The Greenbrier East girls journeyed back to the state basketball tournament in 2023-24 for the first time since 2020.
Now the Spartans once again have their eyes set on a trip Charleston and for good reason.
“We have all of our girls back for the most part. So far, so good. They are working together, the attitudes are good and the kids are rooting for each other,” head coach and current West Virginia Governor Jim Justice said. “We have nine players for sure and maybe 10 that we can change the parts around and not back up a whole lot. You don’t get many teams like that to tell you the truth.”
Among the numerous returning players are leading scorers, junior Kennedy Stewart and sophomore Ava Workman.
Stewart dropped in 17 points per game last season, while Workman scored nearly 13 points per night. Both players garnered all-state recognition.
“Kennedy has grown some and she faster. Her shot is as smooth as it can be,” Justice said. “She puts us in mind of the former Nitro standout Meg Withrow that played with my daughter Jill. Ava has probably been in the weight room some, but she is stronger. Both of those kids have improved from a physicality standpoint. Ava likes to go to the glass and both shoot the ball really well. They are just tough.”
The two dynamic scorers will have a pair of blue-collar players to compliment them. Both players do the little things that do not show up in the scorebook.
“Mackenna McClure always gives you a solid game. She tries so hard and is very solid,” Justice said. “Sandi Banton is a hard-noised kid that really hustles.”
Junior center Hannah Fuller patrols the paint, but is far more than a space-eater for the Spartans.
“People sell Hannah short, but she is right at 6-3 and can run,” Justice said. “Very seldom do you see a big kid that can pass and shoot foul shots. Hannah can do both. Her passing is the best thing that she does.”
Senior Jada Waller also played big for Greenbrier East last year scoring nine points per game, while Fuller and McClure added eight points.
Volleyball standout Alexis Stack will add more depth to solid roster for the Spartans.
“We still have to do things to improve and all of that stuff, but we have had a couple of nice scrimmages, so we will go from there,” Justice said.
Solid defense has always been a main component for East and this year is expected to be no different.
“We like to get up and down the floor as much as we can and we like to shoot the three. We like to change defenses all the time,” Justice said. “Sometimes we change every time we go up and down the floor. The kids know a lot and we have kids back that can really shoot the basketball.”
Justice says his ability to throw so many defenses at opponents is a testament to the intelligence of his players.
“I am really proud of these girls. They know a lot of stuff. I just keep throwing stuff at the other coach until I find something that they can’t figure out or can’t stop,” Justice said. “Then we just keep doing it and doing it. By them learning all of this stuff, they give us a war chest to pull from. It is a tribute to what they know.”
This year Greenbrier East moves from Class AAAA to Class AAA. The Spartans will no longer battle the likes of Beckley and George Washington, but will still face a tough task when the postseason rolls around.
The region will include teams like Sissonville, Independence, Princeton, Nicholas County and Shady Spring.
“You have regions with five teams and some with nine. We have nine,” Justice said. “I’m not sure why they didn’t put everyone in our region. I’ve never seen anything like it, but the girls are motivated.”
