Bruce McKean
Contributing Writer
PCHS V, 49
Tucker County V, 63
The Class A #6 (AP Poll) Pocahontas County High School girls varsity basketball team (10-1) traveled to #11 Tucker County (8-2) January 18, and had high hopes of getting their first win in six seasons over TCHS.
The last Lady Warriors victory happened in 2013 (39-38 at PCHS).
The PCHS loss Friday is the 12th straight loss to the Lady Mountain Lions which includes a 31-51 loss at the state quarter-finals in 2014, and a 33-56 loss in the Region II championship game in 2016. The PCHS string of losses range from a low of nine points 38-47 in 2014, to a high of 39 points (28-67) in 2016.
The closest game vs TCHS to Friday’s 14-point loss was an 11-point loss at TCHS, 45-56, in 2015.
TCHS senior Riley Evans hit two quick threes early in the first quarter and another trey late in the period for nine points, as Tucker led after one 17-9. Junior 5’11” Terra Kuhn also helped lead a late 7-0 run. Kuhn was the only other Lion to score in the stanza with eight points. Four Warriors scored, and the PCHS defense allowed no more threes for the rest of the game.
PCHS kept closer in the second stanza with a 13-16 effort as Tucker upped their lead by 11. The foul calling and foul shooting started big-time in the second quarter, and Tucker was called for nine first half fouls versus 12 for PCHS. TCHS made eight of 13 free throws in the second quarter, while PCHS nailed two of seven. The Lady Warriors were down by five in the second frame with the score 22-27 when the Lions went on an 8-0 run that ended 22-35 after the first shot in the third quarter.
The second half was even more about foul calling as TCHS was called for 19 fouls (made six of nine free throws) versus only nine whistles against PCHS (made 18 of 28). A PCHS 7-0 run in the third closed the gap from 16 points to nine at 30 – 39. Pocahontas lost the game in the third stanza that ended with PCHS trailing 36 to 56. The Lions hit nine two-pointers versus only two for the Warriors in the third. TCHS took the third 23-14, and PCHS controlled the final frame 13-7.
Scorers with double-doubles were: Kuhn of TCHS – 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Brianna Hefner – 12 points and 15 rebounds. Oth-er high scorers were: Evans – 18, Alexa Taylor 13, five assists and eight of 12 foul shots, McKinley Murphy of TCHS – 13, and Laila Calhoun 10 and six steals. TCHS improves to 9-2, and PCHS drops to 10-2.
PCHS hit 21 of 36 foul shots (58%), while TCHS sank 16 of 24 (67%). TCHS turned the ball over 29 times versus 19 for PCHS. TCHS grabbed 39 rebounds to 33 for PCHS.
PCHS JV, 44
Tucker County JV, 47
The JV game was also marked by plenty of foul calls, one more than the varsity game, with 28 for PCHS and 21 for TVHS. Both teams made just over 40 percent of their free throws. PCHS committed more turn-overs, 40 to 29, but PCHS out-rebounded TVHS 44 to 26.
After three quarters, PCHS led 38 to 37. Tucker shot 19 foul shots to six for Pocahontas in the fourth quarter. The three double-digit TCHS scorers were: Jaden Kuhn – 15, Gracie Rapp – double-double of 13 and 10 rebounds, and London Hood – 10. The three double-digit PCHS scorers were: Cloey Sharp – 12, Sienna Bircher – double-double of 12 and 12 rebounds and Destiny Vandevender – 10. PCHS drops to 8-2.
PCHS V, 37
Charleston Catholic V, 21
The last time that Charleston Catholic and PCHS faced each other was in the 2018 Region III Section 1 Championship game at PCHS on February 23, 2018.
This rescheduled game was played January 16. The four quarter scores were: 11-3, 9-11, 9-2 and 8-5. Head Coach Mike Kane reported that PCHS did not play their best game, and CCHS really hustled on their large home court. Shorter CCHS out-rebounded PCHS 32-31, but the Irish turned the ball over more times, 21 to 13.
Calhoun was game high scorer with 14 points, eight rebounds and seven steals, Sage McLaughlin and Hefner each scored eight points, and Charity Warder grabbed eight rebounds. Only three CCHS players scored – junior Clare Tupta and sophomores Sydney Bolles and Hannah Rahin each scored seven points. Catholic hit seven of 15 (47%) free throws, and PCHS sank 10 of 15 (67%).
PCHS JV, 33
Highland Co. VA V, 31
The PCHS junior varsity squad traveled to Monterey, Virginia, January 14 to play the Highland County varsity squad. The first quarter ended in a 7-7 tie, and Pocahontas took the second quarter 11-10 for a half-time 18-17 lead. PCHS won the third stanza 9-5, while HCHS finished with a strong 9-6 final frame.
Game high scorer was HCHS’s Haley Terry with 11 points. PCHS high scorer was Jerica Reed with 10 points, followed by Destiny Vandevender with seven points. PCHS hit six of nine free throws for 67%, and HCHS made eight of 13 for 62%.