Single A: Region I Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cameron, Madonna, Clay-Battelle, Notre Dame, Trinity Christian, Wood County Christian, Valley, Magnolia, Parkersburg Catholic, Ritchie County, St Marys</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lets take a look at this region's top teams and players as we journey into the beginning of the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Preseason Player of the Year</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2211908' first='Isaac' last='Hodges'] will no doubt have the biggest numbers this year, especially given the luxury of dropping down to single A competition. Hodges will likely be a frontrunner for LKC player of the year and surely be a first team all-stater and all-conference. Hodges is one of the states best shooters and that covers the entire floor. His height is a problem with teams trying to matchup defensively especially if they try to double team where Hodges simply turns into a passer and finds open scorers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top College Prospects</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2686841' first='Austin' last='Porta'], [player_tooltip player_id='3040785' first='Trey' last='Huggins'], [player_tooltip player_id='2434237' first='Collin' last='Lemley'], [player_tooltip player_id='2303394' first='Luke' last='Anderson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2470014' first='Leo' last='DeAngelo'], [player_tooltip player_id='2211908' first='Isaac' last='Hodges'], [player_tooltip player_id='2303408' first='Kingston' last='Christen'] [player_tooltip player_id='2243523' first='Brayden' last='Helmick'], [player_tooltip player_id='2324786' first='Colt' last='Sandy']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">State Tournament Qualifier Prediction</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ritchie County:</strong> With [player_tooltip player_id='2211908' first='Isaac' last='Hodges'], the best player in the region (24ppg), and a couple returning guards including sharp shooting junior [player_tooltip player_id='2337749' first='Seth' last='Cronin'] (14ppg), the Rebels have state tournament experience from last year and have an accessible path. I think a matchup with Hodge is just too much for this single A region opponents and with his experience of leading a team to Charleston, Hodges job will be much more defined this time around. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Parkersburg Catholic:</strong> Catholic has stacked some talent with adding transfer from crosstown 4A Parkersburg High [player_tooltip player_id='2303394' first='Luke' last='Anderson'] for a much needed inside presence, but Anderson also adds some additional qualities that help stretch a defense as well as create a real matchup problem for single A squads. PC should not only be considered a favorite out of region I but should be considered a favorite to advance to the state final. Several key players returning for PC include juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2470001' first='Jayden' last='Walker'], [player_tooltip player_id='2469998' first='Branson' last='Lott'], [player_tooltip player_id='2440252' first='Peyton' last='Cline'],</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Darkhorse</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I would consider Trinity Christian as the top darkhorse team to advance to Charleston. With the addition of [player_tooltip player_id='2434237' first='Collin' last='Lemley'] and senior do-it-all guard [player_tooltip player_id='2686841' first='Austin' last='Porta'], Trinity could be a big problem when it gets to the nitty gritty of regionals. Trinity vs PC or Ritchie would or will be a great matchup considering both teams have similar size and both have dynamic guards leading their teams. At the same time I couldn't rule out Clay-Battelle or Cameron. Cee Bees have been the benefactors of transfers due to school closures and gained a couple significant players in [player_tooltip player_id='3040785' first='Trey' last='Huggins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2324786' first='Colt' last='Sandy'] who will both be two of the better players in the region. Meanwhile Cameron returns a couple starters but several question marks remain, however they know the route to Charleston as well as anyone in this region. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Region Roundabout</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While most might look at R4 as the deepest and toughest region, R1 certainly has an argument because teams 3-9 are absolutely dangerous and include five teams that are no stranger to that trip down I77 to the state tournament site. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Parkersburg Catholic might be the deepest team in single A in the entire state. I believe only St Joe's could rival the level of depth on their roster. In the end, that could be the deciding factor when we get to March. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're just years from Magnolia and Valley being eliminated in this region via school consolidation. Magnolia has an incredible legacy left during the Dave Tallman Sr era including state championships and several appearances. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ranking the Region</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Parkersburg Catholic<br>2. Ritchie County<br>3. Trinity<br>4. Clay-Battellle<br>5. Cameron<br>6. St Marys<br>7. Magnolia<br>8. Notre Dame<br>9. Madonna<br>10. Wood Co. Christian<br>11. Valley</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list -->