Hoops get into full gear!

With hoops season getting into full swing, there are several teams that are making noise. However, it is the one team that isn't making much noise that has everyone's attention.

Huntington's 3-year domination of WV boys basketball is officially over after the Highlanders fell to Spring Valley on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, it was Cabell Midland who started out with a pair of wins despite enduring a rough week with the death of three schoolmates.

The region will be up in the air and it will come down to execution in March, something teams are preparing for as we speak.

Over in Ohio, 1-2 punches are being thrown by South Point and Fairland as each has started the year unblemished. The Pointers will hit you with a Weed (Beau Weed) and slap a little Mayo (Todd) as they serve up losses for the opposition.

Meanwhile, Fairland's offense has been unstoppable with the same combination as in football season. Michael Lamb and Cole Hatfield might be the best all-around athletes in the area.

On the girls' side of action, Huntington and Huntington St. Joe are showing why they are preseason picks for the state tournament after posting nice wins this week.

The Irish got past previously-unbeaten Tolsia after putting up 30 points in the first quarter. Not to be outdone, Huntington went on the road and outscored South Charleston 28-4 in the first quarter en route to a big road win late last week.

It is all shaping up for a great beginning to 2008 in the world of high school sports.

West Virginia Preseason Girls Poll released Monday

With the girls basketball season officially opening Tuesday night, the Associated Press released its preseason polls on Monday afternoon.

To no one's surprise, Morgantown and Huntington are back on top of the Class AAA preseason ratings as both have key players returning.

The Highlanders received two first-place votes and feature sophomores Whitney Bays and Erin Bailes. The duo is expected to take the team back to Charleston late in the year, but they will have to overcome a stiff test from their district and region foes to get there.

In class A, Huntington St. Joseph was ranked fourth in the preseason poll and tied top-ranked Parkersburg Catholic and No. 2 Wheeling Central for most first-place votes with three. The Fighting Irish are also behind South Harrison, who was ranked third but did not receive any first-place votes.

Class AA was topped by Summers County and Winfield -- a pair of teams that collected all 10 first place votes. Locally, Tolsia received two votes in the poll.

GDT