Bruce McKean
Contributing Writer
Pocahontas County V, 70
East Hardy V, 49
The Class A Region II Section 2 Pocahontas County High School Lady Warriors beat the Section 1 East Hardy Cougars (now 8-16) in one of the two Class A Region II co-finals February 27, by a score of 70-49. The Section 1 and Potomac Valley Conference co-member Tucker County Mountain Lions beat the No. 1 seed in Section 2, Pendleton County, by a score of 77-40. The two Region II winners, PCHS was voted the #8 seed in Class A at states and, TCHS was voted the #3 seed. Both will play in one of the four Class A first round games in Charleston March 6.
During the regular season PCHS lost by 2 points to East Hardy at Baker February 06, 44-46, and won by 15 points, 48-33, in the first game of the season at Dunmore. Another big, enthusiastic crowd again showed up Tuesday at Dunmore and cheered for the Warriors the entire time. The lead changed seven times in the first quarter and was tied four times. East Hardy only had five players that could play and they did not field a JV team this season. East’s top scorer, Junior Brooklynn Tinnell, scored 9 points, including 4 of 4 free throws, in the first period. East sophomore Chloe Miller had her best quarter with 6 points including 1 of 4 free throws. PCHS senior Olivia Vandevender hit two threes and junior Riley Pollack nailed 4 of 4 free throws in the first that ended 15-13 in favor of EHHS.
PCHS took the second quarter 22—8, and led by 12 points, 35-23, at the half. Tinnell made all 8 of East’s points, and PCHS had 6 Lady Warriors score in the second. Nine Warriors would score in the game, and all 13 saw some action in the game.
PCHS took the third 22-11, and PCHS was led by sophomore Calli Propst’s 10 points and Pollack’s 2 threes. The fourth quarter was taken again by East to end the game with the same 15-13 score as the first quarter. The game ended 70-49 PCHS. Pollack and EHHS freshman Serenity Lafollette fouled out late in the fourth. PCHS committed 7 more fouls (19-12), and East hit more threes (8-6).
Game high scorer was Tinnell with 32 points, and she now has 535 points this season. Miller was next for East with 15 points. PCHS high scorer was Propst with 19 points and 9 rebounds. PCHS freshman Allyson Taylor scored a double-double again with 15 points and 15 rebounds, and she and Propst both scored in all four quarters with the two top East scorers also. Pollack scored 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Vandevender tallied 10 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Junior Mackenzie Taylor accounted for 8 rebounds, 6 points, 4 assists and 3 blocks. Sophomore Shayla Bennett dished out 6 assists and made 2 steals and 2 rebounds. Freshman Alexis Arbogast and senior Kynlee Wilfong swished threes. PCHS totaled 22 assists.
PCHS out rebounded East 45-21 and committed 4 fewer turnovers 16-20. PCHS made 3 of 13 field goals (23%) in the first, 10 of 20 (50%) – second, 9 of 29 (31 %) – third, 6 of 14 (43%) – fourth and game – 28 of 76 – (37%).