Southern and Keyser finished as the top two teams in the area last season, and the 2025-26 campaign seems primed for a repeat.
The Rams are the two-time defending area champs, falling to Pikesville in the Class 1A state championship game for a second straight year. They return much of their production, including All-Area performers Jayden Weaver and Emelee Parks.
Keyser (19-5) advanced to the Class AAA state tournament for a second consecutive campaign, and it brings back early Player of the Year frontrunner Bibs Felton along with three other starters.
Last year’s Player of the Year, Avery Miller, has since graduated and is running track at Penn State after leading Allegany to a 21-4 season. The Campers feature a young roster in 2025-26.
Hampshire (12-12), Fort Hill (11-11), Mountain Ridge (14-9), Northern (15-9) and Petersburg (11-12) bring back key pieces from competitive squads, and Bishop Walsh has a bright future with a strong freshman class.
Here’s what to expect in the 2025-26 area girls basketball season:
Allegany
Last year’s record: 21-4
Head coach: Jim O’Neal
Key losses: Avery Miller (2024-25 Area Player of the Year; 21.6 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 4.2 apg, 6.4 spg)
Key returners: Braylin Bosley (5.8 ppg, 2.4 apg), Savannah Walton (5.7)
Player quotes: “This season, the team’s expectations are focused on improving and bringing energy to every practice and game,” Amanda Vizza said. “Our practices have been really competitive, and everyone has been pushing each other to get better. Our team is focused on staying disciplined, and making the most of every opportunity together.”
“For this season our team’s expectations are to work hard in practice and to improve everyday,” Myia Miller said. “We work to bring positivity and energy to every game. We work to not only win as a team but face any losses as a team.”
Bishop Walsh
Last year’s record: 7-11
Head coach: Shane Scott
Key losses: Grace Elliott (10.3 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.5 spg)
Coach’s quote: “Our mission is to develop strong, confident young women through academics, teamwork and unwavering commitment. Our players work just as hard in the classroom as they do on the court — the vast majority have earned academic honor roll recognition this semester.
“Despite the youth, the energy and hunger in our gym are incredible. These girls truly love being here — we often have to turn off the lights to get them to leave practice. They show up every day ready to grow and chase greatness together.”
Calvary
Last year’s record: 5-14
Head coach: Todd Riggleman
Key losses: Tessa Cessna, Anna Westrom
Key returners: Madie Robinette (11 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.4 spg), Reagan Weeks (6.5 ppg)
Coach’s quote: “I’m excited to get started. We’re a small squad, I call them my ‘mighty mites,’ but we run the floor well, are aggressive and will scrap every minute of the game. We return four players with considerable playing time from last year led by guards Madie Robinette and Reagan Weeks.”
East Hardy
Last year’s record: 10-12
Head coach: Donny Evans
Key losses: Brooklynn Tinnell (All-Area 2nd team; 19.5 ppg, 52 3s, 5.2 rpg, 4.1 spg), Chloe Miller (10.6 ppg), 32 3s, 8.5 rpg, 3.5 apg)
Coach’s quote: “Our main goal for this season is to build a foundation to get our ladies to get better everyday. To build our skills from day-to-day, week-to-week. To build our confidence and understanding of basketball. To compete and play hard every game.”
Fort Hill
Last year’s record: 11-11
Head coach: Mike Allen
Key losses: Lindsay Fleming (7.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
Key returners: Aubry Spangler (10.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.2 spg), Addison Furstenberg (6.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
Coach’s quote: “I’m extremely excited and proud of how hard the girls worked this pre-season. Our coaches have really stepped up to get the girls ready. With Aubry Spangler’s senior leadership, the girls have had the best start since I’ve been here. The programs numbers are also up, which is a good sign for the future. Our expectations are as high as they’ve ever been. Now we have to execute and play as hard during the season as we have been at practice. There is definitely a breath of fresh air around the program this year.”
Frankfort
Last year’s record: 3-18
Head coach: Steve Willison
Key losses: Jillian Ault (transferred to Keyser)
Coach’s quote: “We’re young, but I believe we’re a lot more talented than last year. It’ll take a while for our young girls to get used to the varsity level, but I think come playoff time we can compete to go to states again in our classification.”
