Photo courtesy of Tracy Marsh Knotts Philip Barbour faces Wheeling Central this evening in Class AA state quarterfinal action at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.

CHARLESTON — Philip Barbour and head coach Rick Mouser make their fourth straight state tournament state tourney appearance this evening against Wheeling Central.

The Lady Colts (14-8) are the eighth seed in Class AA and earned a berth by defeating Petersburg in a regional final.

The top-seeded Lady Maroon Knights bring a 21-2 record into the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.

Philip Barbour returns to states despite losing four seniors to graduation, including two-time all-state first-team selection Braylyn Sparks and her 1,000 career points, along with twin sister and second-teamer Arrington Sparks.

The Lady Colts rely on underclassmen in the scoring output.

Sophomore Izzy Knotts, a 6-foot forward, is averaging a team-high 13.4 points, followed by sophomore guard Finley Carpenter, 6-0 sophomore forward Tatem Jeffries (6.9 ppg.) and sophomore guard Olivia Wilmoth (5.8 ppg.).

Seniors Ashley Poling and Stefanie Barker, along with freshmen guards Ansley Bolyard and Reagan Wright also contribute to the scoring.

Central counters with high-scoring senior forward Kaitlyn Blake, who is averaging 28.6 points per game.

Junior guards Seneca Heller and Addie Payton chip in 15.3 and 10.5 points per game, respectively.

Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.

The other quarterfinal matchups today include No. 3 Charleston Catholic vs. No. 6 Logan at 9:30 a.m., No. 2 St. Marys vs. No. 7 Ritchie County at 1 p.m. and No. 4 Wyoming East vs. No. 5 James Monroe at 9 p.m.

The semifinals are set for Thursday and the title game at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Girls state tourney pairings

At Charleston Coliseum & Convention

Center

Class AAAA

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, March 12

No. 3 Parkersburg (17-7) vs. No. 6 George Washington (14-8), 9:30 a.m.

No. 2 Morgantown (18-3) vs. No. 7 Washington (18-4), 1 p.m.

No. 1 Spring Valley (19-2) vs. No. 8 Spring Mills (13-9), 5:30 p.m.

No. 4 University (13-7) vs. No. 5 St. Albans (16-6), 9 p.m.

Semifinals

Friday, March 14

Spring Valley-Spring Mills winner vs. University-St. Albans winner, 11:15 a.m.

Parkersburg-George Washington winner vs. Morgantown-Washington winner, 7:15 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, March 15

Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.

Class AAA

Quarterfinals

Today

No. 4 Grafton (21-1) vs. No. 5 East Fairmont (20-4), 11:15 a.m.

No. 1 Nitro (19-4) vs. No. 8 Lewis County (15-8), 7:15 p.m.

Wednesday, March 12

No. 3 Greenbrier East (23-1) vs. No. 6 Sissonville (19-5), 11:15 a.m.

No. 2 Wayne (19-4) vs. No. 7 Keyser (19-4), 7:15 p.m.

Semifinals

Friday, March 14

Greenbrier East-Sissonville winner vs. Wayne-Keyser winner, 9:30 a.m.

Grafton-East Fairmont winner vs. Nitro-Lewis County winner, 1 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, March 15

Semifinal winners, 12:30 p.m.

Class AA

Quarterfinals

Today

No. 3 Charleston Catholic (17-6) vs. No. 6 Logan (17-6), 9:30 a.m.

No. 2 St. Marys (19-4) vs. No. 7 Ritchie County (16-7), 1 p.m.

No. 1 Wheeling Central (21-2) vs. No. 8 Philip Barbour (14-8), 5:30 p.m.

No. 4 Wyoming East (14-4) vs. No. 5 James Monroe (19-3), 9 p.m.

Semifinals

Thursday, March 13

Charleston Catholic-Logan winner vs. St. Marys-Ritchie County winner, 11:15 a.m.

Wheeling Central-Philip Barbour winner vs. Wyoming East-James Monroe winner, 7:15 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, March 15

Semifinal winners, 10 a.m.

Class A

Quarterfinals

Thursday, March 13

No. 3 Tucker County (16-6) vs. No. 6 Greenbrier West (12-10), 9:30 a.m.

No. 2 Tug Valley (21-2) vs. No. 7 Webster County (13-11), 1 p.m.

No. 1 Gilmer County (20-4) vs. No. 8 Notre Dame (12-6), 5:30 p.m.

No. 4 Cameron (17-3) vs. No. 5 Pendleton County (16-6), 9 p.m.

Semifinals

Friday, March 14

Gilmer County-Notre Dame winner vs. Cameron-Pendleton County winner, 5:30 p.m.

Tucker County-Greenbrier West winner vs. Tug Valley-Webster County winner, 9 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, March 15

Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.