Bruce McKean
Contributing Writers
The Pocahontas County High School Lady Warriors responded very well in their first two home games of the season with all the student, cheerleader and fan support after three tough road losses. Then PCHS hit the road again, and they just could not get their footing.
Coaches Mike Kane, Allen Taylor and Chloe Bland have the largest group of girls, 22, and the most newcomers in years, and all the girls have been getting playing time in every game. The four exchange students, Rita, Lola, Romina and Vanessa, have been supported and loved by all. The big smiles of the four visitors when they have success is rewarded by fans and players.
PCHS, 63
Bath Co. VA, 50
I checked the records back to the 2007-08 season, and the closest Bath County has come to beating PCHS was December 29, 2009, when PCHS won at home by 11 points, 68-57. The Lady Warriors started strong in the game played December 12 at PCHS and took the first half 38-23. Bath regrouped and took the second half 27-25, but PCHS hung on for the 63-50 win.
Senior Mary Kelley was PCHS high scorer with 13 points, four steals and four assists. Senior Sarah Ryder and freshman Laila Calhoun each hit nine points, and Ryder added nine boards. Senior Brittney Sharp came off the bench for seven rebounds, four points, six steals and four assists. Freshman Alexa Taylor added eight points. Bath drops to 0-3 while PCHS improves to 1-3.
All JV players, 15 PCHS and six BCHS, saw action in the JV game that ended with a 54-20 PCHS victory. Freshman Kira Bircher was game high scorer with 10 points. The Lady Warriors JV out-rebounded Bath 51 to 25, and Pocahontas grabbed 31 steals. PCHS had fewer turnovers, 17 to 41, and improves to 1-2.
PCHS, 68
Richwood, 46
The Lady Warriors hosted the Richwood Ladyjacks December 14, and a large and creative student cheering section let it be known who they were supporting. Richwood made it to states last year as the #8 seed for the first time in many years. PCHS joins Richwood this season in Region 3.
After two ties in the first half, 18-18, and 23-23, Pocahontas pulled away for the 68-46 victory. Kelley led all scorers with 23 points including five threes for a season-high of 15. Ryder put up 18 points and seven rebounds for 34 rebounds this season. New freshman point guard Alexa Taylor hit three three-pointers for 11 points and dished out a season high nine assists. Senior Lindsey Hartzell grabbed five steals.
Richwood was led by six-foot senior Erica Lawrence with 18 points, and senior Katie Mullins contributed 17 points including four treys. Nine of the 13 Richwood players saw action, and five girls scored.
The PCHS JV team dominated Richwood with a 44-17 win. Eleven of the 14 Lady Warriors scored. Freshman Kira Bircher was game-high scorer with eight points for a season-high of 33 points. Sophomore Aliza Carr matched that effort with another eight points. PCHS stole the ball 31 times.
The PCHS varsity improved to 2-3 while the JV improved to 2-2.
PCHS, 29
East Hardy, 45
Coming off of two straight wins at home this season after three early losses on the road to just voted #1 Tucker and #3 Summers and a very good Class AA team, the PCHS girls basketball team traveled to East Hardy December 19.
The young PCHS squad was not ranked this season in the pre-season polls for the first time in many years, partly due to several top Class AA schools being moved to Class A. East Hardy lost one of its top three players, junior Maxine Cassell, this season, and Pocahontas lost senior Tiffany Hoover who is reported to be doing very well (scoring in double digits) at a high school in Michigan. Both girls’ families moved.
East Hardy starts four juniors and one senior. The Cougars took the first quarter 14-6, and EHHS never lost the lead in the game after an early 4-4 tie.
The two game high-scorers were EHHS juniors Brooke Miller with 16 points and 13 rebounds and Julie Hahn with 15 points. Junior Abby Wilson contributed 10 points, and the three girls scored in every quarter. East Hardy had fewer turnovers, 15 versus 22 for PCHS. The other stats were all about the same for the two teams. Six of the 12 EHHS girls saw action, and five girls scored.
Ryder led Pocahontas with 13 points and seven rebounds, and she was the only PCHS player to score in every quarter. Warder had team-high rebounds with nine. Kelley was guarded constantly and held to five points, all scored in the first quarter, and she still averages 13 points and three treys per game. PCHS dished out one-third of their average nine assists per game with only three. Six Lady Warriors scored.
East Hardy improves to 2-2. Pocahontas drops to 2-4 and will not play again until the Webster County Tournament December 29 and 30. The PCHS girls play Webster County at 1 p.m. on Thursday, and the PCHS boys play at 5 p.m. vs Class AA Braxton County.
The girls will play at 1 or 3 p.m. Friday and the boys will play at 5 or 7 p.m.
The 13 PCHS and nine EHHS players on the JV teams all saw action. PCHS pulled away in the second quarter, and the game ended with a 38-11 PCHS win. PCHS grabbed 21 steals and tallied 15 deflections. Freshman Sage McLaughlin was game high scorer with 13 points and hit six of six free throws. EHHS grabbed 26 rebounds to 15 for PCHS. PCHS improves to (3-2) and will not play again until January 11 at Tygarts Valley.
