FAIRLEA- The 2025-26 girls’ basketball season promises to bring plenty of excitement around the state of West Virginia and especially in one place in particular, that should ring true: Greenbrier East High School.
The Lady Spartans return key production and 78 percent of their scoring from a team that finished 24-2 overall last season that included a trip to the Class AAA state semifinals before falling one game short of a state title game appearance.
But that was then, and this is now. And the now, should look eerily similar to the then.
The dynamic backcourt duo of Kennedy Stewart and Ava Workman is back to wreak havoc and put pressure on opposing defenses. Stewart, who is committed to West Virginia Wesleyan, was the leading scorer last year as a junior after averaging 18.3 points per game. She also grabbed over four rebounds, three assists, and nearly three steals per contest. The senior is a sharpshooter that went over 1,000 points for her career last season and could potentially move way up the all-time list with a bunch more this season.
Workman, a junior who is a top 5 ranked player in the state in her class, scored 14 points per game a season ago but like Stewart, fills the stat sheet in numerous ways (5 reb, 2.5 apg, 3.5 steals). Workman had a great offseason and hopes to carry that experience into the coming year for the Spartans.
After missing most of last season, senior Mackenna McClure is back and 100 percent healthy. The do-it-all wing player was averaging 7.6 ppg and six rebounds before her injury. She returned late in the season and saw action in the state tournament but was not fully recovered as she is now. McClure gives Greenbrier East an experienced option that has been around a few years.
Hannah Fuller is another returning starter for the seasoned Lady Spartans. The 6-foot-2 senior is long and intimidating in the middle on offense and defense. Last season, Fuller scored 8.2 points, grabbed 5.9 boards, and had 1.2 blocks per night. Fans are hoping Fuller’s final season will be her best yet.
Rounding out the starting five is another senior, Sandy Banton. Banton (4.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg in 2024-25) has been a key player off the bench for the last couple seasons who specializes in her defensive prowess. She is always tasked with guarding the other team’s best player, an art that she has grasped perfectly. Banton can also knock down shots from deep and will have more opportunities to do so this season. She is basically replacing Jada Waller who graduated this past summer.
The Spartan bench will be the key to how far they go this season. Regan Rink is back on the basketball floor after excelling on the volleyball court and is a tall option that can give Fuller a break every so often. Rink possesses a good ability to finish around the bucket and has good footwork. Kala Waller, Maddie Baker, and Kiki Bagut will get some time in the backcourt as well.
The Lady Spartans won both of their preseason scrimmages over Alleghany and Oak Hill (69-51). They open the regular season at Princeton on December 5.
The full roster is below:
