West Virginia South Hoops Season | Page 27

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Four starters back in fold for Patriots

By Steve Keenan the fayette tribune
Veteran coach John Mark Kincaid is anticipating a wealth of talent returning to the court for the Midland Trail girls this year .
Last year ’ s Patriots closed it out at 14-8 after losing to Sissonville in the first round of Class AAA section tournament play .
Gone via graduation are starter Meghan Gill , a multi-sport standout , and fellow senior Emma Brumfield .
“ We have four starters back from last year , and we ’ ve got a lot of younger kids pushing for playing time ,” said Kincaid . “ I like my sophomore class ; everybody came back better . Addy ( Isaacs ) is better , Rumor ( Barnhouse ) is better . They ’ ve been playing all summer , and it shows . They ’ re both playing pretty well right now .”
Sophomores Ava Dickerson and Jayla Barnhouse are “ coming along .” Fallon Bragg will also be in the mix .
Three-year starter Mia Nuckols , a senior , brings back talent and leadership for the Patriots , but she suffered a broken foot during soccer season and was rehabilitating as the basketball season arrived . That left her immediate availability unsure , Kincaid said , but
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F . Brian Ferguson / For The Register-Herald
Midland Trail ’ s Rumor Barnhouse drives for the score against Greater Beckley Christian Jan . 10 in Hico .
he ’ s obviously counting on Nuckols as the campaign progresses .
Fellow senior Brylee Stephenson , also a returning starter , is “ more assertive and taking more leadership ,” Kincaid said . “ It ’ s her turn to shine .”
“ I was surprised Addy didn ’ t make all-state last year ,” Kincaid said of Isaacs . “ She was really good , and she ’ s gotten better . I thought she was one of the top three or four players in the region last year . She ’ s got a chance , if she keeps working , she ’ ll be one of the better players in our region and in the state .”
“ Rumor Barnhouse is definitely contributing ,” he continued . “ She ’ s just a lockdown defender . She was last year . She might be the best defender I ’ ve ever had play for me . Her offensive game is getting better .”
Of junior Madison Harrell , Kincaid said , “ I like her versatility . Probably just make her my sixth man . She can play a little bit in and out .”
“( Junior ) Catherine Maxwell is playing lights out ,” he added . “ She ’ s tall and fast .”
Newcomers such as Nevaeh Hall and Jody Ward are “ long and fast ,” said the coach . “ They ’ re going to see some action .
“ We ’ ve got a lot of long and fast players . We ’ ve just got to get our skill level up , our athleticism up . We ’ ve got to find some more scoring somewhere .”
“ We ’ ve got to get up and down the floor to score ,” Kincaid went on . “ Our half-court offense can get kind of stagnant . ... The skill set is getting better . I ’ ve got so many new faces and new roles , I really haven ’ t worked on it like I need to .”
Besides possibly struggling in the half-court , Kincaid also said a key will be to “ work hard and play defense without fouling .
“ We ’ re going to press , trap , change defenses . We ’ re long and athletic , and the kids play hard .”
“ We ’ re still single-A playing triple-A . Next year , if the WVSSAC is being honest and truthful ” the Patriots could be back to Class A , Kincaid said .
For 2022-23 , though , he summed up , “ I think we ’ ve got a puncher ’ s chance ( this season ). We had a shot last year ; we did go ( to state tournament ) two years ago . There ’ s nobody separating this year .” All of the potential tournament foes field “ solid teams .” Follow on Twitter @ gb _ scribe
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