Wayne girls basketball coach Wade Williamson has been at the helm for 11 years and has guided the Pioneers to the state tournament multiple times.
The Pioneers, however, before this year, had never hoisted a state title trophy. And the last time a Wayne County school played in the final game of the season was 1999, when Tolsia made it.
At that time, no Wayne County team had hoisted a state title trophy since 1993, when Buffalo beat Tucker County, 50-49.
Spring Valley’s Allie Daniels (34) holds the trophy high as she and her teammates celebrate winning the WVSSAC Class AAAA Girls Basketball Championship over Morgantown 62-45 at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, Saturday, March 15, 2025.
- Photos by CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
ABOVE: Spring Valley players celebrate winning the WVSSAC Class AAAA Girls Basketball Championship over Morgantown 62-45 at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, Saturday, March 15, 2025. LEFT: Spring Valley’s Sophie Hutchison (right) shoots while guarded by Morgantown’s Sydney Deusenberry (2) during the WVSSAC Class AAAA Girls Basketball Championship game at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, Saturday, March 15, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Spring Valley Head Coach Bo Miller celebrates with his players after winning the WVSSAC Class AAAA Girls Basketball Championship over Morgantown 62-45 at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Saturday, March 15, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Spring Valley Assistant Coach Jimmy Parker with his daughter Dria Parker celebrate winning the WVSSAC Class AAAA Girls Basketball Championship over Morgantown 62-45 at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Saturday, March 15, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
RIGHT: Spring Valley’s Sophie Hutchison (right) shoots while guarded by Morgantown’s Sydney Deusenberry (2) during the WVSSAC Class AAAA Girls Basketball Championship game at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, Saturday, March 15, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Spring Valley's Dria Parker (33) brings the ball down court followed by Morgantown defenders Sadaya Jones (5) and Lucie Hatcher (second from right) and Spring Valley's Allie Daniels (far left) during the WVSSAC Class AAAA Girls Basketball Championship game at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Saturday, March 15, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Spring Valley's Ella Giles (11) looks to shoot while guarded by Morgantown's Brenna Nelson during the WVSSAC Class AAAA Girls Basketball Championship game at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Saturday, March 15, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Spring Valley's Brooklyn Ellis (left) tosses the ball up from under the basket as Morgantown's Sadaya Jones tries to block the shot during the WVSSAC Class AAAA Girls Basketball Championship game at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Saturday, March 15, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Spring Valley's Allie Daniels (34) shoots the ball while guarded by Morgantown's Sydney Deusenberry (left) during the WVSSAC Class AAAA Girls Basketball Championship game at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Saturday, March 15, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Wayne’s Addison Akins lifts the trophy high as her teammates celebrate winning the WVSSAC State Class AAA Girls Basketball Championship over Nitro at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, Saturday, March 15, 2025.
- photos by CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
As Nitro's Karson Jones (34) covers her head and Briana Gibson (2) walks off the court Wayne celebrate winning the WVSSAC State Class AAA Girls Basketball Championship over Nitro 56-39 at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Saturday, March 15, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Wayne’s Brooke Adkins (20) and Addison Adkins (35) celebrate winning the WVSSAC Class AAA girls basketball state championship over Nitro, 56-39, Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Nitro’s Natalie Smith (center) battles with Wayne’s Lexi Blankenship (5) and Addie Adkins (right) for a rebound during the WVSSAC Class AAA girls basketball state championship game Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Wayne’s Jayce Sammons (2) drives to the basket while being defended by Nitro’s Karson Jones (34) during the WVSSAC Class AAA girls basketball state championship game, Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.
- Gazette-Mail file
Nitro assistant coaches JR Kinney (from left) and Lawrence Swayne, head coach Pat Jones and assistant coach Andrew Jones talk to their players during a timeout during the WVSSAC Class AAA girls basketball state championship game against Wayne, Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Nitro Head Coach Pat Jones (left) and his brother and Assistant Coach Andrew Jones yell instructions to their players during their game against Wayne in the WVSSAC State Class AAA Girls Basketball Chamionship at the Charleston Coliesum and Convention Center Saturday, March 15, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Nitro's Kinley Steele (left) tries to keep Wayne's Addison Adkins (right) from driving to the basket during their WVSSAC State Class AAA Girls Basketball Semifinal game at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Nitro's Natalie Smith (23) tries to pass while guarded by Waynes's Brooke Adkins (20) as Wayne Head Coach Wade Williamson (right) looks on during their WVSSAC State Class AAA Girls Basketball Semifinal game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Charleston Catholic's Molly Messer runs onto the floor in celebration during the WVSSAC Class AA girls basketball state tournament championship game against Wheeling Central on Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Charleston.
- MICHAEL SWITZER | For the Gazette-Mail
Charleston Catholic’s Ali Wilcox (1) dribbles as Wheeling Central’s Seneca Heller (5) defends during the WVSSAC Class AA girls basketball state tournament championship game on Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Charleston.
