GREENBRIER EAST RALLIES PAST STUBBORN HUNTINGTON
— Joe Costa, Blue Star Media
CHARLESTON WV—With 5:20 to go in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s first quarter-final, the hopes of a state championship looked grim for the Class AAA No. 2 seed Greenbrier East.
The Lady Spartans were down five (45-40) to No. 7 Huntington when point-guard Autumn Hill picked up her fifth personal foul but from that point on, Greenbrier East outscored the Highlanders 14-5 to grind out a hard-fought 54-50 victory.
The Lady Spartans got 16 points and 7 rebounds from junior, forward, Haley McClure, and 10 from freshman, Amya Damon. Greenbrier also got 17 of their 37 rebounds from 2 players, Emma Dotson (9) and Abbie Bartenslager (8).
Junior, Madison Slash and sophomore, LaTahia Jackson netted 14 a piece for the Highlanders in a losing effort.
Greenbrier East will play University High in the second Class 3A semi-final Friday evening at 9 pm.
PUTTING THE FIELD ON NOTICE— Joe Costa, Blue Star Media
CHARLESTON WV— The #1 Class AAA seeded Parkersburg Big Reds showed the crowd at the Charleston Civic Center that they are back and still very hungry.
Parkersburg had no trouble with an under-matched Hampshire team, as the Big Reds rolled to an 81-18 win in the second Class AAA quarter-final of the State tournament.
The Big Reds placed four players in double figures, Shay-Lee Kirby with 18 points and 10 steals, Bre Wilson 14 points and six steals, Madi Mace with 13 points,11 rebounds and six steals, and Aleea Crites added 11 points, 11 rebounds, and eight blocked shots.
Parkersburg will continue their march towards a repeat when they play South Charleston Friday at 5:30.
SOUTH CHARLESTON WARMS UP JUST ENOUGH TO GET BY— Joe Costa, Blue Star Media
CHARLESTON WV— Charleston has been mired in the residue of an early March cold snap the past few days, and although it has started to recover outside, Wheeling Park and South Charleston brought that cold inside Thursday. The Patriots, the colder of the two, season came to an end 35-27.
Wheeling Park made only 8 of 40 field goals (20%), including 5 of 21 from the arch.
South Charleston didn’t fare much better at 33%, but the Black Eagles did convert when they had to, closing the game on an eight—two run.
The Black Eagles put no one in double figures, however, they did have three players with eight points apiece, Myra Cuffee, Maliha Witten, and Lavender Ward, while LaShae Watts pulled down 14 rebounds.
Shanley Woods led the Patriots with 13 points.
For their trouble, South Charleston gets to play the blazing hot No. 1 seed Parkersburg in the first Class 3A semi-final Friday evening.
UNIVERSITY PUTS UP BIG NUMBERS IN AN EYE OPENING WIN — Joe Costa, Blue Star Media
CHARLESTON WV— University High has not been to the state tournament in a few years, so Thursday they had to re-introduce themselves to the mostly stalwart field in impressive fashion as they dispatched Martinsburg 62-38.
The Class 3A #3 seed University High got 19 points and 18 rebounds from 5’11, junior, Ashten Boggs as well as 15 points from fellow junior, Mallory Napolillo and 12 from senior, Zoe Murphy in the win. Both the Hawks defense and shooting was solid as they doubled up the Bulldogs in the goal department 23-49 (46%)- 11-47 (23%).
Martinsburg was led by Amelia Jenkins with 11 points.
In the nightcap Friday, University gets #2 seed Greenbrier East for a trip to Saturdays Class AAA Final.
