As Yogi Berra said, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.”
Tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. in The Pit, Ravenswood’s Red Devilettes (16-5) will take on the Weir Red Riders (14-8) in the Region 1 championship game with a berth in next week’s West Virginia Girls’ Class AA Basketball Tournament on the line.
It’s a high-stakes rematch.
Ravenswood and Weir tangled last year at The Pit with Ravenswood winning a hard-fought 56-50 decision to advance to the state tournament for the first time since 1997 on their way to a Class AA “Final Four” finish at the Charleston Civic Center Coliseum.
In last year’s dramatic regional battle royale, it was a career night for Ravenswood’s “Wonda Twins.” Then-junior Rebekah Samples (five treys, 8-for-8 from the floor, three steals) scored a career-high 30 points to lead the Devilettes and senior Ashley Prince added 17 (4-for-4 treys, eight rebounds and four assists).
For Weir, then-junior Shaquana Gray went against her dribble-drive casting to hit five treys (four in the first quarter) and score 23 points. Then-sophomore Nikki Robinson (three treys) chipped in 17 points.
Then-sophomores Emily Rector (trey, four assists) and Sarah McMillan added five points each for the Devilettes and then-sophomore Nicole Sadecky and then-freshman Hannah Gurtis one point each.
Prince is now playing basketball at Alderson-Broaddus, but Samples, now the lone senior for Ravenswood, now-juniors Rector, McMillan, Sadecky and now-sophomore Gurtis are back for Coach Chris Michael to go at it again tonight with 6-0 freshman Hannah Murray as a starter and a cast of talented role players like junior Makala Settlage, sophomores Brenna Mahan and Amanda Anderson and freshmen Melonna Carmichael and Taylor Youell.
For the Red Riders, now-seniors Shaquana Gray and Kassi Robinson, and now juniors (2010 leading scorer) Nikki Robinson and key reserve Bobbie Jo Julian are back for Round Two. Sophomore Taylor Gianangeli and freshman Shelva Burns are new starters for 2010. The Red Riders are coached by veteran Bill Smith.
Weir finished as Region 1, Section 1 runners-up, losing to Oak Glen 44-27 in the championship game. The Red Riders went 1-2 against the Golden Bears this season, and have been both Jekyll and Hyde during the season. They beat Magnolia three times, AAA Brooke, but split with Madonna and Tyler Consolidated. They have averaged scoring 46 points per game while allowing 44 points per game. Weir plays a two-three zone defense and rebounds well with Burns and Nikki Robinson leading the way. They can shoot the three and score inside as well. Yet they have also had a tendency to be turnover-prone.
Ravenswood won the Region 1, Section 2 crown by blowing out Pt. Pleasant with a school-record 14 treys, and then have to survive a 35-28 overtime nail-biter over upset-minded Ritchie County.
The Devilettes have averaged scoring 49 point per game while allowing just 38 ppg. as they recorded their best LKC finish (fifth) in recent years, handed LKC champion St. marys their only loss of the season to date and have been ranked #4 in Class AA for most of the season.
The Devilettes’ “Big Three” lead the way. Senior Rebekah Samples has scored over 1,000 career points, averages 10.8 ppg and has drained a team-leading 48 treys this season. Junior Emily Rector averages 14.8 ppg and has hit 42 three-point goals. Freshman Hannah Murray averages 11.4 ppg and has hit 17 three’s.
Juniors Sarah McMillan is a shot blocking machine and teams with fellow junior Nicole Sadecky and Murray to give the Devilettes strong rebounding. Sophomore Hannah Gurtis and junior Makala Settlage provide key minutes off the bench.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
