Bruce McKean
Contributing Writer
PCHS V, 40
Petersburg V, 42
The Petersburg Lady Vikings, who are ranked #9 in this season’s Class AA AP Preseason Poll, visited Pocahontas County High School December 28. #6 seed Petersburg (PHS) lost to #2 seed Wyoming East 41-66 in last season’s Class AA state semi- finals. East went on to win the state championship over #1 seed Summers County 57-41.
PCHS opened the first quarter on a 5-0 run Thursday. Then PHS tied the game at 6-6 followed by a three pointer from junior Addison Kitzmiller. PCHS next exploded with a 10-0 run. The Warriors took the first quarter by 6 points (17-11) with six Warriors scoring and with the most points, 6, from Sophomore Shayla Bennett. The 17 points scored by PCHS was the most scored by either team in any quarter of the game. PCHS made seven of 11 foul shots, and PHS made a perfect six of six. PCHS took the second quarter by a closer three points (12-9) and took the lead at the half by nine points (29-20). The home team was awarded no foul shots in the second quarter, and the visiting squad nailed 7 of 11 foul shots.
The Vikings cut the Warriors’ lead after three quarters to four points (32-28) with a game worst third quarter scoring effort (3-8) for both teams. PCHS made three of four foul shots in the third, and PHS made three twos and hit only two of six foul shots. PCHS made five of eight foul shots and eight points total in the fourth quarter. PHS senior Karmen Whetzel hit a three and got seven of her game-high 15 points in the fourth, and her team made five of 10 foul shots. Sophomore Ayden Mayfield made her only basket in the game, and that gave PHS the 36-37 lead with 3:35 to go in the game.
PCHS Junior Riley Pollack hit her team’s only three in the game in the fourth quarter with 1:54 to go that gave PCHS a 39-37 lead. PHS senior Abby Alt made two foul shots to tie the game at 39-39 with 1:38 to go. PCHS Junior Mac-kenzie Taylor made one of two foul shots that gave PCHS the 40-39 lead. Foul shots from Whetzel and Alt upped the final score to 40-42. PCHS made five of eight foul shots in the fourth quarter.
PCHS drops to (2-3) with the 40-42 loss, and PHS improves to (5-4).
Team highs or in double-digits were: Pollack – 8 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks; Bennett – 8 points, 4 of 5 free throws. (80 %) and 13 rebounds; Mackenzie Taylor – 8 points and 14 rebounds; Senior Olivia Vandevender – 4 steals and 4 deflections; and Sophomore Calli Propst had 6 assists and 4 deflections.
PCHS was called for 23 personal fouls and one technical, and PHS was called for 22 personal fouls and one technical. PCHS led in rebounds (58-41).
PCHS JV, 37
Petersburg JV, 57
Both squads had two players each in double digit scoring. Top stats were: PHS – Sophomore Ayden Mayfield – 18 points and Freshman Kinley Walker – 10 points; PCHS – Freshman Alexis Arbogast – 11 points, 1 three and 1 deflection; Freshman Allyson Taylor – 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 1 deflection; Junior Mallori McCoy – 11 rebounds; and Freshman Addison Hamrick – 8 points, 6 assists and 10 rebounds.
PCHS was called for 20 personal fouls and PHS was called for eight. PCHS made the following number of field goals by quarter: first – 1 of 14 (7%), second – 5 of 11 (45%), third – 5 of 20 (25%), fourth – 4 of 24 (27%), and game – 15 of 69 (22%).
PHS took the first quarter by 13 points (2-15). PHS took the second quarter (11-13), and Petersburg upped their lead at the half to 15 points (13-28). PCHS took the third by 2 points (14-12), and PHS then led by 13 points (27-40). PHS took the fourth by 7 points (10-17) and upped their lead to 20 points (37-57). PCHS JV drops to (2-1).
PCHS V, 62
Tygarts Valley V, 34
The Pocahontas County High School Lady Warriors hosted their closest regional team, the Tygarts Valley Lady Bulldogs, January 3. PCHS senior all-state player Olivia Vandevender was team high scorer with 16 points, and was team high in 6 of 9 stats including seven of 13 field goals (54%) and three steals. Game high scorer was TV sophomore Sarah Defibaugh with 18 points, three of 12 field goals (25%), five rebounds, and five steals.
Other PC players with high stats were: sophomore Calli Propst – 15 points, seven of 14 field goals (50%), six rebounds, four assists, four deflections and three steals.; junior Mackenzie Taylor – eight rebounds. and three steals.; freshman Allyson Taylor – six points, 10 rebounds and four steals; sophomore Shayla Bennett – eight rebounds, five steals, and four assists; junior Riley Pollack – six points, two blocks and one trey; senior Mileya Bircher – six points (hit two of three trey attempts in the fourth quarter) and senior Kynlee Wilfong – four rebounds.
