PARKERSBURG - A case in contrasting style takes center stage in girls basketball as Parkersburg South and Parkersburg High meet at 7:30 p.m. today at Memorial Fieldhouse in the first of two regular-season meetings between the two crosstown rivals.
South (6-6) relies on the perimeter for much of its success, while PHS (5-7) pounds the ball into the post.
A probable starting lineup for the Patriots will see three seniors (Jenna McAtee, Carmen Cutlip and Gena Trippett) joined by sophomore Kasey Williams and freshman point guard Keya Bartlett.
McAtee is the stabilizing force offensively after scoring in double figures in 11 out of possible 12 games.
"McAtee is their most improved player from last year," PHS coach Kenny DeMoss said. "You can tell she spent a lot of time in the gym in the offseason.
"We have to contain their 3-point shooters and keep Trippett off the boards."
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- ?Parkersburg South and Parkersburg High meet at 7:30 p.m. today at Memorial Fieldhouse
PHS answers with a lineup that begins with 6-foot-1 Imani Ward and 5-10 Precious Ramsey. DeMoss also can bring 6-4 Kennedy Walker and 6-1 Paige Warner off the bench.
Walker turned out to be a welcome surprise in Saturday's 67-37 win against Capital after scoring a game-high 20 points.
Rounding out the starting lineup are Dakota Hefner, Megan Morrison and Kailey Cox.
"They're big," South coach Scott Stephens simply said. "They are probably the biggest team in the state of West Virginia. They will be a handful for us because they are a lot bigger than we are."
South is attempting to turn the tables on a three-game losing streak after falling to University, 65-55, last Friday night. The Patriots led the Hawks by two points at halftime but shot just 26 percent (8-of-31) from the floor in the second half.
"We didn't do a very good job on the boards," Stephens said. "That's a big team we were playing and they just dominated us on the boards."
The good news for the Patriots is that a pair of sophomores stepped up in the first half against University. Kasey Williams scored the team's first 10 points and finished with a team-high 17, while Alex Anderson knocked down three straight 3-pointers in the second quarter and ended the game with 11 points.
"I just have to keep these girls positive and focused that we're getting better because we are getting better," Stephens said. "We just have to put two halves together."
Ward is the leading scorer for PHS at 16.9 points per game, while averaging 11.4 rebounds per outing. Morrison represents the Big Reds' top playmaker at 6.0 assists per game.
Saturday's win against Capital marked only the second in the past seven games for the Big Reds.
"We were more consistent on offense Saturday we had a good flow," DeMoss said. "It was just a good feeling and you could tell that on the bench. Everybody was just feeding off one another."
