By Stephen Smoot
In 2024, Pendleton County’s girls’ basketball team gave retiring coaching legend Donnie Kopp a going away present. The two-time state champion led a young and undermanned team into the playoffs, nearly pulling an upset in the first round of play at Charleston.
This year, the team features a new coach, new identity, new players, but the same old drive and determination under head coach Travis Heavner.
“We’re extremely young,” opened Heavner, who shared that the team has a single senior, three juniors, three sophomores, and three freshmen who competed on a middle school squad that never tasted defeat in two years.
During the past several years, the Wildcats have enjoyed exceptional play from experienced guards. Ana Young garnered national attention after a 50-point night during her senior year while Avery Townsend brought fire and fight on both ends of the floor.
“I coached eight years between 2007 and 2015 and I never had a thousand point scorer,” Heavner stated.
This year, Heavner expects to see both solid play and senior leadership from Jameigh Miller, Potomac State College commit. “We’re hoping she can take a big step,” noted Heavner, who praised her “big regional game” last year against Pocahontas County and also in the state tournament.
Miller, whose travel ball team has competed throughout the Eastern United States, can defend, score, and rebound effectively inside, but also handles the ball very well and has a reliable outside shot. She brings height and strength to the floor as well.
At center, junior Susan Vincell will continue to grow as one of the most dominant at her position in the Potomac Valley Conference. Standing at 5’11, Vincell learned “old school” post scoring moves from Kopp and used them to great effectiveness last year. Heavner described her as an “inside power” in scoring and rebounding and stated that she had “worked hard in the off-season” to improve.
Heavner described fellow junior Jessica Parker as “a Swiss Army knife” in that she can play different positions and has a wide skill set. “She’s a good defender, scores about six to eight points a game” and specializes in “hustle plays.”
Olivia Gonshor played her freshman year, did not come out for 10th grade, but will take the floor this year. “She’s scrappy,” said Heavner, who went on to say Gonshor is “a very good defender with a lot of energy. She’ll definitely be in the rotation.”
He also said Gonshor is “showing the ability to handle the ball and be aggressive on defense.”
With the team still quite young, Heavner will rely on his sophomores to continue to grow and show the skills they learned last year. Katie Heavner played the most as a freshman, showing strong inside play. “She’s improved since last year,” noted her coach, who added “she’s definitely here to contribute” and “not afraid to bang” against larger and more experienced players.
Coach Heavner called Lexi Tingler “a huge surprise” in practice and in the scrimmage game last week against Bath County in Virginia. She has shooting accuracy to about 15 feet and has also shown strong improvement in ballhandling.
Unlike recent years, Heavner has not identified a dominant ballhandling point guard, but stated the team may have to play “point guard by committee.”
Shayne Clutter also joins the team as a sophomore, bringing the athleticism and stamina of a strong cross-country runner. Additionally, “she’s very aggressive and shoots the ball well.”
In times’ past freshmen normally sit, watch, and learn, but with an undermanned squad, Heavner will need help from his least experienced.
Tia Heavner served as a rock of the undefeated middle school teams. Heavner shared that “her shot is out to near the three-point line.” Her length is expected to make her a formidable defender and rebounder as well.
Lauren Williams and Lily Brogan will add to the strong inside presence of this year’s Wildcats. Heavner said Williams has “improved in the offseason, finishes well around the rim.” Brogan also plays the post and has two years of experience under her belt.
Heavner stated that he would like to see at least eight or nine players emerge as reliable contributors on the floor. Though he expects the team to play well this year, he shared that he is looking beyond 2025-26 in terms of developing the players and the program.
“At the season, wherever we are is where we are and we will build from there,” he said, but also added, “we’ll give everything we’ve got.”
