HUNTINGTON -- Last season Huntington St. Joe and Huntington High girls basketball teams had their championship dreams crushed in down-to-the-wire state title games. But both teams are loaded again and ready to return to the state finals at the Charleston Civic Center.

Huntington High lost to Parkersburg South, 51-43, in the Class AAA title game. It marked the second straight year the Highlanders made it to the finals and fell short.

This season, Huntington High has reason to believe it will win a state title. Much of that hope rests on the shoulders of one of the hottest NCAA Division I prospects in the nation.

Junior standout Whitney Bays led her team to a 22-2 record and averaged nearly 20 points a game, despite playing many games with a nagging back injury. Bays is a force on offense.

Bays is equally impressive on defense. Her 6-foot-2 frame allows her to swat shots all over the court. She is also a rebounder ready to fill the stat sheet up.

"This year we are ready to win it all and I think we are as motivated as a team can be after losing in another state title game," Bays said. "I think my mental game is much better this season and I'm finally healthy."

Bays had college coaches in attendance at Wednesday's practice. One of those coaches included West Virginia University's Mike Carey. Bays said at first all the media and recruiting attention was overwhelming, but now she is used to it.

Starting junior point guard Erin Bailes will also be part of Huntington High's road to the state title game. Bailes makes the offense move. She excels at scoring and dishing the ball.

Sophomore Talequia Hamilton could supply a devastating combination with Bays in the post. Leah Ching, Gabby Pinkerton, Heather Eubank and Brittany Eubank will all see substantial playing time.

Huntington St. Joe went 22-5 last season and lost to Wheeling Central, 41-37, in the Class A state title game. The Fighting Irish led by six points after three quarters, but a combination of nerves and inexperience plagued the team in the final quarter.

"We have our top seven players back this season and we have beefed up our schedule to prepare come tournament time," St. Joe coach Shannon Lewis said. "We had a bitter taste in our mouth after losing the state title and anything but winning the state championship would be disappointing."

Junior point guard Dusti Chapman is the glue that holds the team together. Her quickness is the perfect fit for the team's run and gun style. She also creates havoc on the defensive side and led the team with 141 steals.

Jill Pulley is St. Joe's leading returning scorer with 12.4 points per game. Chapman was second in scoring with 11 points a game.

Sisters Stephanie Sang and Sara Sang will dictate play in the post. Both players are about 6-foot tall and versatile athletes that can score inside and out.

Other key returning players include Kiki Smith, Brittany Moore and Stephanie Dorsey. Lewis said he also has a talented freshman class that could contribute.

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