Bella Sockman drives the lane against the Cee Bee's.

The 2025 Magnolia Blue Eagles under first year Head Coach Tim Starkey, assisted by Zach Blair held a Summer League Shootout at Magnolia Gymnasium Friday afternoon June 27th hosting St Marys, Cameron, Frontier, Parkersburg Catholic and Valley in a single elimination tournament. The Lady Eagles are looking for a big season after just falling short of making the Class A State by one game under Coach Kasey Sapp. This year, Starkey takes over as the head coach and expectations are high with all the talent coming back and a talented group of incoming freshmen that Coach Starkey coached to a successful season last year at New Martinsville School.

Coach Starkey said, “my expectations are really high with this talented group, and I believe we can win 15 games with a tougher schedule this year and make it to state. I will strengthen the schedule because I feel we can compete with anyone.”

The Eagles are still a young team with only two seniors on this year’s squad that has 17 players on the roster, however only nine were able to play in the shootout. Leading scorer and point guard sophomore Kaylee Yost is returning with a solid cast.

Yost said, “I am excited about the season, and we want to improve and get better than last year.”

Fellow sophomore Bella Sockman said, “I like our team, and we are ready to go.”

Also returning are seniors Aubrey Warder and Gabby Hudson and sophomores Karli Warder and Audri Quinn. Talented freshmen looking to make an immediate impact are Sydney Quinet, Zoey Mast, Jacelyn Miller, and others not present including girls from Paden City. The future is looking bright for this young talented group with plenty of size and quickness. Sienna McKeever and Mallory McDiffitt will be missed this year as they graduated.

Several good ball games were held on Friday with local teams Magnolia and Valley squaring off in tournament play. The Blue Eagles came out on top 41-30, however the Lumberjacks squad played well and had a few kids missing. Magnolia moved on to play Cameron, but fell to the Dragons who eventually lost in the final game to a strong Parkersburg Catholic team that defeated Frontier 51-14 and then St. Marys to make the championship game.