North-South basketball: One more game for Casto, a homecoming for Moles

For Moles, coaching in his first North-South game, it will be a return to the arena where he spent his playing days as a member of the South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Black Eagles.

“I went to a lot of [North-South basketball] games with my dad,� Moles said. “They were fun to see, and it’ll be fun to be in the Rec, where I played.�

Shady Spring’s Ronnie Olson will serve as Moles’ assistant.

Moles led ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Catholic to the Class A state championship in March with senior Jayallen Turner on the floor.

While some big names in West Virginia prep hoops chose to skip the event, Moles said both the North and South rosters represent quite a collection of talent.

“There’s still a lot of talent,� Moles said. “There’s [Zion] Blevins at Chapmanville, there’s [Cole] Lambert of Wyoming East. I still don’t know if there’s a lot of people who know just how good he is.�

All four first-team all-state captains are on the rosters, including three on the South in Turner (Class AA), Woodrow Wilson’s Elijah Redfern (Class AAAA) and Shady Spring’s Ammar Maxwell (Class AAA). Webster County’s Rayden Triplett highlights the North team.

Also on the South roster are Tate Adkins of Spring Valley, Peyton Brown of St. Albans, Casto of Sissonville, Gavin Davis of Shady Spring, Brandon Isaac of Summers County and Braydon McClung of Greenbrier West.

Casto said he thought his basketball days were over following the Indians’ elimination in the Class AAA state tournament. Then he got a text the following day from his coach, Derek Godwin, with the invitation to participate.

To stay in shape, he’s been shooting for an hour to an hour and a half each day, Casto said.

“I get to play with Peyton Brown again,� Casto said. “He and I played AAU together. He’s a pretty cool dude.�

Casto called the chance to see Turner and Maxwell on the court and go against them for the first time an “eye-opening experience.�

On the North bench, Jefferson’s Richard Lewis is the coach and Frankfort’s Scott Slider will be his assistant.

North’s roster will consist of Weir’s Colin Cross, Lincoln’s Brayden Edgell, University’s James Fortney-Garbart, Jefferson’s Jaiden Gladney, Moorefield’s Ronnie Griest, Trinity’s Carter Hartsock, Frankfort’s Cameron Layton, Grafton’s Jacob Maier, Hedgesville’s Kwynsie Pittsnogle and Triplett.

For the girls matchup, George Washington coach Jamie LaMaster will lead the South bench, with Ripley’s John Kennedy assisting.

Playing for South will be Wayne’s Laneigh Brooks, Wyoming East’s Maddie Clark, Chapmanville’s Alaira Evans, PikeView’s Cat Farmer, James Monroe’s Mary Beth Meadows, Nitro’s Hailey Newsome, Ripley’s Sophie Nichols, River View’s Abigail Pruitt, Meadow Bridge’s Charity Reichard, Ripley’s Erin Ryan and Oak Hill’s Cara Smith.

Williamstown’s Fred Sauro will be coach for the North, with Holly Pettit of Cameron serving as the assistant coach.

Jenna Barnett of Trinity heads the roster and she is joined by Hampshire’s Izzy Blomquist, North Marion’s Emma Freels, Tucker County’s Macy Helmick, Lewis County’s Kenna Maxwell, Doddridge County’s Tenley Paugh, Hundred’s Ashlynn Peters, Lincoln’s Ashlyn Riley, East Fairmont’s Kenley Rogers, Cameron’s Ashlynn Van Tassell and Parkersburg South’s Gracie Shamblin.

Rogers was named Class AAA girls all-state first-team captain following the season and is committed to West Virginia State.

A skills competition is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. and includes a dunk contest and 3-point and free throw shooting events. The North-South girls game will follow, with the boys game concluding the night.