The Virginia High School League announced its 2026 Class 4 all-state girls’ basketball team this week and Salem High was well-represented. The Spartans had a girl on the first team and two on the second team.
Bailey Rider, a first team All-Region 4D selection and River Ridge District Player of the Year, was named first team all-state. Gabby Crawley and Emme Custer, both first team all-region and all-district selections, were named to the Class 4 all-state second team. All three girls are seniors.
Manor High freshman guard Jha’Ziya Babb, who led the Mustangs to an exciting 43-40 state championship win over Salem, is the Class 4 Player of the Year. Manor head coach Roger Smith is the Class 4 Coach of the Year.
Babb becomes the first freshman to earn Class 4 Girls POY honors since the VHSL started selecting all-state teams in 2014. The 5’2″ point guard averaged 23.3 points, 7.3 assists, 7.1 steals, and 3.4 rebounds per game this season for the Mustangs.
Eight players make up the first and second teams regardless of position. 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.
