The Midland Trail girls are used to doing things the hard way.
Last year the Patriots had to win a road game at Shady Spring in the regional co-final to earn a state tournament berth.
This year, if Trail is to make a return trip to Charleston, the road gets rocky from the start.
Drawing the No. 4 seed in the Class AAA Region 3, Section 2 tournament, the Patriots must beat top-seeded Herbert Hoover in Clendenin Wednesday to advance to the sectional final.
Nicholas County will travel to No. 2 seed Sissonville in the other Section 2 clash the same night.
Both teams that reach the sectional final are guaranteed a spot in the regional co-final played Tuesday, March 1.
Midland Trail and Hoover met just once this season in Hico with the Huskies taking a 64-43 decision.
Hoover outscored Trail 20-6 in the final quarter to pull away for the win. The Huskies did most of their damage from behind the arc knocking down 10 3-pointers in the contest.
“It was a good game. We were only down four late in the third quarter. They play hard and are well coached. Their experienced showed in that game,” Midland Trail head coach John Mark Kincaid said. “All five players can handle the ball.”
The leader of the long ball barrage that night was Caroline Woody who drilled five shots from deep and scored 19 points. Courtney Dunbar gave Trail fits inside and out, scoring 17 points on seven field goals, two from deep.
“If we are going to win, we have to slow down their perimeter shooting for sure,” Kincaid said. “On our end we have to execute on offense by attacking the basket.”
The Patriots have a pair of talented players that have been offensive threats for Kincaid.
Senior Meghan Gill is a walking double-double that can score from inside and out. Freshman Addison Isaacs is the team’s leading scorer and a ball-hawk on the outside.
Nicholas County and Sissonville also met just once this year back in early January. The Indians won that game, which was played in Summersville, 53-44.
“The game against Sissonville was probably one of the better games of the season that we have played,” Nicholas County head coach Kameron Hornsby said. “We played all four quarters, but we shot free-throws very poorly. We make a few free-throws and that game is totally different.”
The Grizzlies have received solid performances this year from freshmen Adrienne Truman and Olivia Stone. Kelsi Foster has been a force in the post.
Sissonville sports a deceptive 8-13 record having played a brutal schedule the last month of the season, winning just two of its final nine games.
The Indians split the season series with Hoover and recorded wins over Scott and Wheeling Central Catholic.
Freshman Kynadee Britton leads Sissonville averaging 15 points and seven rebounds per game. Junior Madison McCutcheon scores just under 10 points per game.
“We are going to have play physical against them. Sissonville is a very athletic team. They are guard dominated,” Hornsby said. “Their freshman point guard can shoot it and likes to attack the basket. We have to try and keep the ball away from here. Mason Stone did a great job on her last time.”
The sectional final is schedule for Friday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. and will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed.
Schedule
Region 3, Section 2
Game 1: No. 4 Midland Trail at No. 1 Herbert Hoover – Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.
Game 2: No. 3 Nicholas County at No. 2 Sissonville – Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.
Game 3: Championship between winner of Game 1 and Game 2 at the highest remaining seed – Friday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.
