Marion County athletes excited for North-South games

FAIRMONT — As they walk across the graduation stage today, Marion County seniors will officially put the final stamp on their high school careers.

For seven county athletes, however, they will get to wear their school’s name across their chest one more time in North-South all-star games this summer.

Four basketball players and three football players will take part in games this June, as the annual contests pit seniors from the northern portion of West Virginia against seniors from the southern part of West Virginia.

Girls’ basketball

Three seniors from Marion County will take part in this year’s contest June 9-10 at the Waco Center on the campus of Glenville State University.

From Fairmont Senior, Angela DeLorenzo will play for the North before she takes her basketball talents to Shepherd University in the fall.

This season, DeLorenzo averaged 15 points and eight rebounds per game, and she’s honored for the opportunity to play.

“Each team is full of very talented players, so it is an honor to be selected for the North-South game,” DeLorenzo said. “I am blessed to represent Fairmont Senior one last time before my college debut.

“I am very excited to be able to play on the same team as the players I have been competing against for four years.”

While DeLorenzo led the Polar Bears at the point guard position, across town Jayden Lindsey did the same for the East Fairmont Bees.

During her senior year this past season, Lindsey averaged 11 points, 4.5 assists and four steals per game, and she’s excited to represent the Bees once more.

“It’s an honor to be selected since very few from East Fairmont have been before,” Lindsey said. “I’m very blessed to get the opportunity to get to play with some of the best in the state and be coached by the selected coaches.

“I couldn’t be any more thrilled than I am to get to play the sport that I love once more.”

A third guard from Marion County will be competing in the game, as Leah Parrish from the state champion North Marion Huskies will take the court at GSC. Parrish averaged 6.3 points and 2.2 assists per game as a senior, and will get to play one last time for her dad, Mike, who will co-coach the North side with Wheeling Park’s Ryan Young.

“It’s an honor to be selected, especially this year with my dad coaching,” Parrish said. “My last game as a Husky was bittersweet. Knowing that I would never wear No. 23 and play with that team ever again was really tough, but once I knew I was selected for the North-South game it made me excited, not only in the sense that I’ll be playing again, but also that I’ll be able to wear that jersey one last time.”

Coaching the south team will be Wayne’s Wade Williamson and Clay County’s Mary Ramsey.

Other players from the Big 10 Conference playing for the North include Lewis County’s Sarah Post, Preston’s Makenzie Friend, Buckhannon-Upshur’s Hanna McClung and Lauren Bennett and Lincoln’s Gracey Lamm.

Boys’ basketball

At the moment in Marion County, the only senior basketball player committed to play in the boys’ game is Fairmont Senior’s Taevon Horton.

The 2018 Evans Award winner as the state’s top male high school player averaged 19.9 points as he helped lead the Polar Bears back to the state title game.

Now, before he heads to play at West Virginia University, Horton will play once more as a Polar Bear.

“It means a lot to be selected,” Horton, the Big 10 Player of the Year, said. “There are so many great athletes in this state, and a lot of us don’t get the credit we deserve.

“I have a lot of respect for athletes in West Virginia, and it’s an honor to be selected.”

Philip Barbour’s David Shriver, who, like Horton, was a first-team All-State performer, will also play for the North.

Coaching Horton, Shriver and the rest of their North teammates will be Braxton County’s Josh Lunceford and University’s Joe Schmidle. The South team will be coached by Tug Valley’s Edwyn May and Chapmanville’s Brad Napier.

The game will take place June 8 at the South Charleston Community Center.

Football

On June 9 at South Charleston High School, three Marion County football players will play as a member of the North Bears.

From Fairmont Senior, Bryson Gilbert will lace them up one more time before taking his talents to Fairmont State.

As a senior, Gilbert, an all-around threat, was named Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-State as a defensive utility player while rushing for 1,320 yards to go along with 415 receiving yards, 46 tackles, four interceptions and 28 total touchdowns.

“I’m grateful for being selected,” Gilbert said. “I’m truly excited about playing and representing my school one last time and also getting to play with some of my friends from other schools.

“I really can’t wait.”

Another Marion County All-State performer joining Gilbert in the game will be North Marion’s Hunter Edgell, who was named to the Class AA second team.

As a senior, Edgell, who will play collegiately at Glenville State, recorded 64 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, nine sacks and two forced fumbles.

“The North-South Game is truly an honor, but to be able to play among the best athletes in West Virginia and being able to play for coach (Daran) Hays one more time is the most exciting part,” Edgell said. “I love high school football, and can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

As Edgell alluded to, Hays will serve as an assistant coach in the game, working alongside assistant Mark Yoho and North Bears head coach Brad Jett from South Harrison.

Edgell’s teammate, Austin Conaway, will also play on the North team.

Conaway led the Huskies with 76 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and an interception, and will play collegiately at Fairmont State.

“I was really excited when I found out I was selected to play, and for me I think it is the highest honor you can get as a high school athlete,” Conaway said. “It really means a lot for me because my dad and my uncle both played in the game when they were in high school. Ever since I have been in high school it has been a dream of mine to play in this game.”

Other Big 10 players set to play for the North squad include Bridgeport’s Jimmy Allison and John Merica, Lincoln’s Kobie Carpenter, Robert C. Byrd’s Tre Junkins and Malcom Johnson, Philip Barbour’s Hunter Mason, Elkins’ Zach Shreves, Grafton’s Garrett Ware, Liberty’s Dalton Westfall and Jeremiah Reed and Lewis County’s Jacob White.

The South team will be coached by James Monroe’s John Mustain.

Email Sean McNamara at smcnamara@timeswv.com or follow him on Twitter @SMcNamaraTWV.