VHSL CLASS 1 GIRLS BASKETBALL: Avery Cline helping George Wythe make another postseason climb (copy)
George Wythe's Avery Cline shoots the ball against Fort Chiswell on Jan. 6.
George Wythe's Avery Cline drives to the basket around Dobyns-Bennett's Carlee Cradic.
George Wythe's Avery Cline goes up for a shot ahead of defending Dobyns-Bennett players.
Buffalo Gap forward Hannah Coffman tries to get past George Wythe guard Avery Cline on March 14, 2025, at the Siegel Center in Richmond.
Avery Cline’s freshman season ended with postseason prominence.
The sophomore sequel, though, fell just shy.
Still Cline was key for George Wythe, which lost in the semis against Galax.
On a team that relied on a balanced offensive attack and tenacious defense, Cline contributed in a number of different ways.
“She can defend, she can score, she can rebound, she can just do everything we ask her to do,” said George Wythe coach Doug Campbell.
She certainly got it done in the state tournament a year ago when George Wythe captured the school’s first girls hoops state crown since 1989.
Cline had a 15-point performance in the state quarterfinals against J.I. Burton, finished with 17 points in a 34-31 semifinal win over Honaker and scored eight points in a title-clinching triumph over Buffalo Gap.
“As a sophomore, I feel a lot more confident than I did during my freshman year,” Cline said. “I’ve learned my role on the team and have become more confident in what I’m doing on the court.”
Caroline Harris, Makaylan Luttrell, Baylee Campbell, Mia Wolfe and Alana Malavolti had strong seasons for George Wythe too.
“This season has been very eventful,” Cline said. “Our team has been through some tough losses and some really fun wins, and through it all we’ve grown together as a team.”
Cline comes from strong basketball bloodlines.
Her mother, Chandra Forrester Cline, was the 2000 Hogoheegee District player of the year while starring for the Rural Retreat Indians and later hooped it up at Roanoke College.
Her uncle, Kevin Forrester, scored 1,602 points for the boys basketball team at George Wythe before graduating in 2003 and also played at Hampden-Sydney College.
“My mom’s played a big part in my basketball journey,” Cline said. “She’s always supportive and very helpful.”
Mom has a lot to be proud of her with how her daughter plays the game.
“I love that she is a complete basketball player,” Campbell said. “With her best basketball still in front of her.”
