Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — Hold on. Those high school basketball careers aren’t over just yet.

For three area girls basketball players their careers will continue when they play in the 14th annual Ohio vs. West Virginia Basketball Classic Friday.

The annual game benefits the battled against Cystic Fibrosis and will start at 5:30 p.m. at Parkersburg South High School with the girls’ game.

The boys’ game will follow a skills competition that includes a slam dunk contest and 3-point shooting contest.

Fairland Lady Dragons’ seniors Kelsey Riley and Caitlin Stone and St. Joseph Female Flyers’ Hannah Miller will represent the area on the girls’ team.

The 5-foot-9 Riley was a first team Associated Press All-Ohio selection as she helped Fairland reached the Division III state tournament for a second straight season.

Riley averaged 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game.

The 5-4 Stone was honorable mention All-Ohio after averaging 14.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals a game. She has signed to play at Urbana University.

The 5-foot-9 Miller — who has already signed with Shawnee State — is a four-year starter who was an AP first team All-Ohio selection. Miller was the Southeast district Division IV player of the year.

With more than 1,500 career points, Miller averaged 19.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. She shot 54.3 percent form the field, 75 from the line and 42.3 from behind the 3-point arc.

Also on the Ohio team will be 5-5 Michelle Adkins and 5-10 Megan Liedtke of Fort Frye, 5-11 Madison Davis of Nelsonville-York, 5-5 Kendra Barnes and 5-7 Micah Curfman of Gallipolis, 5-10 Taylor Hilverding of Waterford, 5-10 Alle Moore and 5-7 Taylor Smith of Marietta, 5-9 Megan Devol of Caldwell and 5-5 Devyn Potts of River.

Nelsonville-York’s Amanda Dalton will coach the Ohio team with Jon Burdette of Reedsville Eastern serving as the assistant.

Ohio holds a 7-6 lead in the series.

West Virginia is led by 5-6 Keya Bartlett of Parkersburg South who averaged 14 points a game and was second on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,453 points. She helped lead South to three straight Class AAA state title games.

West Virginia will be coached by Parkersburg’s Kenny DeMoss and assisted by Williamstown’s Fred Sauro.