Cavaliers looking to make run at states
By Dave Morrison for the register-herald
charmco — A recent spree of success put the Greenbrier West girls team squarely in the discussion in Class A Region 3 basketball . The trick now is to take the next step .
And it looks like the time is now for the Cavaliers .
“ I ’ m excited as always , especially the last couple of years ,” Agee said . “ I ’ ve got all my five starters back from last year . I have three seniors back . With the five that I have back , I have big goals . This is one of the better opportunities we have with those three seniors and those five starters back . One of the better opportunities we ’ ve had in several years .”
The Cavaliers have made it to the Region 3 co-championship the last two seasons , last year falling to River View 48-38 on the road after losing in the section championship to Webster County . It had been two decades ( 2003 ) since the Cavaliers girls had made back-to-back region final appearances .
Greenbrier West finished 10-14 last year .
“ We have been pretty good , we just haven ’ t been able to make that final step , and that ’ s what we are trying to do this year ,” Agee said .
Agee and the girls team does return stacked to the brim to do just that , with a senior laden and experience driven crop of returnees , all starters in some fashion
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Jenny Harnish / The Register-Herald
Greenbrier West ’ s Preslee Treadway drives to the basket while Webster County ’ s Hannah Cutlip defends during the Class A Region 3 , Section 3 championship game Feb . 24 in Oak Hill .
last season .
The seniors returning include Meagan Poticher , a veritable rebounding machine ( 220 rebounds ) who just recently signed to continue her volleyball career at Concord University , along with classmates Ava Barclay and Raelyn Palmer .
Sophomores back in the starting five are Preslee Treadway , who missed half the season with a life-threatening medical condition last year but returned and was a big cog in the regional run and versatile Maddie Fields .
Poticher will bring her senior leadership to the post position . She made four trips to the state volleyball tournament and thinks that experience may pay off on the basketball court as well .
“ I definitely think it helps with confidence ,” Poticher said . “ If you know you have the ability to make it to the state tournament , you don ’ t freak out as much about regional tournaments . That was something big that we struggled with last year . We were so nervous at the regional level that we didn ’ t even have states in our mind .
Poticher will be joined inside by Treadway , a sophomore . The guards will be the other two seniors , Barclay and Palmer and Fields , a sophomore , will be at the other guard . Fields could also slot in at a post if necessary .
“ With those three at the top and those two at the bottom I think we can do good things ,” Agee said . “ You can ’ t beat having experience .”
Abagail Thomas is also a potential addition to the rotation as a post player . Guards off the bench include junior Hannah Sweet , sophomore Haylee Ward and freshman Brylee Redden .
With Treadway ’ s injury some of those players were called on early .
“ They got better last year and now they know how each other plays so that should be a great thing for us ,” Agee said .
Agee said he is trying to get the program to the point where girls want to play at the next level and continue their education and thinks he may be on track to do that .
“ It ’ s always goal ( to send players to the next level ),” Agee said . “ I talk to the girls every year , who ’ s looking to play basketball , who ’ s looking to play different sports . We have girls signing for track , signing for volleyball , and I think think we have one who might be interested in playing at the next level and that is Ava Barclay .”
With teams like Webster County and the talented Sydney Baird back in the fold and River View , state tournament qualifier , in the region , Agee knows he has his work cut out to make the trek to Charleston , but he is positive about one thing , there is a golden opportunity as the season gets under way .
“ I believe we have a chance to get a state ( tournament berth ) but there are good teams out there ,” Agee said . “ You can ’ t take anything away from Webster County , they have Baird back . and that will be tough . But absolutely , I think we can make it to states if these girls work hard and push each other .”
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