Five Big 10 Players Earn First-Team Class AAA All-State Honors; North Marion's Toland Named Captain
By Chris Johnson on March 23, 2023 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
The Big 10 Conference was well-represented on the Class AAA girls basketball All-State team announced today by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association with five first-team selections led by captain Olivia Toland from state champion North Marion.
Toland, a senior, was joined on the first team by her teammate, junior Emma Freels. Together they led the Huskies to the title including a state championship game 88-60 victory against another Big 10 school, Philip Barbour.
Toland averaged 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.8 steals per game, while Freels, averaged 14.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.3 steals per contest.
Toland averaged 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.8 steals per game, while Freels, averaged 14.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.3 steals per contest.
The North Marion duo was joined on the first team by fellow Big 10 player in Philip Barbour junior Braylyn Sparks, East Fairmont junior Kenly Rogers and Robert C. Byrd senior Avery Childers.
Sparks was the sparkplug for the sixth-seeded Colts’ historic run, as Philip Barbour, which before last year had never even made the state tournament, stunned No. 3 East Fairmont in the quarterfinals, then took care of No. 7 Sissonville in the semis.
She averaged 14.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals heading into Charleston, then scored 11 in the quarters, 26 in the semis and 14 (with six assists and four steals) in the final.
Rogers was part of a record year for East Fairmont as the Bees, who had never had a 20-win season in program history, did that and more, going 23-3 on the campaign.
Rogers’ numbers on the season were 17.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.8 steals per contest.
Childers was an anchor for a top-5 RCB team that lost a thriller in the final seconds to Philip Barbour in the regional final.
The versatile senior averaged 17.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.
Sparks was the sparkplug for the sixth-seeded Colts’ historic run, as Philip Barbour, which before last year had never even made the state tournament, stunned No. 3 East Fairmont in the quarterfinals, then took care of No. 7 Sissonville in the semis.
She averaged 14.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals heading into Charleston, then scored 11 in the quarters, 26 in the semis and 14 (with six assists and four steals) in the final.
Rogers was part of a record year for East Fairmont as the Bees, who had never had a 20-win season in program history, did that and more, going 23-3 on the campaign.
Rogers’ numbers on the season were 17.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.8 steals per contest.
Childers was an anchor for a top-5 RCB team that lost a thriller in the final seconds to Philip Barbour in the regional final.
The versatile senior averaged 17.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.
The Big 10 was also represented on second team with Lincoln junior Ashlyn Riley, who scored 19.3 points per game and added 8 rebounds per contest.
Rounding out the first-team selections were Wayne sophomore Brooke Adkins, Ripley junior Sophie Nichols and Sissonville sophomore Kynna Britton.
Wayne was either No. 1 or No. 2 the entire regular season in the Associated Press poll, with Adkins leading the way. She averaged 16 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.5 steals per game for the 24-2 Pioneers.
Nichols led the Vikings in scoring during a semifinal run and a 20-win season, averaging 17.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks a game, knocking down 71 3-pointers.
Britton averaged 20.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, helping the Indians to sectional and regional titles before her team stunned Wayne in the quarterfinals.
Toland, Childers and Nichols are repeat first-teamers.
Joining Riley on second team are Ripley senior McKennan Hall (captain), Hampshire junior Izzy Blomquist, Logan senior Natalie Blankenship, Midland Trail sophomore Addie Isaacs, Nitro senior Taylor Maddox. PikeView sophomore Riley Meadows and Wayne sophomore Addie Adkins.
Wayne was either No. 1 or No. 2 the entire regular season in the Associated Press poll, with Adkins leading the way. She averaged 16 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.5 steals per game for the 24-2 Pioneers.
Nichols led the Vikings in scoring during a semifinal run and a 20-win season, averaging 17.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks a game, knocking down 71 3-pointers.
Britton averaged 20.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, helping the Indians to sectional and regional titles before her team stunned Wayne in the quarterfinals.
Toland, Childers and Nichols are repeat first-teamers.
Joining Riley on second team are Ripley senior McKennan Hall (captain), Hampshire junior Izzy Blomquist, Logan senior Natalie Blankenship, Midland Trail sophomore Addie Isaacs, Nitro senior Taylor Maddox. PikeView sophomore Riley Meadows and Wayne sophomore Addie Adkins.
All-State honorees can obtain state-shaped, wood plaques with name, school, year and honor at wvswa.org or bearwoodcompany.com.
Editor's Note: Photo of Toland by Joe LaRocca.
The Class AAA Girls Basketball Team as Selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association
Class AAA
First Team
Olivia Toland, North Marion, Sr. (Captain)
Braylyn Sparks, Philip Barbour, Jr.
Kenly Rogers, East Fairmont, Jr.
Brooke Adkins, Wayne, Soph.
Avery Childers, RCB, Sr.
Sophie Nichols, Ripley, Jr.
Emma Freels, North Marion, Jr.
Kynna Britton, Sissonville, Soph.
Second Team
Addie Adkins, Wayne, Soph.
Ashlyn Riley, Lincoln, Jr.
McKennan Hall, Ripley, Sr. (Captain)
Natalie Blankenship, Logan, Sr.
Riley Meadows, PikeView, Soph.
Izzy Blomquist, Hampshire, Jr.
Addie Isaacs, Midland Trail, Soph.
Taylor Maddox, Nitro, Sr.
Honorable Mention
Hannah Ault, Hampshire; Austyn Barnes, Shady Spring; Elizabeth Blankenship, Lincoln County; Averi Carpenter, Philip Barbour; Gracie Clay, Lincoln County; Gracelyn Corley, Elkins; Brooke Craft, PikeView; Carleigh Curotz, Robert C. Byrd; Addie Elliott, North Marion; Emma Elliott, Liberty Harrison; Averi Everline, Keyser; Kelsey Harper, Scott; Kailee Haymond, East Fairmont; Martina Howe, Robert C. Byrd; Sadaya Jones, Fairmont Senior; Kenna Keener, Grafton; Autumn Kerchner, Keyser; Kaitlyn Lester, Westside; Olivia Lowther, Robert C. Byrd; Mattie Marsh, Philip Barbour; Harmony Mills, Independence; Emma Pinkney, Lewis County; Jaden Sturm, Robert C. Byrd; Meghan Taylor, Winfield; Adrienne Truman, Nicholas County;
