Fort Gay, W. Va. — Going into his 30th season Tolsia Girls basketball Head Coach Ric Morrone is optimistic this group can get the Rebels back to Charleston.
2022-2023 Tolsia Girls Basketball
Front L to R Autumn Block, Kerigan Salmons, Sara Sturgell, Kaylee Johnson, Julie Young. Back L to R Aaron Fletcher, Emily Artrip, Megan Clayton, Amber Stevens, Jacey Crum, McKenzie Cassell, Kilee Preece, Ric Morrone
Seniors Kerigan Salmons, Autumn Block and Julie Young are returning starters from a team that went 15-7 and played eventual state runner up Gilmer Co. well for most of the game in the regional final. Sophomores Amber Stevens and Emily Artrip should step into starting roles this season and McKenzie Cassell could provide a spark off the bench.
The Freshman on the roster could also play a role on this team and provide some valuable minutes.
Tolsia will play another tough schedule beginning this Saturday with a trip to Coal Grove, Ohio. They will play at Rebel Arena on December 9th versus Grace Christian and Mingo Central on December 10th. They will also play West Carter at Kentucky Christian University, Cross Lanes Christian at West Virginia State University.
The Rebels lost Lynndsey Cassell, Brooklyn Evans and Graci Snyder off of a team that lost in the region final a year ago.
2022-2023 Tolsia Juniors and Seniors
Senior Julie Young, Senior Kerigan Salmons, Junior Sara Sturgell, Senior Autumn Block, Senior Kaylee Johnson
Tolsia Head Coach Ric Morrone
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… It’s been a lot of fun and I still enjoy it, we have had some really good kids over the years and it’s a real blessing. It’s hard to believe this will be year number 30 for me. We just try to do the best Jin we can year in year out.”
“… We play in the toughest region in the state and our section is no cakewalk. There will be four or five teams in the top ten from Region 4 alone. We think our schedule will have us battled tested and we have been close the last couple of years being one game away from Charleston and that’s our ultimate goal each year. We have kinda reshuffled the deck this year. We lost some talent and experience off of last years team but we are excited with who we got coming back.”
“… I thought the girls played hard in the scrimmage at Clay Co. and we really had four goals in mind when we went up there. I thought the effort was good, the energy was good, we showed improvement throughout and I was pleased with that. We only had 7 or 8 practices before we went up there. It will be an opener for us on Saturday at Coal Grove. They will have three games under their belt and they have a very good program over there. It will be a challenge for us.”
“… We have some talented players throughout our program from top to bottom and we’re excited about that. Our middle school programs have gotten better each year and that’s something that will help us here at the high school level. Our program is only as strong as the feeders.”
