Photo by Cody Tomer Wheeling Park’s Zariah Marling, right, and the Patriots are preparing for Thursday’s state tournament opener in Charleston against Jefferson.

WHEELING — The No. 3 Wheeling Park girls’ basketball team will get their state tournament action started on Thursday when they take on No. 6 Jefferson in the WVSSAC Class AAAA quarterfinals at 9:30 a.m. at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.

It won’t be the first time the two teams have met as the Patriots walloped the Cougars 75-30 less than a month ago.

However, since that loss to the Patriots, Jefferson (16-5) is riding a four-game winning streak in which it is outscoring its opponents 234-164.

“When we played them, they were coming off of an injury to their best player,” Park coach Ryan Young said. “I’m sure they’ve made adjustments since then. That win means nothing now. We just have to make our kids stay focused.”

In that win, Wheeling Park (19-5) showcased its depth as nine players scored and four reached double-figures.

Freshmen Alexis Bordas and Lala Woods netted 22 and 12 points, respectively, while sophomore Natalie Daugherty poured in 16.

Bordas is averaging 21.3 points per game, six rebounds per game and 2.7 steals per game, while Woods is turning in 12.2 PPG and four assists per game, and Daugherty is providing 13.1 PPG.

“This is the first season these three have played together so there are going to be some adjustments,” Young said. “They’ve done a great job of sharing the ball. Lex is a tremendous scorer but she does so many little things outside of that. She is probably the best practice player I’ve ever had at Wheeling Park. Lala and Natalie both have really high basketball IQs. I think the fact that we’ve been in so many crazy scenarios this year will help us in the tournament with our inexperience.”

Also in the win over Jefferson, junior Sophie Abraham bucketed 12 points. Her scoring ability, along with her attitude and grit has proven to be key for the success of her squad this season.

She is averaging 9.7 PPG and 3.5 RPG.

“Sophie has really been consistent for us and she plays really hard,” Young said. “That is something you can’t coach. She has grown into her own.

“She loves to drive the ball and she has developed her game as the season has gone on. You always know what you’re getting from her on defense and she is a tremendous athlete. She also knows that we have a handful of kids who can score and she understands what is a good shot and what is a bad shot. When teams have taken away our other scorers, she has stepped in and filled that void.”

Leading this young group are two seniors in Jai’lah Walker and Zariah Marling. Both are in the Top 3 in rebounding on the team as Walker is averaging 4.6 boards a game and Marling has 3.4. Their presence under the boards and veteran leadership on the floor will be crucial in the upcoming games.

“They have both provided veteran presence this year,” Young said. “They have the most experience on the team and have been to state a couple of times. Zariah is our only returning starter this year and both seniors are unselfish. They don’t worry about individual stuff. They are more about the team and you can’t ask for more than that out of two seniors. They have helped the kids make the transition with such a young roster.”

Park’s depth has been a game-changer all season long, as well. Players such as junior Naliah Lekanudos and sophomores Merritt Delk and Jillian Huffman have provided regular minutes every night and could be players to watch in Charleston this week.

“(Monday) was our first full roster practice in a while,” Young said after Lekanudos and Delk returned from injuries. “It looks promising for both of them to go this week. When they are not in the lineup, it hamstrings our ability to press because they are tremendous athletes and they bring energy and quickness to the floor.

“Jillian is one of those kids who can play both ends of the floor. She has all the tools and she has had games where she has really given us a boost. She is a big asset for us in the press and we are always confident in her. She is a great value to our team.”

A win against Jefferson could possibly set up a fifth battle against No. 2 Morgantown (20-2). The Mohigans are 3-1 in those contests but have only outscored the Patriots 214-211 in the process.

The lone Park win came in triple overtime and the Patriots recently rebounded from a sectional title loss to the Mohigans to beat Buckhannon-Upshur 79-36 for the regional crown.

“I think our girls are excited,” Young said. “I wasn’t sure what would happen after the Morgantown game but it all worked out well for us. We’re familiar with our first-round opponent and hopefully we can give them fits defensively like we did before. Our offense in that game was triggered by our defense.”