By Dave Morrison for the register-herald y y y y y y y y y y Liberty Girls y y y y y y y y y y Fun and optimism in Raider camp
Liberty coach Denise Arline was describing an early preseason volleyball game where some under her tutelage had not played the sport before .
“ At the beginning of the season we had girls who had trouble hitting it to the center of the court , on our own side ,” said Arline , who also doubles as the school ’ s girls basketball coach . “ People would ask me why we had them on the team . By the end of the year , they were not only getting the ball over the net they were scoring . There is no better feeling than seeing kids smile and get excited when they accomplish something .”
The analogy is also fitting for the basketball team which has several freshmen on the team and some girls who have never played basketball before .
“ I feel like in just the two weeks we ’ ve had them they have already improved more than I ’ ve seen before ,” Arline said . “ That is what we should be trying to do . I want them to have fun . Of course , we want to win , too .
Class AAAA Region III Section 1 Brooke , John Marshall , Morgantown , Wheeling Park Section 2 Bridgeport , Buckhannon-Upshur , Preston , University Region II Section 1 Hedgesville , Martinsburg , Spring Mills Section 2 Jefferson , Musselman , Washington Region III Section 1 Capital , George Washington , Riverside , South Charleston Section 2 Greenbrier East , Oak Hill , Princeton , Woodrow Wilson Region IV Section 1 Cabell Midland , Huntington , Spring Valley Section 2 Hurricane , Parkersburg , Parkersburg South , St . Albans
But like I tell the girls , until you have fun you aren ’ t really winning .”
Arline welcomed 18 players to the floor this season , just three years removed from having to fold the program because of lack of players .
“ We have seven freshmen who came out and they have told me they have always wanted to play high school basketball ,” Arline said . “ We have some girls who returned with some experience , and we have a lot of new players and I think we are going to a junior varsity team . It ’ s a great sign for the program .”
Arline believes the team – who has only played 28 games the last three years due to the folding of the program and 2020 and lingering problems with Covid the next two seasons and which has lost 27 straight games – is ready to turn the corner .
The main reason is players from all classes up and down the roster , starting with Kirsten Miller , Chloe McGee , Brooklyn Brown and Ayryonia Parris , girls returning from last year and who have starting experience . Miller , the point guard , is a key .
“ She ’ s very coachable and she plays hard ,” Arline said . “ She is a team first player and a ( prototypical ) point guard . She would rather pass it to a teammate than take an open shot . She likes to get everyone on the floor involved .”
Jessica Anderson , Toni Trent and Jaidyn Tolliver are all potential post type players who will see action this season . Rounding out the roster of returning or non-freshmen players are Alanya Cline , Lexi Cozort , Ashley Walker and Esabelle Martin .
Two freshmen will get an early shot on the varsity roster as well , Sadi Stone and Selena Treadway . They were the only two freshmen to make the varsity roster right now .
“ I see a lot of potential in Sadi ,” Arline said . “ She is really good , really aggressive and when she gets the ball in her hands , she gets a different look on her face . Determination . She just needs to get used to the high school game . The same is true with Selena . She has no
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Class AAA Region I Section 1 North Marion , Oak Glen , Weir Section 2 Berkeley Springs , Hampshire , Keyser Region II Section 1 East Fairmont , Fairmont Sr ., Grafton , Philip Barbour Section 2 Elkins , Liberty Harrison , Lincoln , Robert C Bryd Region III Section 1 Independence , Midland Trail , Pikeview , Shady Spring Section 2 Herbert Hoover , Lewis County , Nicholas County , Sissonville Region IV Section 1 Nitro , Point Pleasant , Ripley , Winfield Section 2 Lincoln County , Logan , Scott , Wayne Class AA Region I
Section 1 Magnolia , Ritchie County , St . Marys , Wheeling Central Section 2 Parkersburg Catholic , Ritchie County , Williamstown Region II Section 1 Frankfort , Moorefield , Petersburg Section 2 Braxton County , Notre Dame , South Harrison , Trinity Christian Region III Section 1 Bluefield , Summers County , Westside , Wyoming East Section 2 Liberty Raleigh , Chapmanville Regional , Mingo Central Region IV Section 1 Buffalo , Poca , Charleston Catholic , Clay County Section 2 Ravenswood , Roane County , Wirt County Class A Region I fear , and you don ’ t find that in freshmen very often .
“ I told the other girls that there is always going to be an opportunity to make the varsity team if they keep working hard and don ’ t give up . Learn and get better . So far , this team has shown that it wants to learn the game , wants to get better .”
The recipe for ending the losing string and getting on a winning cycle is simple .
“ We have to get the girls playing as a team ,” Arline said . “ I want them to play hard , be respectful and have fun . If we play as a team and have fun , good things are going to happen .”
Liberty is due for a streak of good fortune .
Arline said she never wavered in her faith that the program would one-day rebound from the disastrous end to the team folding in 2020 .
“ I never thought it was going to be the end of the program ,” Arline said . “ It was a terrible time but I ’ m a religious person . I believe you have to pray and leave it in God ’ s hands . and that ’ s what I did .”
Section 1 Cameron , Hundred , Madonna , Paden City , Valley Section 2 Clay-Battelle , Doddridge County , Tyler Consolidated , Wood County Christian Region II Section 1 Easy Hardy , Paw Paw , Tucker County , Union Section 2 Harman , Pendleton County , Pocahontas County , Tygarts Valley Region III Section 1 James Monroe , Montcalm , Mount View , River View Section 2 Greenbrier West , Meadow Bridge , Richwood , Webster County Region IV Section 1 Man , Sherman , Tolsia , Tug Valley , Van Section 2 Calhoun County , Gilmer County , Hannan , St . Joseph Central , Wahama
WV SOUTH BASKETBALL • 21