The Virginia High School League has announced the all-state basketball teams for Class 1 for both the boys and girls. The Pioneer District had a player selected to both the boys’ and girls’ team.
For the boys, Parry McCluer sophomore Langston Cook was named to the Class 1 first team. George Wythe’s senior forward, Reed Kirtner, is the Class 1 Player of the Year and George Wythe’s head coach, Tony Dunford, is the Class 1 Coach of the Year.
A two-time all-state first-teamer and a second-team selection last season, the 6’1″ Kirtner averaged 20.2 points (627 points), 3.4 rebounds (106 rebounds), and 1.8 steals per game, leading the Maroons to the Class 1 state title. Kirtner saved his best for big games. He poured in a game-high 30 points and seven rebounds in the finals win over Franklin, shooting 10-17 from the floor, including 5-for-10 beyond the three-point line. In the Maroons Region 1C championship game, he scored 27 points and 11 rebounds. Kirtner averaged 21.3 points per game in this year’s state tournament wins over Chilhowie, Patrick Henry, and Franklin. He finished his career as George Wythe’s all-time leading scorer with 1,680 career points.
For the second time in three seasons, George Wythe head coach Tony Dunford led his Maroons into the state finals with a 26-4 record and the school’s second state championship with a 78-37 win over Franklin in the Class 1 finals. Wythe finished runner-up in 2023, falling to Lancaster in that year’s final. Since taking over the program in 2019-20, Dunford’s teams are 103-40 overall and 71-16 the past three seasons.
For the girls’ Narrows sophomore Karsyn Reed represents the Pioneer District on the all-state Class 1 team. Honaker senior guard/forward Alayna McNulty is the Class 1 Player of the Year and George Wythe’s head coach, Doug Campbell, is the Class 1 Coach of the Year.
A first-team selection in back-to-back years, the 5’11” McNulty averaged 15.1 points, shooting 46.0 percent from the floor (170-367), and 8.1 rebounds (3.7 defensive/4.4 offensive) per game, while leading the Tigers to a 28-2 record, a Region 1D title, and a spot in the Class 1 Final Four before falling to eventual state champion George Wythe, 31-34. McNulty finished her Honaker career with 1,540 points, 871 rebounds, 247 assists, 278 steals, and 89 blocks.
George Wythe head coach Doug Campbell led his Maroons to a 27-3 record and the school’s second state championship with a 66-44 win over Buffalo Gap. The only other state title for the Maroons came in 1989. Since taking over the program in 2013-14, Campbell’s teams are 234-76 overall in 12 seasons, including a runner-up finish in 2017. Before taking over the Maroon program, he led the boys’ program at Castlewood, compiling a 52-24 record and reaching the state quarterfinals in each of his three seasons at the school. He has a career overall record of 286-100.
Only those players selected to all-region first teams are eligible for selection to the All-State team. Each All-State selection committee comprises eight basketball coaches, with two from each Region.
