Fort Gay, W.Va. — Five Tolsia Rebels were named to the Metro News All-State team or the Huntington Herald Dispatch Tri-State Team recently.
Tolsia Senior Autumn Block
Class A All State Captain 2nd Team 2023. 2nd Team Class A All-State in 2022. Herald-Dispatch Honorable Mention 2023. 12 ppg, 8 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl and 1.8 blks. Career Stats : 880 pts, 500 rebounds, 350 assists, 250 steals and 75 blocks.
Season Highlights : @ Lincoln Co 18 pt, 15 reb, 8 asst, 5 blk, 3 stl/ @ Buffalo 10 pt, 12 asst, 6 reb, 3 blks/
@ West Carter, Ky 29 pts, 12 reb, 6 stl, 5 asst, 2 blks.
Tolsia Senior Kerigan Salmons
– Class A All State 2nd Team 2023. Honorable Mention Class A All-State 2022. Second Team All Herald-Dispatch 2023.
Season Stats : 18.4 ppg, 5 reb, and 31% on three point field goals.
Season Highlights : @ Lincoln Co. 24 pts, 6 reb, 3 stl, 2 asst/ @ Buffalo 31 pt, (5/6 3pt), 4 asst,4stl/
Vs Man HS 32 pp , 5 reb, 3 stl
Tolsia Head Coach Ric Morrone
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… Kerigan is a great leader and a tireless worker on improving her game. Kerigan is a premier guard with a complete skill set, she is able to score equally well at all three levels. Kerigan achieved her 1000pt Career scoring this season and she is one of the most prolific shooters in West Virginia Girls High School Basketball. Kerigan recently set the school record for career three point field goals.”
“… Autumn is a “team first” player that has been a four-year starter and has put up tremendous numbers this season. Autumn is a special talent with an all-around game. She can impact a game in a variety of ways and is able to score the ball at all three levels effectively. Autumn can score the ball as well as facilitate her teammates and raise their level as well. This is the characteristic that great players have..”
Tolsia Boys Basketball went from four wins in Brian Stacy’s first season to thirteen this past season and a region title game appearance for the first time since 2019. And the three players listed below were a big reason why.
Tolsia Sophomore Parker Watts
Watts was named Metro News Honorable Mention and second team Herald-Dispatch Tri-State team for 2023.
He averaged 20.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game this past season.
Watts had a career high of 31 points against Huntington St. Joe this season.
Tolsia Senior Ben Clayton
Clayton was named Honorable Mention Herald-Dispatch Tri-State team for 2023.
He averaged 12.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal per contest this past season.
Clayton hit a career high eight three pointers in a victory over Man this season.
Tolsia Sophomore Bray Mollette
Mollette was named Honorable Mention Herald-Dispatch Tri-State team for 2023.
Mollette averaged 10.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal per game this past season.
Mollette had a career high 19 points against Hannan this season.
Tolsia Head Coach Brian Stacy
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… It was an honor getting three of our guys on the all tri state team. It’s a work in progress for us as you know but to turn it around from a 4 win season to a 13 win season and one game away from trip to the state tournament and these 3 guys were a huge part of it..”
“… When you come in as freshman and put up numbers like Parker did people said well let’s see what he does his sophomore season and he didn’t slow down any, he had over 400 points and numerous dunks in big games for us. Parker was also honorable mention all state and the thing about it is he’s always in the gym and he’s still learning the game.”
“… Bray Mollette didn’t get play his freshman season do to complications with Covid but was a vital part of are offensive and huge on the defensive boards. He was a mismatch on offense, they would try playing a guard on him because of his size and that was mistake he used his body better then anyone I’ve seen. Plus that allowed him to be a beast on the boards there was few games he had a double double with like 17 boards and that was huge for us.”
“… I can’t say enough good things about Ben Clayton but the one word I keep thinking about is leadership. You couldn’t ask for a better leader in practice or a game. One stat that doesn’t show up is minutes played. I be honest I don’t think he come out of a game unless we were up big. When his shooting was on like it was during the Man game at home were he hit 8 threes it was something to behold. I’m not sure how many buzzer beaters he hit but it was at least four and the one I remember best was the one at Grace Christian to give us the victory. I tell you what he’s a great person and a student I can’t say enough good stuff about him.”
“… I’m so proud of these guys they played hard all season for us and we got unfinished business to take care of.”
