Bruce McKean
Contributing Writer
PCHS V – 48
East Hardy V – 33
The Pocahontas County High School Lady Warriors and the East Hardy Cougars varsity basketball teams both opened their 2023-24 seasons at PCHS November 28. EHHS did not field a JV team this season. PCHS lost at home to EHHS last season by 45 points, 21-66, in their fourth game of the season. But, by the 12th game, a month later and at Baker, PCHS only lost a second time to EHHS by 13 points, 31-44. EHHS sophomore Brooklynn Tinnell scored 23 of those 44 points and 19 in the first game. Coaches Mike Kane, Chloe Schaffner and Allen Taylor did their jobs well.
The Lady Warriors have improved even more, and Tinnell was held to 15 points (game second high scorer) in this 48-33 PCHS win. PCHS junior Riley Pollack was the game high scorer with 25 points that included five threes that were the only threes scored in the game. Riley also added 5 steals (game high), 4 rebounds and 3 deflections.
Freshman Allyson Taylor debuted with a double-double with 11 points (game third high scorer), 10 rebounds and 4 deflections. PCHS senior Olivia Vandevender was fourth high scorer with 7 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks (game high), 3 deflections and 1 steal. Junior Mackenzie Taylor grabbed 7 rebounds.
The scores by quarters were: quarter # – (PC – EH) 1 – (8-6), 2 – (21-7), 3 – (5-10) and 4 – (14-10). Some stat totals were: (PC – EH) – TO – (38-31), Reb – (35-15), Stl – (10-13), Blk – (8-2), PF – (19-12) and Ast – (11-9).
PCHS V – 32
Moorefield V – 45
The Class AA Moorefield Yellow Jackets were back on the PCHS schedule this season. MHS traveled to PCHS on December 2 for both a JV and a V game. Moorefield had lost their opening game of the season the night before at Class AAAA Greenbrier East by a score of 35-72.
Allen Taylor and Shannon Arbogast assisted Head Coach Mike Kane due to Tim McClung’s and Chloe Schaffner’s excused absences. Four Lady Warriors were also excused.
The Lady Warriors stayed with the Yellow Jackets for three quarters, and MHS led 32-30 after three. The number of fouls called on PCHS was unprecedented. Four of the nine Lady Warriors fouled out, and two more were called for four fouls. PCHS was called for 31 fouls to only 17 for MHS. The Warriors (now 1-1) were held to two points in the fourth quarter.
High scorer for the Warriors was Allyson Taylor with 8 points and 8 rebounds plus 5 fouls. Sophomore Calli Propst added 7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists plus 5 fouls. MHS senior McKenna Crites was game high scorer with 19 points.
The scores by quarters were: quarter # – (PC – M) 1 – (10-14), 2 – (14-11), 3 – (7-5) and 4 – (14-8). Some stat totals were: (PC – M) – TO – (53-25), Reb – (30-14), Stl – (7-?), Blk – (1-?), PF – (31-17) and Ast – (9-?).
PCHS JV – 45
Moorefield JV – 38
Freshman Addison Hamrick was game high scorer with 12 points. Freshman Alexis Arbogast was next high scorer with 10 points and 7 rebounds. Allyson Taylor contributed 13 rebounds and 8 points. Freshman Caroline Bennett added 9 points, 5 steals and 5 rebounds.
The scores by quarters were: quarter # – (PC – M) 1 – (8-6), 2 – (21-7), 3 – (5-10) and 4 – (14-10). Some stat totals were: (PC – M) – TO – (38-17), Reb – (35-25), Stl – (8-?), Blk – (1-?), PF – (24-22) and Ast – (8-?). The PCHS JV improves to (2-0).
PCHS will host Greenbrier West Friday, December 8; JV at 5:45 p.m. and V at 7:30 p.m.