Spring ValleyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Sophi Hutchison (3) drives to the basket against Huntington High during a girls basketball game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Huntington.
Spring ValleyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Sophi Hutchison (3) drives to the basket against Huntington High during a girls basketball game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Huntington.
SPRING VALLEY ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” Sophi Hutchison is considering majoring in criminal psychology, which is appropriate since she made 10 steals in Spring ValleyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 68-43 victory over Parkersburg South on Tuesday.
The 5-foot-7 junior point guard has helped lead the Timberwolves (19-2) to the top seed in Class AAAA in the girls high school basketball state tournament. Spring Valley takes on No. 8 Spring Mills at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the quarterfinals.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIt means everything,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Hutchison said of making the state tournament. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI love my team. I know my teamÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s always going to have my back because I have their back. We came up short last year. It means everything to us. We have our seniors and weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re going to leave it all on the court to get that state title.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Hutchison came to Spring Valley last season after one year at Chesapeake. SheÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s averaging 15.3 points, 6.0 assists, 6.0 steals and 4.0 rebounds while making 50% of her shots.
Those numbers could be more impressive if Hutchison played on a less talented squad. Teammates Allie Daniels and Brooklyn Ellis join Hutchison as 1,000-point scorers for their career. Daniels also has pulled down more than 1,200 rebounds. Dria Parker likely wouldÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve topped 1,000 points if not for a knee injury that cost her 12 games this season.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s awesome,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Hutchison said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œOn not many teams are you surrounded by so many players who are so competitive and push one another to be better. ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s why weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re so good. WeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re not selfish and want whatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s best for each other.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Daniels signed with West Virginia Wesleyan and Parker has inked with West Liberty. Hutchison too is drawing college attention, with offers from Robert Morris, Longwood and Bucknell.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m still looking,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Hutchison said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI have a few offers and theyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re all great schools. I still have a whole season left of AAU and a whole season of high school, so IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m weighing my options. IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll maybe commit by basketball season next year.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Timberwolves coach Bo Miller lauds Hutchison for her competitive fire. A cousin of former Marshall University and NFL quarterback Chad Pennington and daughter of Chesapeake football coach Kevin Hutchison, that determination appears to be a family trait.
Siblings helped fuel HutchisonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s desire to be the best. She has two older brothers, a pair of younger sisters and one younger brother.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œShe hates to lose at anything we do in practice,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Miller said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAnything we do as a competition, she hates to lose at it.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Perhaps thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s why Hutchison works diligently to win. She said she started becoming competitive in third grade while in gymnastics. That carried over to basketball.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI think SophiÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s the best point guard in the entire state,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Miller said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œNobody outworks her. SheÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s in the gym three or four days a week. She comes in early, and she stays after practice.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
One of HutchisonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s strengths is realizing sheÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s not a finished player. She strives to improve. Hutchison said sheÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s gotten better at driving to the rim and finishing.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m making smarter decisions at the basket, dishing it out when I need to and being under control more as a player,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Hutchison said.
Miller seconded HutchisonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s analysis and added to it.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHer gameÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s improved so much this year,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Miller said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œLast year was about her getting to the rim. This year she includes all of her teammates and is sharing the ball a lot. Her gameÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s gotten so much better because of that. She sees the floor so much better. Her shot is tuned in.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
As for her interest in psychology, Hutchison said that comes naturally.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve always been interested in criminal minds,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ she said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s always fascinated me how the mind works and why people do the things they do and how they react differently.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
