Chapmanville's Jaycee Blair attempts to fight through a boxout by Mingo Central's Alyssa Davis (2) and Bella Hall (13) during the Lady Tigers 46-34 victory over Lady Miners in last year's Class AA Region 3 Section 2 championship at Mingo Central High School on February 24 (Photo courtesy of CKG Graphics).
Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports
CHAPMANVILLE In five of the last six years, a team from Region 3 has played for the Class AA girls basketball state championship.
If Tuesday's release of the preseason poll is any indication, then there's a good chance that it will happen once again in 2024.
Chapmanville, who opened the season Thursday night at Herbert Hoover, is one of four Class AA Region 3 teams to be ranked in the West Virginia Associated Press preseason girls basketball poll released Tuesday afternoon.
The Lady Tigers are ranked eighth while Region 3 counterparts Wyoming East, Summers County and Mingo Central occupy the top three spots in Class AA.
Last year's state champion, Wyoming East, and runner-up, Summers County, are ranked first and second with Mingo Central. The Lady Warriors received nine of 10 first-place votes while the Lady Bobcats received the remaining first-place vote.
Behind the Lady Miners, who are ranked third, is Charleston Catholic at four and Williamstown at five.
The rest of Class AA has St. Marys and Wheeling Central tied for sixth followed by Chapmanville, Petersburg and Ravenswood rounding out the top 10.
Following Thursday's opener at Herbert Hoover, Chapmanville will travel to Class AAA No. 6 Lewis County in the Big 10-Cardinal Conference Friday night.
Chapmanville will host Logan, who is not ranked in the girls preseason poll but did receive nine votes in Class AAA, on December 7 in its home opener.
Logan opens its season Saturday afternoon on the road at Grafton in the Big 10-Cardinal Conference Challenge. The Lady Wildcats travel to Poca Monday night before next week's county rival at Chapmanville.
Man opens it season next week. The Lady Hillbillies host Tug Valley on Monday and Scott on Tuesday and travel to Cabell Midland High School next Saturday, December 9, to take on Greenup County (KY).
Girls Basketball AP Preseason Poll
CLASS AAAA
Morgantown (7) 97
Wheeling Park (3) 93
Spring Valley 69
University 58
Spring Mills 56
George Washington 50
Cabell Midland 43
Huntington 25
Woodrow Wilson 23
Parkersburg 15
Others receiving votes: St. Albans 7, John Marshall 4, Parkersburg South 4, Princeton 4, Washington 2.
CLASS AAA
North Marion (7) 92
Wayne (3) 89
East Fairmont 72
Philip Barbour 67
Ripley 66
Lewis County 43
Sissonville 38
Nitro 19
PikeView 16
Lincoln 13
Others receiving votes: LOGAN 9, Winfield 8, Hampshire 7, Robert C. Byrd 4, Grafton 3,
Weir 3, Keyser 1.
CLASS AA
1. Wyoming East (9) 99
2. Summers County (1) 82
3. Mingo Central 69
4. Charleston Catholic 53
5. Williamstown 48
6. St. Marys 45
(tie) Wheeling Central 45
8. CHAPMANVILLE 33
9. Petersburg 26
10. Ravenswood 18
Others receiving votes: Frankfort 12, Trinity 12, Parkersburg Catholic 4, Ritchie County 4.
CLASS A
1. Cameron (10) 100
2. Tucker County 85
3. Greenbrier West 75
4. Gilmer County 67
5. Doddridge County 51
6. James Monroe 37
7. Tolsia 32
8. Webster County 28
9. Huntington St. Joe's 23
10. Pendleton County 21
Others receiving votes: Tug Valley 13, Calhoun County 4, Clay-Battelle 4, East Hardy 3, Meadow Bridge 2, River View 2, Union 2, Hundred 1.