Hit hard by graduation and opening the year full of youth and inexperience, plus playing an entirely different system, the River View girls basketball team appeared to be in rebuilding mode.
Looks were deceiving.
The Raiders stunned heavily favored Greenbrier West, 95-92, in a wild regional co-final shootout to advance to the state tournament.
“It was a nice surprise. We knew that James Monroe and West were better than us with our youth and who we had graduated,” head coach Gehrig Justice said. “We thought we had a chance, but in reality, we knew we weren’t the top seed. They grew up as the year went on and our style of play helped.”
Instituting an offense throughout the year that basically utilized all 12 of his players in quick rotations, Justice had no idea how his team would adjust to the extreme pace of the game.
“I wasn’t sure if we could adapt that fast. You watch teams do it, but they are college kids and all of them can play. It took us some time to see what worked best for us,” Justice explained. “By the first of the year we kind of got in our best rotation pattern. Play as hard as you can on defense, take a quick break. Play as hard as you can on defense, take a quick break. Over the course of the game, you wear the other team out.”
Although River View returns the bulk of the lineup from last year, they will have some solid players to replace.
Abby Pruitt earned second-team all-state honors and poured in 37 points on that wild night in Charmco and Brooke Fuller who was a key role player, both graduated last year.
“Abby played on three state tournament teams. Brooke fit perfect in the new system. She stepped up and played well,” Justice said. “Two good seniors that took the freshman under their wing, but knew they had to take us places.”
Now River View will battle the burden of expectations which has people convinced they should be back in Charleston come March.
Senior Kaylee Blankenship will lead what is still a very young team, but it is not a role she is unfamiliar with.
“Kaylee really became our leader and stayed in that role through the summer and fall. She makes us go and will make us play faster,” Justice said. “The sophomores don’t slow down either. We are going to go faster than we did last year. It might be more reckless, but it will be faster. I’m not sure if we will put more in the basket, but our trips up and down the floor will increase.”
The only other senior is Carlie Childers who did not play last year in the new system and will have some catching up to do.
Junior Myleigh Goodman has been slowed by an injury and is limited due to the delay in the volleyball state tournament. Fellow-junior Erika Ball is described as more aggressive and now comfortable in the new system. Justice feels like she may the surprise player for his team.
The sophomore group is led by Chasity Kennedy who scored almost 400 points as a freshman.
“That is the most I have had any player score, especially as a freshman,” Justice said. “she played her best ball down the stretch. She is long, athletic and really fast with good instincts.”
Kaci Hatfield, who recently qualified for the state cross country meet, scored nearly 260 points in her freshman season and is a strong threat from behind the arc.
Lily Perkins and Baleigh Auville are two more sophomores that will be crucial contributors for Justice.
“Lily is a bulldog. She doesn’t look like a post player, but she likes to bang inside. She is a catcher in softball and is really good on top of the press. Lily is on players constantly. She is really tenacious,” Justice said. “Baleigh is a team player, that we had to play out of position last year to help the team. We will move her back into the post and the corner. She is good set-shooter and strong driver.”
Justice points to sophomore guard, Keira Stacey as the player that has taken the biggest steps over the years.
River View opens the season on Dec. 3 at Montcalm.