- MICHAEL SWITZER | For the Gazette-Mail
Charleston Catholic's Ali Wilcox (1) shoots as Wheeling Central's Kaitlyn Blake (42) defends during the WVSSAC Class AA girls basketball state tournament championship game against Wheeling Central on Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Charleston.
- MICHAEL SWITZER | For the Gazette-Mail
Charleston Catholic's Molly Messer, right, and Wheeling Central's Addie Payton (11) compete for a ball during the WVSSAC Class AA girls basketball state tournament championship game on Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Charleston.
- MICHAEL SWITZER | For the Gazette-Mail
Charleston Catholic’s Aurelia Kirby (2) and Wheeling Central’s Kaitlyn Blake (42) pursue possession of the ball during the WVSSAC Class AA girls basketball state championship game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Charleston.
- MICHAEL SWITZER | For the Gazette-Mail
Charleston Catholic's Molly Messer (24) shoots as Wheeling Central's Kaitlyn Blake (42) defends during the WVSSAC Class AA girls basketball state tournament championship game on Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Charleston.
- MICHAEL SWITZER | For the Gazette-Mail
Charleston Catholic's Aurelia Kirby (2) dribbles as Wheeling Central's Addie Payton (11) defends during the WVSSAC Class AA girls basketball state tournament championship game against Wheeling Central on Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Charleston.
- MICHAEL SWITZER | For the Gazette-Mail
Charleston Catholic’s Nora Aliff (4) and Molly Messer (24) celebrate during the WVSSAC Class AA girls basketball state tournament championship game against Wheeling Central on Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Charleston.
- MICHAEL SWITZER | For the Gazette-Mail
Charleston Catholic’s Molly Messer (right) and Aurelia Kirby (2) celebrate during the WVSSAC Class AA girls basketball state tournament championship game against Wheeling Central on Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Charleston.
- MICHAEL SWITZER | For the Gazette-Mail
Charleston Catholic's Molly Messer (24) shoots as Wheeling Central's Erin Maxwell (44) defends during the WVSSAC Class AA girls basketball state tournament championship game on Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Charleston.
- MICHAEL SWITZER | For the Gazette-Mail
Tug Valley's Haven Deskins (13) drives around a Gilmer County defender during the Lady Panthers' 66-22 loss to the Lady Titans in the Class A state championship game on Saturday, Mar. 15, 2025, at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center in Charleston, WV.
- Teran Malone | WVSSAC
From left, Gilmer County's Allie Ellyson (MVP, Ava Dobbins, and Lena Frymier along with Kenzie Browning, Bailee Hall, and Haven Deskins from Tug Valley were named to the Class A All-Tournament Team. Not pictured were Greenbrieer West's Preslee Treadway and Tucker County's Raven Matthews.
- Jarrid McCormick | HD Media
It's truly been a magical season for Williamson and the Pioneers, with six seniors on this year's roster, including four in the starting lineup.
Wayne finally captured that elusive title on Saturday by taking down the defending Class AAA champion Nitro, 56-39, inside the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.
This year's Wayne senior class was comprised of Brooke Adkins, Addie Adkins, Mikayla Stacy, Kiya Brown, Kinley Runyon and Braylee Ramey.
The state title victory meant a little more for members of the Pioneers team.
"We lost one of our best friends, Gavin Carico, last year and one of our teammates lost her little brother this year too," Wayne forward Addie Adkins said. "Playing for them is why we do it. We love our team and community. We back each other up no matter what. This is what it's all about."
Wayne's Class of 2025 went 86-15 in their careers, with three state tournament appearances and now a championship.
The waning moments of Saturday's title game and the game in sole possession of Wayne provided a lasting memory for the Adkins sisters, who are triplets along with brother Cooper.
Addie was waiting for her sister on the sideline while Brooke walked off the floor one last time.
They will be going down separate paths for college athletics. Addie will be playing volleyball at Concord University, while Brooke will play basketball at Youngstown State.
- By ZACK KLEMME zklemme@hdmediallc.com
- 4 min to read
"It just means more, playing basketball and volleyball with her and growing up together," Addie said. "It's so special. We have a bond like no other. We fight like crazy. There's no one I love more than her. I'll back her up anytime that she needs it. I'm so proud of her."
Brooke didn't mince words for playing with her sister.
"It's going to be weird that this is our last game ever together," Brooke said. "We ended it on a good note. We've worked for it our whole life. We've played basketball for years."
Stacy transferred to Wayne in eighth grade, she said, and stuck around ever since.
She capped off her state tournament performance with a seven-point outing on Saturday. Stacy finished the tournament averaging 12 points.
"I didn't want to do it with anybody else other than them," Stacy said. "That's what I came here for. ... I feel as if I've worked my butt off for this moment."
One of the standout younger players for Wayne is sophomore Jayce Sammons.
Sammons finished her 2025 tournament run averaging 20 points per game, including an impressive 22-point performance in the title game.
She shot 5 of 10 from the floor and 2 of 5 from long distance.
Sammons was taken under the wings of the upperclassmen, and she said that she's been appreciative of that these last two years.
"Their leadership goes without recognition," Sammons said. "They've made me a better player, but they've pushed me to be a better person."
