Natalie Smith (Middle) at Nitro is preventing with Lexi Blankenship (5) and Addison Adkins for a return in the course of the semifinals of the AAA class basketball, in Charleston Coliseum and Conference Middle, on Friday, March 14, 2025.
Natalie Smith’s time at Nitro was quick, however she took a most of two years with Wildcats.
As a junior, Smith drove Nitro for the title of the AAA class state and was MVP of the match.
Smith grew up as a participant who drove in his senior season, and he or she capped her final season to Nitro, main Wildcats again to the title match of the State Event.
The 6 -meter striker recorded a median of 14.9 factors, eight.7 restoration, three assistants, 1.6 thefts and 1.four blocks per match as a senior.
This spectacular senior marketing campaign has gained the standing of AAA first crew captain on the 50th annual Affiliation of Writers Sports activities Writers Affiliation All-State.
“I might describe her profession as unbelievable,” mentioned coach Nitro, Pat Jones, about Smith. “She got here and employed for 2 years within the Nitro ladies basketball program. She leaves an inheritance. She ended her profession with over 1,000 factors, and in two years she scored over 800. She did unimaginable issues. Natalie did virtually the whole lot she submitted final yr. Nevertheless, all of them returned to her dedication to her.”
Smith is the primary Nitro participant, as an All-Sate crew captain, from Baylee Goins in 2021. Goins shared this honor with Marley Washenitz from Fairmont Senior.
Jones appreciates Smith’s availability to study on daily basis.
“It was very coaching,” Jones mentioned. “She would get down a number of occasions, however she was capable of deal very effectively with constructive critics. I used to inform her she was the crew chief and that when she is with a superb spirit, then everyone seems to be. She did that evening within the evening.
Smith transferred to Nitro as a junior after two years to South Charleston.
Jones noticed that Smith was nonetheless attempting to understand issues throughout her junior season. He noticed a distinction within the evening and day in her as a senior, with a big motive being her religion in itself.
“It was rather more assured,” Jones mentioned. “In her yr of junior, she entered with plenty of nerves, being a switch from South Charleston. She had plenty of what she could be. Within the senior yr, she went extra relaxed and assured as a result of she might do in the course of the junior yr. She knew she needed to take what she did in the course of the yr.”
Three faculties had a number of first crew groups, certainly one of which was the Wayne champion. Brooke Adkins and Jayce Sammons symbolize the pioneers.
Sammons led the pioneers in marking, on common 17.1 factors like sophomore. She additionally accomplished the statistical sheet in different classes, together with the recording of three.eight restoration, three.5 assistants and three.7 thefts per match.
The guard was a second crew of all states as a Boboc.
“It is sturdy mentally,” mentioned Wayne coach Wade Williamson, about Sammons. “She’s fearless. She’ll take her rights proper. She’s profitable. Exhausting work and he or she’s getting time, however she is aware of the way to maintain. It was so good for us this yr in rating, however individuals do not take a look at the opposite issues she has accomplished.
Adkins leaves Wayne as a thrice collection of the primary crew. Youngstown State Commite and ended the senior season within the second place on the pioneers in scoring, recording 14.three factors per match. It took a median of seven.6 restoration and drove four.1 thefts per match.
“She is the kind of little one you need,” Williamson mentioned. “She is the form of little one you wish to be all the opposite kids of your kids. She has by no means taken a consultant. She has by no means cheated or nobody in any consultant. This kind of character is what she is. She has a bodily capacity to go along with it. Additionally it is a psychological onerous.”
Kynna Britton from Sissonville, like Adkins, is a member of the primary crew for the third consecutive season.
The employment from Wesleyan Western Virginia leaves Sissonville as the primary marker of the Indians. She recorded a median of 19.eight factors per match in her senior season.
Greenbrier East and Grafton additionally positioned two gamers within the first crew. The Spartans noticed Kennedy Stewart and Ava Workman have been doing this, whereas Beats acquired Kenna Keener and Hadley Horne on the checklist.
Kailee Hammond from Keyser Felton and Kailee Hammond from East Fairmont are the opposite members of the primary crew.
Brooklyn Cawley from Nitro was one of many 10 second crew members. Cawley ended the season second on Wildcats in marking, recording 9.1 factors per match.
“She has matured lots from her starting yr till her yr above,” Jones mentioned. “Her starting yr, because the season went, she noticed it to mature an increasing number of. She had stress on her as a boyfriend. I used to be anticipating a lot as a bud. She got here out much more relaxed in her extra relaxed yr. She knew her position and what she needed to do to proceed in the best route.”
Addie Adkins from Wayne joined his Brooke sister within the All-Sate crew, as a captain of the second crew.
Addie Adkins recorded a double common in her first three seasons, however noticed that her rating was working at 7.5 factors per match as a senior. Nevertheless, she made her presence recognized in different areas, recording 5.6 restoration, 2.eight assistants and a couple of.9 thefts per evening.
Makaela Ullman from Sissonville, Ella Pinkney from Lewis County, Maddie Belan from Elkins, Brooke Christian from Chapmanville, Emma Moore from East Fairirmont, Riley Meadows from PikeView, Keyser Autumn Kerchner and Asia Colins de La Princeton have taken the second crew.
Western Virginia-shaped wood plates, which embrace the title of the participant, faculty, licensed WVSWA emblem and the honorary yr can be found for All-Sate-T-Crew picks, the second and honorable-wmentre. via wvswe.org or bearwoodcompany.com.
The Basketball crew for ladies all-state class AAA, chosen by the Western Virginia Sports activities Writers Affiliation
The primary crew
Natalie Smith, Nitro (Sr.) (Captain)
Kennedy Stewart, Greenbrier East (Jr.)
Brooke Adkins, Wayne (Sr.)
Kenna Keener, Grafton (Jr.)
British candle, Sissonville (Sr.)
Bibs Felton, Keyser (Soph.)
Kaylee Haymond, East Fairmont (Jr.)
Jaycelyn Sammons, Wayne (Soph.)
Ava Workman, Greenbrier East (Soph.)
Hadley Horne, Grafton (Sr.)
The second crew
Ella Pinkney, Lewis County (Sr.)
Maddie Belan, Elkins (Sr.)
Brooklyn Cawley, Nitro (Soph.)
Makaela Ullman, Sissonville (Sr.)
Brooke Christian, Chapmanville (Sr.)
Emma Moore, East Fairmont (Jr.)
Addie Adkins, Wayne (Sr.) (Captain)
Riley Meadows, PikeView (Sr.)
Autumn Kerchner, Keyser (Sr.)
Asia Collins, Princeton (Sr.)
Point out of honor
Mika Adams, Nitro; Sadie Adams, Lincoln; Gabby Canterbury, Winfield; Maddie Shut, Berkeley Springs; Arien Cooper, Lincoln County; Ava Edwards, Nitro; Daizi Farley, Chapmanville; Haley Fleming, Chapmanville; Hannah Fuller, Greenbrier East; Emma Gilbert, Elkins; Lacey Goodson, Independence; Brooklyn Jackson, North Marion; Haley Justice, PikeView; Mill of concord, independence; Peyton Raban, Shady Spring; Katie Rising, Berkeley Springs; Kasey Rogers, East Fairmont; Olivia Stone, Nicholas County; Jada Sutherlin, Robert C. Byrd; Adrienne Truman, Nicholas County; Rooney Urica, Keyser; Kalee Wright, Princeton; Maliyah Younger, Fairmont senior