The Lady Dragons of Cameron have seen some pretty talented players don their uniform through the years.
The school has also fielded some talented teams, finally winning that elusive OVAC championship crown during the winter of 2018. But one thing has eluded the program throughout its history—a trip to the state tournament.
That is, until now.
With its 82-50 victory against Clay-Battelle last week, the Dragons and head coach Holly Pettit punched their ticket to the Charleston Civic Center. Those first few steps onto the floor Tuesday afternoon will be memorable ones. It may require a moment to let it all sink in.
“I think it will absolutely take a minute to adjust,” Pettit said. “We’ve told the girls to take it all in and enjoy it, but not to get overwhelmed. All of the teams there are just as excited as we are to step onto that court.”
Cameron isn’t making the lengthy drive just to be satisfied with making the trip. The Dragons mean to show they belong, that they’ve always belonged, on the state’s main stage.
The No. 2 seed they received is indicative that others around the state, at least for this season if nothing else, feel the same.
Pettit had a feeling before the season started this could be a possibility. The Dragons had a strong season in 2020 before falling to Beallsville in the OVAC Class A championship and then later to Wheeling Central and St. Marys in the Class A Region I semifinal and final.
Much of the team returned for this season, and with a talented crop of freshman ready to make the job, something special was brewing.
“Day 1, I knew these girls were special,” Pettit said. “We knew what we had back from last season, plus who was coming up into the program.
“We knew we had the potential. We just had to use it.”
Freshman Kenzie Clutter makes a no-look pass against Madonna 
Freshman Ashlynn Van Tassell pulls down a rebound
Balance of Youth and Experience
The Dragons statistical leaders mirror that of it their starting five, a mixture of seniors and freshmen.
Leading the charge is senior guard Lili Neely. A longtime starter and the team’s leader, Neely came into the regional finale averaging 17 points, five rebounds, and two steals per game. She gave those totals a slight boost with a 22-point effort against the Cee-Bees.
Pettit explained Neely began morphing from just a scorer to the team’s leader during her junior season.
“I’d say about midway through, she started transitioning into being that player,” Pettit said. “By the end of the season, she was our go-to girl. She knows we need her to shoot the ball well and get to the basket and attack the rim.
“If she’s a threat to the defense, that makes it much tougher for them to defend our inside and outside game.”
The inside game is where one of the two freshman starters comes in.
Saying 6-foot freshman Ashlynn Van Tassell’s efforts this season are vital to the Dragons’ success still feels like underselling it.
Pettit knew what she was getting in the young post player, but how quickly she’s adjusted to the varsity game and how dominant she’s become can make you forget she is just a freshman at times.
Van Tassell led the Dragons against C-B with 28 points and 13 rebounds, her 14th double-double of the season. She averages 15.3 and 12.7, respectively, while shooting 45 percent from the floor.
The outside portion of that game comes from fellow freshman and point-guard Kenzie Clutter. A 5-4 perimeter threat with a great set of handles and court vision, freshman or otherwise, Pettit had no qualms about putting the offense in the hands of the freshman.
She’s responded by averaging 7.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
“Ashlynn and Kenzie meshed well (with the starters),” Pettit said. “At first, they were unsure of their roles, but after about a week of practice, they fit right in. Each girl knows her role and what it takes to help the team.
“It took about a week to break the ice, but now, they’re all like sisters.”
The remaining “sisters” in the starting unit are a pair of seniors in guard Emma Whipkey and post Reagan Gray. The two average 6.4 and 2.8 points, respectively.
Senior Emma Whipkey looks for an open teammate 
Senior and leading scorer Lili Neely lines up a 3-pointer.
Putting It Together
An abundance of talent never hurts, in theory. But that talent has to learn to work together, or the team will falter.
Do the upperclassmen resent the increased role of the freshmen coming onto “their” team? Do the freshmen, who have starred on their middle school teams, take exception to their new, slightly diminished roles, and are they willing to defer to the seniors for leadership?
No such problems existed on this roster. The Dragons are all about one thing—winning, and doing what is necessary for the team to ensure that happens.
“This team is the most unselfish group I’ve been around,” Pettit said. “They want to win, and they know it takes a team effort. These girls create opportunities for each other, and will do whatever it takes to help each other out.”
They’ve certainly earned the appreciation, and support, of the Dragons faithful throughout town.
The girls and coaching staff left via tour bus Monday morning with both the elementary and high school students joining in on a sendoff.
If the WVSSAC allows larger crowds the state tournament, no doubt there will be a large contingent of fans present to cheer on the blue and gold.
Cameron, without fail, turns out to support its teams. Take that into consideration, coupled with this is the girls’ first trip to Charleston, plus the limited seating throughout the regular season because of pandemic restrictions, and the phrase “last one out of town hit the lights” may be an apt description.
“The town is the true definition of small-town pride,” Pettit admitted. “Everybody knows somebody who is a part of this team, or who has been a part of Dragon Nation at some point.
“You can walk into the restaurant any time of the day, and there will always be somebody around ready to talk sports, past or present. If allowed, I think we’ll have a huge turnout. It’s not every day our team makes it to the state tournament.”
Waiting for Cameron in the first round is Madonna, the No. 7 seed and a team Pettit’s club has faced, and defeated, three times already this season.
Don’t look for the Dragons to be overconfident, however. The previous three meetings were all close, with Cameron winning, 51-47, 57-44, and 53-43.
The Dons have some talented players, and Pettit knows that this will be no easy game.
“It’s going to be tough to play for a fourth time,” she admitted. “We know them, and they know us.
“The games have been close every time, and I think we need to play our best and be prepared for what they may bring to the floor.”
