Contributing Writer
Bruce McKean
The Lady Warriors spent most of Monday’s school holiday traveling to and from sectional and Potomac Valley Conference foe Moorefield for two basketball games. Even with all the missed practices and rescheduled games, Coaches Mike Kane, Mike Murphy and Phil Anderson had their girls ready to roll and score.
After a close 8-6 PCHS first quarter, the Lady Warriors JV squad went on to score their most points this season with a 60-31, seventh straight victory over a good MHS basketball program. Sophomore Kayleigh Arbogast, freshman Tiffany Hoover, sophomore Megan Galford and freshman Mary Kelley led nine girls who scored with 15, 11, 10 and eight points respectively. Galford also grabbed nine rebounds while Brittany Sharp pulled in five, and Hoover dished out six assists.
The good play of the JV carried over to the now fourth ranked PCHS varsity (highest rank in school history in both the AP and Coaches polls). The four schools in front of PCHS in both polls are: Huntington St. Joseph (12-3), St. Marys (13-0) and Gilmer County (11-2). The varsity scored their most points this season with a 79-38 fifth straight win and ninth for the season.
All five starters scored in each of the first two quarters, as PCHS compiled a 34-19 lead by the half. Bobbie McNabb led the way with 11 first half points including two treys and five of eight foul shots.
Five Lady Warriors, including junior Jensen Dean scored in the third quarter, and PCHS would amass 29 points in that quarter to cushion their lead to 63-27. Tristin Day was driving and weaving to the basket and making acrobatic layups for 13 points in the third.
Coach Kane played everyone, and juniors Olivia Knisely and Natalie Hartzell hit for three and four in the third period rout. Game high scorer was Day with 28 points, one under her career game, including three treys plus four assists. McNabb contributed 19 points including four treys in addition to nine rebounds. Sarah Ryder accounted for 12 points, six steals and four rebounds. Melissa Murphy’s speed down the court kept the YellowJackets frustrated all evening, and she tallied seven points and five assists. Lorena Rose pulled down five rebounds and added four points.
PCHS out-rebounded the taller MHS 30-19 and shot 46 percent on field goals and 52 percent on free throws. The Lady Warriors improve to 9-2 (4-0 PVC) and Moorefield drops to 4-8. Pocahontas has defeated three possible sectional opponents and does not play the fourth, Paw Paw.
The Lady Warriors are scheduled to play at number-five Tucker County (7-3) on Thursday, January 30 with the JV game starting at 5:45 PM followed by the varsity match up.
PCHS is scheduled to play at St. Marys High School on Saturday, February 1 at 9 p.m. in the WVHIT championship game. Record cold has played havoc with the 22-team tournament. The two semi-final games between number-four seed Tygarts Valley at number-one seed St. Marys, and number-three seed Gilmer County at number-two seed PCHS had to be rescheduled from January 25.
