AA Regional Prediction

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Double A regionals are here and here's your sneak peek!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tournament Projection</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Wheeling Central<br>The Maroon Knights return as the AA favorite and for good reason. They have the core of their championship team from last year including 6'7" forward [player_tooltip player_id='1851975' first='Max' last='Olejasz'], and Liberty commit [player_tooltip player_id='2211906' first='Eli' last='Sancomb']. Sancomb is a beast with the ball and has yet been slowed down. The sniper [player_tooltip player_id='2421837' first='Luke' last='Sancomb'] is who alot of teams forget about and he routinely makes them pay. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. Wyoming East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If anyone has something for Wheeling Central its Wyoming East. They are built for a deep run and most years are championship caliber with this lineup. Led by point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2444025' first='Talen' last='Muscari'] who had a huge coming out party during the state tournament last year and anchored in the middle by 6'9" center [player_tooltip player_id='2690991' first='Konnor' last='Fox'] who dunks anything he can get his hands on. We wouldn't be doing this lineup justice if we didn't mention the dazzling scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2554070' first='Keegan' last='Davidson'] who along with Fox and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2243493' first='Braedy' last='Johnston'] have all been offered by Concord. And we haven't even mentioned [player_tooltip player_id='2444028' first='Broc' last='Johnson'] who could be this program's best all around player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. James Monroe</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>JM is talented, athletic, strong and just plain tough. Led by do-everything [player_tooltip player_id='2691014' first='Ryan' last='Mann'] who gets it done on all levels on both ends and complimented by the high flying Kaden Hines who leads this group in scoring. Talent doesn't seem to be the problem in JM's case and neither does coaching, as this team has improved week by week to be a legit threat in March. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. Charleston Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just when we thought they were down and out, Catholic comes back with a vengance and looks like they are good enough to beat almost anyone. Back for another year is forward [player_tooltip player_id='2347884' first='Zaden' last='Ranson'], who'll soon be a D1 baseball player, add in length with Wilkes Aliff and a large group of senior guards (CC has 9 total seniors on the roster) and this team looks tough. Not to mention one of WV's top young coaches who's won 100 games and a state title in five years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. Doddridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs are yet another senior heavy squad that's got to see the inside of the civic center locker rooms. They've experienced a win in the state tournament along with being there twice. So it seems inevitable they will return and have another shot. But the middle of AA is stacked so their first game outta the gate, no matter who it is, will be a tall task. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2390883' first='Jerod' last='Trent'], [player_tooltip player_id='2296622' first='Landon' last='Thomas'], 6'7" [player_tooltip player_id='3340033' first='Jaden' last='Solomon'], [player_tooltip player_id='3544056' first='Will' last='Adams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3544060' first='Josh' last='DeHaven'] all play big minutes. While senior transfer [player_tooltip player_id='3245916' first='Malachi' last='Kelley'] adds length and depth on the wing. This group is long, athletic and has a winner's mentality which make them dangerous to anyone in this tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. Petersburg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has done some impressive things this year that have stood out including wins against Tucker (A), Doddridge (AA) and Oak Hill (AAA). Those all were statement games in one capacity or another. [player_tooltip player_id='2385111' first='Caden' last='Ours'] is undoubtedly the most dangerous in this lineup. He's a sharpshooter when he needs to be but also scores it in any fashion necessary at other levels. [player_tooltip player_id='3552128' first='Owen' last='Reel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3552129' first='Caleb' last='Kuhn'] are also seniors who make things happen on both ends. Both excellent athletes that simply make plays and play their roles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. Wayne</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wayne's [player_tooltip player_id='3290700' first='Colten' last='Heck'] along with the Preece twins ([player_tooltip player_id='2444054' first='Landon' last='Preece'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2444055' first='Colton' last='Preece']) have been good all year, continuing Coach Meddings young but successful tenure. Heck is churning a team leading 18ppg while the Preece's combine for nearly 30ppg. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2436136' first='Andrew' last='Dotson'] has returned and been a big contributor as well as feshman [player_tooltip player_id='2916569' first='Stephen' last='Montoya']. This team is so dangerous and for anyone they might face in regionals or in Charleston. Coach Meddings has quickly become one of the best coaches in WV. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. Frankfort</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team is led by recent Frostburg State commit [player_tooltip player_id='2303389' first='Jeremy' last='Phillips'] who's been on a tear for the last two seasons and seeking to cap his career with a trip to Charleston. Phillips isn't alone as he's joined by [player_tooltip player_id='3552157' first='Kycin' last='Waites'] whos a rising junior with great athleticism and promise to take the reigns next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Darkhorse</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buffalo, Williamstown, Braxton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Emerging Players</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2444028' first='Broc' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='3552157' first='Kycin' last='Waites'], [player_tooltip player_id='2390883' first='Jerod' last='Trent'], </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->