The season didn’t end exactly as Bridgeport High School’s girls’ basketball wanted it to end. However, it did end where they wanted it to end – at the Charleston Civic Center.

 

Thanks to a strong year, the Tribe advanced to the Class AA state tournament where they ended up dropping a one-point decision to Frankfort in the opening round to close the year at 18-8. And thanks to that strong year, the biggest of the postseason honors were announced and the Indians have a player being recognized.

 

Tribe junior Emily Riggs was named to the Class AA all-state girls’ basketball third team that was released this morning. The team is selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association through a process that includes a ballot of their members and coaches.

 

“I think it’s great for her and I actually thought she would, at a minimum, make third team,” said Coach Dennis Hutson. “This shows that hard works pays off and, to be honest, if she wasn’t injured and had six more games to her total she may have gotten even more recognition.”

 

Riggs finished with the year leading the team with a 13.1 scoring average despite missing several weeks with an injury.  She closed the campaign with 37 points in the regional win against Roane County and added 20 more in the state tournament where she hit on 8-of-13 shots from the field.

 

“When you play really well in the postseason it helps because you get more exposure for media that might not see you otherwise,” said Hutson.

 

Harrison County did have one player make first team. Senior guard Gracey Lamm of Lincoln, who led her team to the state tournament as well, was one of eight players on the first team.

 

BHS had two players earn honorable mention status. Junior Rory Marple and senior Kaitlin Smith both were recognized for their efforts.

 

“I thought she had a great second half for us and she can be as dominant as she wants,” said Hutson of Marple, who averaged 12 points per game. “She’s playing AAU basketball for the first time and she’s playing with a really good team out of Morgantown so I hope she realizes how special she can be for us next year.”

As for Smith, she ends her senior season as one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in the program’s history. Hutson said she averaged 10.4 points per game and knocked down 57 3-point field goals.

 

“She was a great leader for us as a senior and was our biggest threat from the 3-pointline, which kept defenses honest,” said Hutson. “She was also a great help defender and understood our tendencies and where to be on that end of the floor.”

 

The entire 2018 West Virginia Sports Writers Association All-State Girls Basketball Team is as follows:

 

 

Class AA

First Team

 

Gabby Lupardus, Wyoming East, Sr. (captain)

Gracey Lamm, Lincoln, Sr.

Aeriel Adkins, Wayne, Sr.

Emily Saunders, Wyoming East, Jr.

Hannah Shriver, North Marion, Jr.

Abby Beeman, Frankfort, Jr.

Baylee Goins, Nitro, Fr.

Laila Arthur, Sissonville, Jr.

 

Second Team

 

Anna Hamilton, Nicholas County, Jr. (captain)

Lucille Westfall, Roane County, Sr.

Kara Sandy, Wyoming East, Sr.

Jazz Blankenship, Wyoming East, Jr.

Z.Z. Russell, Winfield, So.

Jasiah Smith, Bluefield, So.

Maddie Wilcox, Wayne, Sr.

Angela DeLorenzo, Fairmont Senior, Sr.

 

Third Team

 

Autumn Spangler, Bluefield, Jr. (captain)

Taylor Buonamici, North Marion, So.

Holly Toler, Logan, Sr.

Laken McKinney, PikeView, So.

Emily Riggs, Bridgeport, Jr.

Katie Ball, Mingo Central, So.

Kiersten Roberts, River View, Sr.

Allison Dunbar, Herbert Hoover, So.

 

Honorable Mention

 

Lakyn Adkins, Wayne; Shiloh Bailey, PikeView; Kierra Bartholow, East Fairmont; Kaylee Blair, Chapmanville; Erica Boggs, Clay County; Lexi Bolen, Independence; Kara Browning, Chapmanville; Hannah Boyd, Scott; McKenzie Carpenter, Philip Barbour; Taylor Carpenter, Herbert Hoover; Auburey Chandler, Poca; Adriana Christopher, Philip Barbour; Maliyah Cottingham, Liberty Harrison; Jade DeBerry, Lincoln; Makenna Douthitt, Frankfort; Reece Enochs, Oak Glen; Abby Faulkner, Fairmont Senior; Emily Hudson, Winfield; Makayla King, Oak Hill; Maggie Kovalcik, Oak Glen; Jayden Lindsey, East Fairmont; Kearstin Lucas, Keyser; Gracie Mann, James Monroe; Rory Marple, Bridgeport; Makayla Morgan, Westside; Cara Minor, North Marion; Brielle Osborne, North Marion; Emily Parker, Nicholas County; Leah Parrish, North Marion; Ally Peters, Grafton; Bella Posey, Lewis County; Sarah Post, Lewis County; Torri Potterfield, Nitro; Xziah Rhodes, Mingo Central; Whintey Sansom, Wayne; Kaitlin Smith, Bridgeport; Bailey Stead, Weir; Jill Tothe, Logan; Anna Tucker, Lewis County; Lexi Turner, Keyser; Gillian Weaver, Robert C. Byrd; Brittney Welch, Logan; Courtney Wilfong, Fairmont Senior; Brynne Williams, Lincoln

 

Editor's Note: Top photo and cover photo of Emily Riggs by www.benqueenphotography.com.