tooltip player_id='2377012' first='Derek' last='Lowe'], [player_tooltip player_id='2375052' first='Timmy' last='Lovejoy'], [player_tooltip player_id='2208854' first='Landon' last='Poniatowski'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2208836' first='Ashton' last='Crouch'] all return as the starting five from last years state tournament team and have been very steady all year. But they've shown some signs of being compromised with teams that play tempo. Chapmanville who's been many folks favorite all year ranks as the two seed and maybe for good reason, they have a very young, but talented, roster that includes freshman phenom post player [player_tooltip player_id='2734710' first='Keaton' last='Terry']. [player_tooltip player_id='2376948' first='Benji' last='Adkins'] returns as a 6'6" guard/forward, and they've added freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2639446' first='Dakota' last='Dalton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2734711' first='Jay' last='Brock'] as guards. [player_tooltip player_id='2472873' first='Joey' last='Gollihue'] is the senior starter of the group and is a dynamic guard who poses several problems.</p>   <p>Winfield and Wayne are certainly the other two programs in contention here. Winfield has been very good all year with a great line up featuring do-everything [player_tooltip player_id='2324784' first='Reid' last='Fisher'] who literally can play any position for the Generals. He's helped by 6'4" [player_tooltip player_id='2462324' first='Tyler' last='Peros'], 6'0" freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='2464880' first='Mydan' last='Oglesby'] who's been extremely good running the point this year from day one. Winfield has struggled as of late but a chance to redeem themselves and get to Charleston awaits. The fourth team I believe has a great chance to qualify is Wayne at the three seed. I've said all year Wayne's coach Sean Meddings might be the best coach not named Dave Tallman in WV. Meddings has nurtured a roster from freshman with his son and college commit [player_tooltip player_id='1413972' first='Isaac' last='Meddings'] to current seniors. Along with Isaac is [player_tooltip player_id='2554065' first='Ronnie' last='Staley'] who's played significant minutes since his freshman year. Meddings and Staley have incredible chemistry in the front court and make the right decisions almost every play. Joining them are two freshman twin brothers [player_tooltip player_id='2444054' first='Landon' last='Preece'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2444055' first='Colton' last='Preece'] who coach Meddings has done an excellent job bringing along to their current status of making big contributions. This region is by far the hardest to predict but will likely provide the most entertainment during that first week of March. </p>

The AAA postseason has been nothing short of exciting in the past couple years after the change to four classes. This year has some possible new faces with class shake ups but the traditional programs will definitely be lurking around come regionals time.