Photo by Cody Tomer Cameron’s Ashlee Dobbs and the Dragons are ready to get their state tournament journey started today.

CAMERON — The No. 2 Cameron girls’ basketball team kicks off its second straight trip to the WVSSAC Class A State Tournament today when it takes on No. 7 River View inside the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center at 1 p.m.

It will be the first battle between the two teams this season but Cameron coach Holly Pettit and her squad have been doing their homework.

“They have three girls who average double digits,” Pettit said. “Their big can take up space in the middle but I think (Cameron center) Ashlynn (VanTassell) has the size advantage down low. Overall, they may have the size advantage. They are really scrappy but I think our guards can give them some trouble. Our guards are tough and defensively we can cause some issues because I think we may be a little quicker.”

Although the Dragons are eager to avenge last year’s loss in the state championship to Tug Valley, Pettit is making sure they focus on the task at hand first.

“It’s just one game at a time for us,” Pettit said. “Everyone is super excited to be down here again. Just getting here is an amazing accomplishment but we do have unfinished business after getting a taste of the state championship last year.

“We would love a different outcome this year but we are focused on River View and we’re watching a ton of film on them.”

VanTassell, who is averaging 18.3 points per game, 14 rebounds per game and is shooting 65% from the free-throw line, will look to make her presence felt under the rim and on occasion, from 3-point range.

“You can write a book about Ashlynn,” Pettit said. “She has great footwork and great hands. She gets up and down the floor great for a post player and she can shoot the ball well. There aren’t many post players that she hasn’t dominated.”

Fellow sophomore Kenzie Clutter is bringing averages of 10 points and four assists into the state tournament, after helping lead the charge to the finals as a freshman.

“Both Kenzie and Ashlynn are great team leaders,” Pettit said. “They come every day ready to play and ready to practice. They give 100% all of the time and coaches love those kinds of players. Kenzie sees the floor really well and is always calm and cool. She runs the offense and shoots the ball extremely well, too.”

While VanTassell and Clutter were freshmen on last year’s state tournament squad, this year it’s Maci Neely who has burst on the scene as a freshman, averaging 11.7 PPG and 3.5 RPG.

“Maci is a little spark plug that we need,” Pettit said. “She is great on defense and she has great hands. She runs the floor well and a lot of her points come on fastbreaks from stealing the ball. She is very coachable, too.”

The Dragons don’t just rely on several players, though. Twin sisters Ashlee and Emilee Dobbs, along with Gracie Carter and Aubre Cain-Loy have been providing clutch points when needed along with solid rebounding and strong defensive performances all year long.

“They all do a lot of behind the scenes work,” Pettit said. “They are great role players. Ashlee is a great rebounder because she battles. Emilee handles the ball well and she is great at driving and dishing it out. Carter is very versatile. She can play guard or forward. If we have a big in foul trouble she can go in and guard them and she is shooting the ball well lately. Aubre is probably our best defender. She is great at cutting off lanes to the basket. She hasn’t scored a lot of points but that doesn’t define who she is. She is all over the place and after an injury last year, I’m thankful to have her back and healthy.”

If Cameron does secure a win in its first meeting with River View, it will take on the winner of No. 6 Tucker County and No. 3 Tug Valley, last year’s state champion, on Thursday at 11:15 a.m.