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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Keyser and Hampshire begin their Class AAA state tournament runs Wednesday at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
The Trojans (16-8), making their first appearance since 2023, are the No. 8 seed in the field and take on top-seeded Greenbrier East (24-0) in the state quarterfinals at 5:30 p.m.
Keyser qualified for the tournament for the third season in a row. Seeded fifth, the Golden Tornado (17-3) face No. 4 seed John Marshall (17-6) in the nightcap at 9 p.m.
While upstart Hampshire is ahead of schedule with a young roster, Keyser has aspirations of bringing the championship home after a narrow loss to eventual state champion Wayne in last year’s quarterfinal.
“We are very excited to be back at the state tournament for the fourth time in the last five years,” Keyser head coach Josh Blowe said. “We are hopeful that our past experience will help us make a run at a state title.”
The Golden Tornado were clipped by Wayne, 54-50, which ended up being the Pioneers’ closest contest after a 69-57 win over Greenbrier East in the semifinals and a 56-39 romp of Nitro in the title game.
Keyser’s core of talented juniors Bibs Felton (20.2 points per game), Austyn Healy (9.2) and Rooney Urice (8.2) will be taking the court in Charleston for a third time, in addition to senior Kiya Kesner (6.0).
Jillian Ault, who transferred from Frankfort, adds 7.5 points a night.
John Marshall, meanwhile, hasn’t qualified for the tournament since 1994. Its led by senior Rilee Storm, the team’s all-time leading scorer, with 20.5 points and 9 rebounds per game.
Kalyn Reese (11.2 points per game) and Kaylee White (10.2) add double figures.
“John Marshall is a well-balanced team who has a star in Rilee Storm,” Blowe said. “They cause problems defensively with their size and pressure, and on offense they are multifaceted in their ability to score in different ways. We are definitely up for the challenge. We need to go out and play clean basketball for four quarters.”
If Keyser pulls out the win, then it could see its Potomac Valley Conference rival in the semifinals.
Hampshire is in a familiar position, as it was the No. 8 seed the last time it qualified for states.
The Trojans nearly pulled off the upset in 2023, hanging with top-seeded North Marion for four quarters in an eventual 52-45 loss.
Hampshire, which enters riding a four-game winning streak, is looking to be the first team to knock off Greenbrier East — the state’s lone unbeaten team.
After losing a starter in Bri Cosner for the season to an injury and another key player later on, Hampshire overcame the lineup overhaul to win its most games since 2017 — and tied for the most since 2007 — despite playing as many as six underclassmen on some nights.
“We are thrilled to have made it to the state tournament this year,” Hampshire head coach Jordan Richardson said. “It was a historic run for us, and we truly feel our best years could still be to come.”
Trojans senior Della Knight (15.7 points per game) makes her return to Charleston as the team’s leading scorer, followed by sophomore Kendyl Stewart (9.6), junior Broolyn Klavuhn (5.8) and sophomore Lila Eversole (5.1).
Greenbrier East boasts a pair of 1,000-point scorers. Senior Kennedy Stewart is second in school history with 1,592 points, and she’s second in scoring average this season at 16.5 — behind junior Ava Workman (19.6), who has career 1,173 points.
“Greenbrier East is undefeated, with some major wins on their schedule,” Richardson said. “They’re a team that is senior-heavy and has been there before.
“We are obviously on the other end of that spectrum in terms of experience, but getting to the tournament is a major step in our program’s growth. We are going to go down and do our best to win.”
On the other side of the bracket, No. 3 Nitro (18-4) faces No. 6 Princeton (16-6) at 9:30 a.m., and No. 2 Spring Valley (15-6) draws No. 7 East Fairmont (16-6) at 1 p.m.
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The Trojans (16-8), making their first appearance since 2023, are the No. 8 seed in the field and take on top-seeded Greenbrier East (24-0) in the state quarterfinals at 5:30 p.m.
Keyser qualified for the tournament for the third season in a row. Seeded fifth, the Golden Tornado (17-3) face No. 4 seed John Marshall (17-6) in the nightcap at 9 p.m.
While upstart Hampshire is ahead of schedule with a young roster, Keyser has aspirations of bringing the championship home after a narrow loss to eventual state champion Wayne in last year’s quarterfinal.
“We are very excited to be back at the state tournament for the fourth time in the last five years,” Keyser head coach Josh Blowe said. “We are hopeful that our past experience will help us make a run at a state title.”
The Golden Tornado were clipped by Wayne, 54-50, which ended up being the Pioneers’ closest contest after a 69-57 win over Greenbrier East in the semifinals and a 56-39 romp of Nitro in the title game.
Keyser’s core of talented juniors Bibs Felton (20.2 points per game), Austyn Healy (9.2) and Rooney Urice (8.2) will be taking the court in Charleston for a third time, in addition to senior Kiya Kesner (6.0).
Jillian Ault, who transferred from Frankfort, adds 7.5 points a night.
John Marshall, meanwhile, hasn’t qualified for the tournament since 1994. Its led by senior Rilee Storm, the team’s all-time leading scorer, with 20.5 points and 9 rebounds per game.
Kalyn Reese (11.2 points per game) and Kaylee White (10.2) add double figures.
“John Marshall is a well-balanced team who has a star in Rilee Storm,” Blowe said. “They cause problems defensively with their size and pressure, and on offense they are multifaceted in their ability to score in different ways. We are definitely up for the challenge. We need to go out and play clean basketball for four quarters.”
If Keyser pulls out the win, then it could see its Potomac Valley Conference rival in the semifinals.
Hampshire is in a familiar position, as it was the No. 8 seed the last time it qualified for states.
The Trojans nearly pulled off the upset in 2023, hanging with top-seeded North Marion for four quarters in an eventual 52-45 loss.
Hampshire, which enters riding a four-game winning streak, is looking to be the first team to knock off Greenbrier East — the state’s lone unbeaten team.
After losing a starter in Bri Cosner for the season to an injury and another key player later on, Hampshire overcame the lineup overhaul to win its most games since 2017 — and tied for the most since 2007 — despite playing as many as six underclassmen on some nights.
“We are thrilled to have made it to the state tournament this year,” Hampshire head coach Jordan Richardson said. “It was a historic run for us, and we truly feel our best years could still be to come.”
Trojans senior Della Knight (15.7 points per game) makes her return to Charleston as the team’s leading scorer, followed by sophomore Kendyl Stewart (9.6), junior Broolyn Klavuhn (5.8) and sophomore Lila Eversole (5.1).
Greenbrier East boasts a pair of 1,000-point scorers. Senior Kennedy Stewart is second in school history with 1,592 points, and she’s second in scoring average this season at 16.5 — behind junior Ava Workman (19.6), who has career 1,173 points.
“Greenbrier East is undefeated, with some major wins on their schedule,” Richardson said. “They’re a team that is senior-heavy and has been there before.
“We are obviously on the other end of that spectrum in terms of experience, but getting to the tournament is a major step in our program’s growth. We are going to go down and do our best to win.”
On the other side of the bracket, No. 3 Nitro (18-4) faces No. 6 Princeton (16-6) at 9:30 a.m., and No. 2 Spring Valley (15-6) draws No. 7 East Fairmont (16-6) at 1 p.m.
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