Hampshire
Last year’s record: 12-12
Head coach: Jordan Richardson
Key losses: N/A
Key returners: Della Knight (All-Area 1st team; 12 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.5 spg), Bri Cosner (All-Area 2nd team; 11.2 ppg, 27 3s, 2.1 rpg), Brooklyn Klavuhn (5.9 ppg)
Coach’s quote: “Anticipating a very young lineup with only two seniors, we expect to see growth as the season progresses. We hope to dictate the pace of games and play a fun, wide-open style of basketball. We feel our culture in just two years has been established which we are very proud of. We hope to translate that to the floor this season. “
Keyser
Last year’s record: 19-5
Head coach: Josh Blowe
Key losses: Autumn Kerchner (All-Area 2nd team; 10.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg)
Key returners: Bibs Felton (All-Area 1st team (19.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.1 spg, 2.7 apg), Rooney Urice (All-Area 2nd team; 7.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.2 spg, 2.2 apg), Austyn Healy (7.7 ppg, 24 3s), Kiya Kesner (6.0 ppg, 2.5 apg), Jillian Ault (Frankfort transfer)
Coach’s quote: “We want to improve every practice and game all year long. We would love to build off of the success we have had over the last few years with a challenging schedule that we hope will prepare us for post-season success.”
Moorefield
Last year’s record: 7-12
Head coach: Jared Wratchford
Key losses: Korbin Keplinger (6.2 ppg)
Key returners: Kerigan Bergdall (9.1 ppg), CiCi Kump (8.4 ppg)
Coach’s quote: “Our expectations are to be hard-working and competitive in every game and to hopefully be playing for a trip to the state tournament in March.”
Mtn. Ridge
Last year’s record: 14-9
Head coach: Donny Carter
Key losses: Makayla Ziler (8.3 ppg, 21 3s, 3.0 rpg)
Key returners: Kealana Pua’auli (All-Area 2nd team; 11.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.9 apg), Taylor Lamberson (8.3 ppg)
Coach’s quote: “We have a great group of girls this year with five returners who started at some point last year. Our expectations are high, and we are looking to build on the success that we had last year.”
Northern
Last year’s record: 15-9
Head coach: Dave Yoder
Key losses: Isabella Yoder (4.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Kaylee Bowser (6.0 ppg)
Key returners: Abby Nelson (All-Area 1st team; 16.3 ppg, 45 3s, 5.0 rpg, 2.8 spg), Marisa Perez (5.1 ppg)
Coach’s quote: “We have a good mix of guard and post play with an emphasis on team defense. We look to continue our focus on hard work while having fun playing the game of basketball.”
Paw Paw
Last year’s record: 8-6
Head coach: Zack Harrold
Key losses: Pricilla Corbin (8.9 ppg, 2.9 spg, 2.7 apg)
Key returners: Shayla Tanouye (13.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.9 spg), Alexis Kidwell (7.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
Coach’s quote: “Looking forward to a bigger season of games this year. Hopeful to build off the momentum from last year and show the dedication it takes to be a team of five girls.”
Petersburg
Last year’s record: 11-12
Head coach: Jon Webster
Key losses: Addison Kitzmiller (6.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Key returners: Miley Tingler (10 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.4 spg), Shyane Tawney (8.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 3.5 spg), Quenlynn Cole (9 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Coach’s quote: “We have a young team this year but a team that gained a lot of experience last year. ... I believe we have a fast team that is going to play extremely hard. I have no doubt by the end of the season we will have established an identity of a team that guards well and can put pressure on teams in a variety of ways. I am excited about the attitude of our team and their willingness to work together.”
Southern
Last year’s record: 24-3
Head coach: Landon Todd
Key losses: Carly Wilt (All-Area 1st team; 12.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg), Abi Teets (3.3 ppg)
Key returners: Jayden Weaver (All-Area 1st team; 11.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.2 apg), Emelee Parks (All-Area 2nd team; 8.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.4 apg), Joycelyn Ward (7.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Gabbi Berry (6.5 ppg), Kelsey Ward (5.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
Coach’s quote: “I couldn’t be more excited for our upcoming season and what’s in store for our program this year. We’ve managed to put together our toughest regular-season schedule yet as we have multiple state champions, state finalists, and state semifinalists from Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania on the schedule. All in the hopes of better preparing our girls for another late season run. Despite all the success we’ve seen the past few years, I truly believe this is the most talented team we’ve had yet. I can’t wait to see how it plays out.”
Union
Last year’s record: 5-14
Head coach: Jason Evans
Key losses: Sophie Carr (10.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.8 spg), Chanelle Sutton (9.1 ppg, 11.8 rpg), Lexi Stahl (9.1 ppg, 3.8 spg)
Key returners: Chanda Gaither (4.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Bailey Casteel (3.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
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