Fort Gay, W.Va — Tolsia Girls basketball Coach Ric Morrone is going into his 29th season and he is as excited as ever to get this season underway.
Tolsia Coaches Ernie Richardson, Ric Morrone and Jennifer Jude
Tolsia will kickoff of the season at Home on Friday in the Annual BJM tournament held at Rebel Arena. The Lady Rebels will play Riverview at 5:00 and Fairview ( Ky ) will play New Hope Christian ( Oh ) at 7:00. On Saturday the two losers will play at Noon and the two winners will play at 2:00.
Tolsia returns two starters off of a team that went 6-7 last year and lost in the Region Co-Final to Calhoun Co. who made some noise in the state tournament. Juniors Kerigan Salmons and Autumn Block are back and two Martin Co. transfers Senior Lynndsey Cassell who started her high school career at Tolsia and Senior Brooklyn Evans along with Junior Julie Young will round out the starting five to open the season.
Freshman Amber Stevens, Sophomore Aria Maynard, Senior Haley Collie will provide some depth along with Sophomores Sara Sturgell, Hailey Ekers and McKenzie Cassell will round out the squad.
The schedule is tough once again beginning with the BJM tournament along with games against Greenup Co. ( Ky ), Chesapeake ( Oh ) Mingo Central, Grace Christian just to name a few. THS will also play in the WV HIT after taking a year off.
2021-2022 Tolsia Girls Basketball
L to R Bottom Kerigan Salmons, Brooklyn Evans, Haley Collie, Lynndsey Cassell, Autumn Block, Julie Young
L to R Top Brody James, Jennifer Jude, Hailey Ekers, Amber Stevens, Ric Morrone, Aria Maynard, McKenzie Cassell, Sara Sturgill, Ernie Richardson
Lady Rebel Seniors and Juniors
L to R Junior Kerigan Salmons, Junior Autumn Block, Senior Brooklyn Evans, Senior Lynndsey Cassell, Senior Haley Collie, Junior Julie Young
Tolsia Head Coach Ric Morrone
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… Lost a great group of girls from last year who had been with us for a long time. Several came back during Thanksgiving break and it was great to see them. Two of them are playing college basketball and we knew all of them would be successful adults. Excited for the group that we have now and ready to get the season going.”
“… We get two starters back and two transfers as well one of those started with us and we are glad she came back to her home school to finish her career. We have 11 players and they have really worked hard and we had a good summer with them. It is a new mix and it will take some time for them to mesh. They are learning everyday to play with each other. Autumn and Kerigan have experience along with Lynndsey and Brooklyn is with us now as well. Julie Young, Haley Collie is back after taking a couple years off Amber Stevens has some talent so we have a good mix of players. We are ready to get going we have practiced for a month and had two scrimmages. We are little banged up but will be ready to go Friday night.”
“… We scrimmaged Chapmanville who is well coached and shot the ball well. I think we competed and played hard. This past Monday we scrimmaged Charleston Catholic who was in the state tournament last year and return three starters and they were completely different games so that was good for us to see two different styles. We play a good Riverview team to open up the BJM on Friday and then we will play Fairview or New Hope Christian out of Ohio on Saturday. So our feet will be right to the fire early on.”
“… This weekend will be a good showcase at Rebel Arena for girls basketball. Some couldn’t get out to watch last year because of the restrictions so we are excited to have fans back in the stands. If you can make we should have a livestream as well with Justin Prince. Special tournament for me and all of us here at Tolsia High school.”
Tolsia Senior Lynndsey Cassell
PLAYERS COMMENTS
“… I’m very excited to back there is no place like home, I’m really looking forward to getting the season started. It has absolutely flew by and I’m so glad I came back here to finish my career. I think we will go out with a bang.”
“… I haven’t gotten to play on a team with my sister McKenzie since we were real little. She is a freshman and I’m trying to be a good role model for her and be somebody that she can look up to. I’m excited to play with her.”
“… Nothing has changed between me and Coach Morrone, He welcomed me back with open arms and I’m glad to back in the Orange and Blue. I appreciate his passion for the game and how he coaches us hard, he knows how much potential we have as a team.”
“…Opening up the season with the BJM is really special. We know how much it means to Coach Morrone and we want to win it for him. Also the home opener is always special as well. I told the girls this week that we need to bring everything we got on Friday and play for him and his mom.”
“… Excited to play against Greenup Co. we played them over the summer and it was very competitive. Also looking forward to playing Chesapeake at CK in the community center. I grew playing there and fell in love with the game of basketball and the people there molded me into the player I am today. I played in that building in kindergarten until I aged out. It will be extremely special playing there my Senior year. I’m ready to get going Friday.”
Tolsia Senior Brooklyn Evans
“… I can’t believe I’m a senior it has flew by it seems like just yesterday I was a freshman playing for Tug Valley. I’m excited to get back on the court, I didn’t play last season at Martin Co. and it was tough every time I went and watched them play. I can’t wait for our home opener on Friday night. We play Riverview in the BJM tournament and I know how much that means to Coach Morrone and we want to play well for him.”
“… We have played pretty good in our two scrimmages and just want to carry that over into the regular season and get as many wins as we can. I have grew up with a lot of the girls on the team and know what they can do. I’m just trying to help out any way I can. I’m excited to wear the orange and blue for sure.”
