Defending champion Gilmer County advanced to the WVSSAC Class A Girls Basketball State Championship Game, defeating Ritchie County 52-43 in a hard-fought semifinal matchup at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.

The battle between Little Kanawha Conference rivals opened as a defensive struggle. Chelsea Jeffrey knocked down a three-pointer to give Ritchie County an early lead, and Emily Bush added back-to-back baskets to help the Rebels take a 7-2 advantage.

Gilmer County answered late in the first quarter when Ava Dobbins scored inside, tying the game at 7-7. The Titans grabbed momentum in the second quarter behind Laura Brannon, who converted a layup to give Gilmer the lead, while Kenley Hartshorn added key baskets late in the half as the Titans carried a 21-18 lead into halftime.

Ritchie County briefly pulled even early in the third quarter when Elsa Law buried a three-pointer, tying the game at 23-23. Law finished with a game-high 19 points for the Rebels.
Gilmer County responded with a decisive run. Hartshorn completed a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, sparking an 11-0 scoring run that pushed the Titans’ lead to 32-23. Brannon followed with a three-point play to stretch the advantage to double digits.

Despite an early fourth-quarter injury to senior guard Lena Frymier, the Titans maintained control. Ava Dobbins led the way with 17 points, scoring key baskets down the stretch, including a spin move through traffic and another finish off a pass from Blair Dobbins.
Gilmer County held off Ritchie County’s late push to secure the 52-43 victory.
With the win, the Titans advance to Championship Saturday, where they will face St. Marys with the WVSSAC Class A state title on the line.

Final Score: Gilmer County 52, Ritchie County 43
Event: WVSSAC Girls Basketball State Tournament – Class A Semifinal
Location: Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center