PC was called for 21 personal fouls, and TV was only called for eight. PC led in rebounds 44 to 23 and had fewer turnovers, 28 to 30. PC made the following number of field goals by quarter: first – 7 of 22 (32%), second – 7 of 20 (35%), third – 6 of 19 (32%), fourth – 7 of 16 (44%) and game – 26 of 78 (33%).
PC took all four quarters: the first by 10 points (18-8), the second by 4 points (15-11) and then led at the half by 14 points (33-19), the third by 6 points (14-8) upping their lead to 20 points (47-27), and the fourth by 8 points (15-7) ending the game by 28 points (62-34). With the win PC improved to (3-3), and TV dropped to (2-5).
PC will host Class AAA Midland Trail Saturday, January 20, at PCHS (JV at noon; V – 2 p.m.).
PCHS JV, 46
Tygarts Valley JV, 24
Allyson Taylor was the game high scorer with 17 points and a double-double of team highs with 13 rebounds, three steals and one block. Allyson played in the first and third quarter and made 9 and 8 points respectively while hitting 8 of 19 (42%) field goal attempts. Junior Mallori McCoy was the only other player in the game in double-digits and with a double-double of 11 points, three treys (3 of 7 attempts for 43%), 11 rebounds plus team highs of three assists, three steals and one block.
PC was called for 18 personal fouls, and TV was called for only nine. PC led in rebounds 45 to 35 and had fewer turnovers, 32 to 41. PC made the following number of field goals by quarter: first – 6 of 19 (32%), second – 2 of 21 (10%), third – 8 of 25 (32%), fourth – 2 of 11 (18%) and game – 18 of 75 (24%).
PC took the first 3 quarters: the first by 11 points. (15-4), the second by 7 points (9-2) and then led at the half by 18 points (24-6), the third by 17 points (18-1) upping the PC lead to 20 points (42-7), and the fourth by 13 points for TV (4-17) ending the game and PC’s lead to 22 points (46-24). With the win PC improved to (3-1), and TV dropped to (0-4).
PCHS V, 49
Greenbrier West V, 77
The Pocahontas County High School Lady Warriors and the Class A #3 ranked Greenbrier West Cavaliers played at PCHS in early December, and West won by 25 points (31-56). The two teams played at West a second time January 5, 2024, and GW won by 28 points (49-77). West was again led by Jr. all-state player Presley Treadway, with 34 points (11 more points than their first game this season), and she made 12 of her 19 free throws (63%).
The Warriors were playing this game without their high scorer, junior Riley Pollack. PCHS senior all-state player Olivia Vandevender was game second-high scorer with 19 points, hitting 10 points in the first quarter and making 6 of 7 free throws (86%), 5 rebounds, 5 assists., 3 steals and 1 trey in the game.
Other Warrior highs were: junior Mackenzie Taylor – 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks; freshman Allyson Taylor – 6 rebounds and senior Mileya Bircher – 2 deflections.
PC was called for 25 personal fouls, and GW was called for 17. PC coaches Tim McClung and Shannon Arbogast and GW Coach Mark Agee both played all 11 players.
GW took the first quarter by 7 points (13-20) (PC-GW order for all scores) with 14 points from Treadway. GW took the second quarter (9-14) and led at the half by 12 points (22-34). West upped their lead to 22 points (34-56) with a (12-22) third quarter effort. Treadway made 5 of 7 free throws in the third and tallied 11 points. GW took the fourth quarter by 6 points (15-21) with 7 Cavaliers scoring. PC drops to (3-4), and GW improves to (6-3).
PCHS JV, 26
Greenbrier West JV, 35
PCHS freshman Allyson Taylor was again the top scorer in this game at GWHS with 14 points after PC had the top four scorers in their earlier 49-27 win at home. Allyson played in three quarters Friday, and she hit 6 of 20 foul shots while achieving team-highs in the following stats: a double-double of 14 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 2 defelctions. She also saw action in the varsity game.
PCHS committed 23 turnovers. (10 fewer than the previous game), and Taylor only had one. Freshman Alexis Arbogast contributed 7 points and 2 assists; junior Mallori McCoy tallied 7 rebounds, and 2 assists; sophomore Ramona Hardy added 8 rebounds and 3 steals; and freshman Caroline Bennett deflected the ball 3 times.
PC and GW were both called for 17 personal fouls.
GW took the first quarter by 4 points (2-6) (PC-GW order for all scores). GW took the second quarter (8-11) and upped their lead at the half to 7 points (10-17). The third quarter was a (13-13) tie, and GW still led by 7 points (23-30). GW took the fourth by 2 points (3-5) and upped their lead to 9 points (26-35). PC drops to 3-2.