By Rich Stevens
The Wyoming East backcourt makes the Warriors go.
The frontcourt keeps opponents from going anywhere.
Such was the case in the West Virginia Class AA girls state basketball tournament championship on Saturday afternoon when the Warriors charged past Fairmont Senior 54-26 for the school’s first title in its first championship game appearance.
This marks the second consecutive year the Polar Bears (23-5) have come up short, dropping a three-point decision to Sissonville in the 2015 championship.
“Defensively we knew we had to be strong,” said Wyoming East coach Angie Boninsegna, whose team held Fairmont Senior to nine points in the second half. “They were bigger and stronger than us.”
Overall, perhaps, but 6-foot-4 freshman Emily Saunders and 5-7 sophomore Allie Lusk as well as play-making sophomore point guard Gabby Lupardus and 5-10 sophomore wing Kara Sandy were aggressive early and often. Sandy had 14 of her 17 points in the first half for the Warriors (23-2).
Saunders had tournament lows in points (8) and rebounds (9), but altered the game with a tournament personal best of seven blocked shots.
“She does a great job of staying big,” Fairmont Senior coach Corey Hines said. “What you have to learn is to keep going at her. Getting your shot blocked is part of the game.”
Lusk had three of her five rebounds and her only field goal the first two minutes to set the tone while Fairmont Senior’s focus was on Saunders.
“It helps me tremendously (having Saunders on the other side),” Lusk said. “They always look at Emily because she is 6-4. They often underestimate me and I’m able to get rebounds out to Abby to make plays. It’s definitely an advantage.”
Lupardus concluded a three-game visit to Charleston in steady, if not spectacular, fashion. She finished with 17 points, six rebounds and three assists. More importantly, she didn’t pick up another foul after being whistled for her second with 6:24 left in the second quarter.
Boninsegna considered for “a millisecond” taking Lupardus out, but decided against it.
“I told Gabby if they’re shooting a layup, let them go by,” Boninsegna said. “I knew I needed her on the court for floor leadership. That was crucial for us. If she picks up her third that would’ve changed our whole game.”
Wyoming East received 19 points off the bench, sparked by Sandy. Abby Stoller had 11 points to lead the Polar Bears’ offense, which was stagnant against East’s 2-3 zone. Senior shot 18.4 percent (9-49).
“You have to believe in what you’re doing,” Hines said. “If a team is in a 2-3 zone and you get no ball movement, then you’re relying on your jumpshots too much.”
Lupardus, Sandy and Saunders were named to the All-Tournament team along with Fairmont Senior’s Erica Bowles and Stoller, Grafton’s Siera Gabbert, Sissonville’s Karli Pinkerton and Tolsia’s Dena Jarrells.
Wyoming East had reached the semifinals seven times in its nine tournament trip, but is in just its second under Boninsegna, who just completed her sixth season and will welcome back all but three of the 19 players in the program.
The three East standouts are underclassmen, as are 13 of the other 16 in the school’s program. The three East seniors played one minute prior to the championship game. The rest of the Class AA teams in West Virginia could be looking up at more than just the 6-4 Saunders for the next couple years.
Next week, the Wyoming East boys team will seek its fourth state title beginning with a tournament quarterfinal game against Robert C. Byrd at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
