Fort Gay, W. Va. — For the first time since 2016 Tolsia is headed to Charleston after the Rebels won the Girls Region 4 Co-Final championship 66-50 over Huntington St. Joe Thursday at Rebel Arena.
Front L to R Panyasiri Thongthip, Mia Ricalde, Natalie Sexton, Jada Salmons, Desiree Keene, Ella Hatfield , Isabella Kitts, Kylie Carpenter, Courtney Fletcher
Middle L to R Jennifer Jude, Emily Artrip, Jaycee Crum, Mackenzie Cassell, Julie Young, Autumn Block, Kerigan Salmons, Kaylee Johnson, Sara Sturgell, Megan Clayton, Amber Stevens, Kiley Preece
Back L to R Jake Arbaugh, Riley Lyvers, Aaron Fletcher, Ric Morrone, Ernie Richardson
Kerigan Salmons drives the lane against St. Joe in the Region title game.
Tolsia was led by Kerigan Salmons with 19 points and was 6 for 6 from the foul line, Amber Stevens tallied 13 points, Emily Artrip added 12 points including 6 of 6 from the foul line, Autumn Block netted 9 points, Julie Young finished with 7 points, Kilee Preece chipped in with 4 points and Jaycee Crum rounded out the scoring with 2 points.
Autumn Block surveys the court before finding the open player.
The Rebels hit 2 three pointers and went 18 of 19 from the charity stripe.
Amber Stevens knocks down a free throw versus St. Joe.
The Irish ( 10-14 ) were led by Ramey George and Ava Gallion with 13 points each, Chloe Lee had 8 points, Niko Kaufman 7 points, Sophie Ransbottom 6 points and Yfei Chen had 3 points.
St. Joe made 5 three pointers and went 9 of 24 from the free throw line.
St. Joe 15 13 5 17 = 50
Tolsia 18 12 16 19 = 66
Emily Artrip gets by the defender before attempting the shot in front of the Rebel Arena crowd.
Tolsia ( 17-8 ) will be the #7 seed and play #2 seed Tucker Co. ( 19-2 ) at 7:15 Wednesday in the Class A State Tournament.
Class A seeds:
- Cameron (19-6)
- Tucker County (19-2)
- Doddridge County (20-5)
- Greenbrier West (18-5)
- Webster County (18-7)
- Gilmer County (15-10)
- Tolsia (17-8)
- Pendleton County (15-6)
Julie Young was everywhere on defense against St. Joe
Tuesday, March 7th
Wednesday, March 8th
Friday March 10th
Saturday, March 11
Tolsia Head Coach Ric Morrone
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… Awesome, so proud and happy of our girls. They have been through a lot and persevered. Had the COVID year and they have been through so many ups and downs the last four years. We played a tough schedule and finished the year strong. We set a few goals last summer and getting to Charleston was one of them. I am so happy I get to spend another week with them.”
“… St. Joe is a good team, give Coach Huff credit she had a great game plan and did her film study. So proud of our girls though, we took a blow early in the game and got off to a slow start but they didn’t quit and kept battling all game long. We are to enjoy this tonight and then do our best in Charleston next week.”
“… They tried a couple different defenses to slow down Kerigan and Autumn but Emily Artrip, Amber Stevens, Julie Young and our girls off the bench really stepped up played so well. Total team effort once again.”
“… I can’t say enough about Rebel Arena tonight. It was rocking and that is the way it should be it was on fire and it was a great atmosphere on both sides. I can’t thank the Rebel faithful and our community enough. Hopefully they follow us to the Big house next Wednesday night. This is a special group of girls and I couldn’t be more proud.”
