James Monroe Girls
James Monroe Girls
Loaded Lady Mavs want return to Charleston
By Dave Morrison for the register-herald
James Monroe girls coach Angie Mann wasn ’ t going to sell her team short after a run to the Class AA semifinals last season .
Now entering her second year of her second stint as a coach — after serving as the James Monroe principal before moving to the Board office — Mann now does allow that her girls surprised her with that postseason run .
“ It was a great season ,” Mann said . “ I wouldn ’ t say I thought at the beginning of the season that we would be playing in the state semifinals , but I didn ’ t think they couldn ’ t do it . I knew most of these girls from being their principal and I knew they were competitors . They really brought it together . I don ’ t think they were surprised by their success .”
And it provides a nice springboard into the 2025 season where the expectations are heightened after the run and the amount of talent returning from that team .
It is led by first-team all-stater and all-state tournament player Maggie Boroski .
The 5-5 senior combo guard averaged 18.9 points per game , along with 6.4 rebounds , 5.2 steals and 2.8 assists per game .
“ She is a complete player ,” Mann said . “ She has a high basketball IQ , and she plays like she is 5-9 , 5-10 . She ’ s an all-around athlete ( recently named to the first-team all-state volleyball team ) and with the defenses we run she is also a great defender .”
Also back are starters Ava and Mya Dunlap . The sister act was big for the Mavericks .
Rick Barbero / The Register-Herald
Maggie Boroski , of James Monroe , takes a shot over Maci Neely , of Cameron during a Class A state semifinal game at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center .
Mya , a sophomore , averaged 9.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and Ava , a senior , averaged 7.1 ppg and 3.2 rpg .
“ I love me some Mya ,” Mann said . “ Last year she really came on after she got her feet wet to the high school level . In the postseason she unleashed .”
In five postseason games , Mya Dunlap averaged 17.2 points and 3.2 rebounds . Only Boroski ( 19.6 and 6.7 ) had better numbers .
Ava Dunlap averaged 7.1 points and 3.2 rebounds .
“ This is her fourth year , and she is a little spark plug ,” Mann said . “ She is always solid . She is the kind of player that if she hits a couple of shots , the other players will follow suit . Her mom ( Christina Dunlap , their dad Neil is assistant coach as well ) and sometimes she ’ ll give Ava that nod to get her going .”
Losing all-state point guard Mary Beth Meadows ( 14.2 ppg , 7 assists per game ) and leading rebounder Abby Mathis ( 7.7 per game ) are big losses to overcome .
“ She was an outstanding player for us , and she can ’ t be replaced ,” Mann said . “ We won ’ t have a true point guard . We have several girls , Maggie , Mya , Ava , that can play that position , or bring the ball up ( the court ). It ’ s ‘ by committee ’ at this point .”
After taking a year off , Bryleigh Thomas , the softball team ’ s ace , is back on the team . She is the sister of Cam Thomas , who won a state title with the boys team in 2022 .
And she is picked to assume the duties left by the graduation of Mathis .
“ It took a while to talk to her into coming back ,” Mann said . “ I think she is tickled to death to be back ; I know we are .
“ And we are super excited to have a true post . She is 5-foot-10 , she can defend the basket and she can rebound . She is a true post and isn ’ t afraid of contact down inside .”
Aleigha Hill is another player back for the Mavericks .
Hill appeared in 23 games for the Mavs last season , averaging 4.1 points and 5.5 rebounds . Aleigha Hopkins and Kinleigh Bradley are two returning seniors who will offer depth , the one the Mavs didn ’ t have in abundance last year .
“ That ’ s a solid seven ,” Mann said . “ We will have a JV schedule and there are a handful of sophomores and freshmen who might be in a position to help out ( later in the year ). We will have to see how it plays out .”
James Monroe finished 17-9 but after a loss to Class AAAA Greenbrier East on Feb . 6 , the team won six straight , including a thrilling 58-57 win against St . Joe ’ s in the state quarterfinals .
WV SOUTH BASKETBALL • 19