Bruce McKean
Contributing Writer
PCHS Varsity, 88
Richwood Varsity, 24
The Class A #8 (AP Poll) Pocahontas County High School girls basketball team hosted Richwood December 18.
The Lady Warriors played fast and furious and stunned RHS with seven straight baskets to start the game for an early 14-0 lead. Starters Laila Calhoun made the first three two-pointers of the contest followed by one each from Alexa Taylor and Charity Warder, and then Brianna Hefner made the last two for the 14-0 PCHS lead. By the end of the first frame, Kira Bircher had joined the club with 11 points, including one trey and an 8-0 run, followed by Hefner, Calhoun and Warder, all with eight points each plus Alexa Taylor adding six points. Last year’s game versus RHS at PCHS ended with a PCHS 65-26 win, so Richwood scored two fewer points this year, and PCHS scored 23 more points. The Lady Warriors 88 game points are the most scored in the last two seasons.
The five PCHS starters plus first off the bench, Sage McLaughlin, compiled the following amazing team stats in just the first quarter: 17 assists, 16 steals and nine deflections. Head Coach Mike Kane played his bench the entire second and fourth quarters and gave them some valuable playing time in the third stanza also. The scoring in each of those final three quarters were: 17-7, 23-8 and 7-4. Game high scorers in the second quarter were Jerica Reed with seven points and Kira Bircher and Kierstin Taylor (two threes) each with six points. All 11 Lady Warriors scored in the game, and their unselfish play and high level of play is a complement to them and the coaching of Coach Kane and his assistants Allen Taylor and Chloe Bland. By the end of the game the double digit scorers were: Kira Bircher – 17 points, Hefner – 11, Calhoun – 10, Warder – 10 and Richwood’s junior forward Kylei Jones – 10. Only six of Richwood’s 13 players played in the game, so the PCHS bench players got some great varsity playing time.
Only 13 fouls were called in the game: seven on the home team and six on RHS. The best field goal shooter in the game was Warder who hit five of six (83%), followed by Alexa Taylor and sophomore Kierstin Taylor who each nailed three of four (75%). High rebounder and the only girl to make a block was sophomore Sienna Bir-cher with 12 rebounds and one block. Other highs were: Hefner – seven steals and three deflections. Starting point guard Alexa Taylor had the most assists with eight, followed by Warder with six.
PCHS JV, 61
Richwood JV, 34
The PCHS JV squad also started strong with a 26-2 first quarter. Junior Jerica Reed scored eight first quarter points; sophomore Kierstin Taylor also put up eight; and junior Chloe Sharp sank six. Those three players only played one quarter in the JV game. Freshman Allyson Alderman led the charge in the second quarter with six points. Game high scorers, with 10 points each, were junior Twyla McCarty and freshman Allyson Alderman. Freshman Macaden Taylor scored eight points. Nine PCHS and three Richwood players scored in the game. PCHS was called for 16 fouls versus only five for RHS. PCHS made all four of their four foul shots, and RHS made only five of 18 foul shots. PCHS improves to 4-1 with the win.
The best field goal shooter in the game was Destiny Vandevender who hit two of three for 67%, followed by Kierstin Taylor who made four of seven for 57%. High rebounder was Alderman with seven rebounds. Destiny Vandevender grabbed five steals.