The field for the fifth annual Battle for the Springhouse at America’s Resort, The Greenbrier, has been finalized. This showcase of West Virginia high school basketball, played inside the resort’s largest ballroom, Colonial Hall, will feature boys’ and girls’ teams from across the state competing for the Springhouse Trophy on Jan. 30 and 31, 2026.
The Girls Division includes defending champion Greenbrier East, Morgantown, Parkersburg and Riverside, while the Boys Division features Greenbrier East, Bridgeport, James Monroe and Wyoming East. Game times and matchups will be released at a later date.
Girls Division:
- Greenbrier East – The Lady Spartans, coached by United States Senator Jim Justice, won the Battle for the Springhouse Girls Division in 2022 and 2025. They return the bulk of a team that went 24-2 last season, before being knocked out in the Class AAA semifinals. Senior Kennedy Stewart and junior Ava Workman were both all-state selections last season.
- Morgantown – The Mohigans lost a couple of star players from last year’s Class AAAA state runner-up team, when Tatum DeVries transferred out and Kayli Kellogg suffered a significant preseason injury. Head coach John Fowkes’ team, however, still has plenty of star power, including Brenna Nelson, and is looking for another big year to follow up a 20-4 record last winter.
- Parkersburg – The Big Reds were another power in Class AAAA last winter, losing in the quarterfinals to George Washington to bring a 17-8 season to a close. Head coach Chris Murray returns key players like Kennedy Porter and Frances Guice and will be looking to make another deep run. Parkersburg will make its first appearance in the Battle for the Springhouse.
- Riverside – Also making their first trip to the Battle for the Springhouse, the Warriors seem to be a team on the rise. Head coach John Frisby’s squad won just five games last season, but they came out on top in two of their last four and were competitive with some top-level teams late in the year. With stars like Ava Ward and Cianna Groom returning, they look to build on that momentum in 2025-26.
Boys Division:
- Bridgeport – Last season’s Class AAA state champions will have to replace some firepower lost to graduation, but head coach Dave Marshall’s standard is excellence, and he’ll demand nothing less from this group that returns the likes of Anderson McDougal and Gavin Williams. The Indians finished 26-1 last season and will look to continue their winning ways this winter.
- Greenbrier East – Making their fourth appearance in the Battle for the Springhouse, the Spartans come into the season with some momentum, having won seven of their last eight games to close out 2024-25. Brody Hamric and Nathan Dixon are among some of the top returning players in Class AAA, and head coach Jared Patton is looking to improve on last year’s 15-8 record.
- James Monroe – Making their first Battle for the Springhouse appearance, the Mavericks come into the 2025-26 season with a bit of a chip on their shoulder. Head coach Kelly Mann’s squad finished 19-3 in his first season, but they fell in a regional semifinal, bringing the season to a premature conclusion. With Kadyn Hines and Ryan Mann back on the floor, they’ll be looking for a better ending this winter.
- Wyoming East – Battling through a midseason coaching change, the Warriors continued their winning ways last year, finishing 19-4 and reaching the Class AA semifinals. Talan Muscari and Braxton Morgan are among the stars of a team will be making its second appearance in the Battle of the Springhouse. The Warriors finished as runner-up in the inaugural event in 2022.
Past Champions:
2022: Boys – Cabell Midland, Girls – Greenbrier East
2023: Boys – Shady Spring, Girls – Mingo Central
2024: Boys – Morgantown, Girls – North Marion
2025: Boys – Morgantown, Girls – Greenbrier East
