Bruce McKean
Contributing Writer
PCHS Varsity, 43
East Hardy Varsity, 56
The Pocahontas County Lady Warriors lost at East Hardy on December 16 by 16 points, 29-45, and EHHS took every quarter in that contest. The Lady Cougars traveled to PCHS February 6 for another match up, and EHHS again prevailed with a closer 13-point victory, 43-56. This time PCHS came out strong and took the first two quarters by scores of 17-15 and 14-12 for a 31-27 half-time lead. East Hardy regrouped and took the last two quarters 16-8 and 13-4.
PCHS was called for more fouls, 25 versus 17 for EHHS, and Ryder, freshman Laila Calhoun and freshman Alexa Taylor would all foul out in the game. For whatever reason, that just never happens to PCHS. The Lady Cougars got to shoot 15 of their 31 foul shots in the last frame, and PCHS was awarded 10 foul shots the first half and only three in the second half. The game was tied at 21-21 in the second quater and 33-33 in the third quarter.
PCHS senior Sarah Ryder came into the game needing only 14 points to hit 1,000 points in her four-year varsity career. Ryder hit her last field goal in the game at 8:48 p.m. with 1:06 to go in the third quarter, a two-pointer, and that moved her into the 1,000 Point Club. That basket also moved the Lady Warriors within one point of the Cougars, 39-40. Ryder and senior Mary Kelley each scored one basket in the fourth quarter, but EHHS took over the game scoring 16 more points.
Ryder was PCHS high scorer with 13 points and seven rebounds. She now has the fifth highest career points in school history with a total of 1,002 behind #1 Chloe Bland 08-12 – 1408 points, #2 Tristin Day 11-15 – 1,178, #3 Jennifer Young 90-94 – 1,155 and #4 Shelby Snead 07-11 – 1,023. Young played ball when PCHS was in Class AA and still had freshmen teams, so she saw little action on the varsity squad her freshman year. Ryder is also currently #2 with 645 career rebounds behind #1 assistant PCHS Coach Chloe Bland’s 830.
Ryder’s point totals each of her first three years were 235, 255 and 307. Her rebound yearly totals were 138, 163 and 221. Her junior season rebounding total of 221 is third in school history behind Bland and Mindy Sharp 05-06 with 255 and 249 respectively.
High scorers for EHHS, now 8-10 and 5-5 in the PVC, were Brook Miller – 19, Abby Wilson – 16 and Julia Hahn – 13. EHHS improves to 8-10 and 5-5 in the PVC.
PCHS JV, 58
East Hardy JV, 28
The PCHS JV team improved to 7-3 and 3-2 in the PVC with a dominate team effort 58-28 over EHHS. The two teams met on December 18, and PCHS also prevailed 38-11.
Game high scorers were sophomore Aliza Carr and freshman Kira Birtcher, both with 13 points. PCHS out rebounded EHHS 38 to 13 and stole the ball 23 times. PCHS improves to 7-3 and 3-2 in the PVC.
PCHS Varsity, 64
Tygarts Valley Varsity, 46
A big following of PCHS fans traveled to Tygarts Valley February 10 for the annual battle at Mill Creek. The Lady Warriors took the first two frames 19-9 and 17-14 for a 36-23 lead at half-time. Bulldog sophomore Abby Harris hit for 12 points in the third stanza, and TVHS took the period 19-7 cutting the PCHS lead to 43-42 going into the final frame.
PCHS stormed back in the last quarter with a 21-4 stomping to win 64-46. Ryder and Harris were game high scorers with 19 points each. Kelley and TVHS freshman Abby Lanham were next with 18 points each. PCHS freshman Charity Warder was third high scorer with eight points and 10 rebounds, while Ryder’s 11 rebounds gave her a another double-double.
The young TVHS team of seven players dropped to 6-14 and 2-5 in the PVC. PCHS improved to 9-8 and 4-5 in the PVC.
PCHS Varsity, 46
Pendleton County Varsity, 42
PCHS head coach Mike Kane reported that the annual Pink-out game for breast cancer awareness was held February 11. The game and fundraising was another huge success and drew the biggest crowd of the season. Kane and assistant coaches Allen Taylor and Chloe Bland expected a good game after Pendleton County upset PCHS at Franklin on January 31 by a score of 59-52.
The Lady Warriors prevailed in the first frame 15-6, but the Wildcats rebounded with a 17-12 quarter to narrow the PCHS lead to 25-23 at the half. Pendleton senior Caylie Simmons erupted for nine points in the third leading the Wildcats to a 37-35 lead going into the final quarter. Again PCHS met the challenge in the last period and took it 11-6 for the 46-42 win.
Simmons and Ryder shared game high scoring honors with 16 points each. Kelley, playing with a sore knee, was next with 12 points. Ryder tallied another double-double with 11 rebounds. Pendleton won the rebounding effort 36-27 while PCHS had much fewer turnovers, 6 to 23. Pocahontas improves to 10-8 and 5-5 in the PVC. Pendleton drops to 8-11 and 6-8 in the PVC.
The PCHS varsity next hosts Webster County Wednesday, February 15, at 6:30 p.m.
The PCHS girls and boys varsity squads travel to Moorefield Thursday, February 16, where the girls play at 5:45 p.m. and the boys at 7:30 p.m.
Girls sectional games can begin as early as February 17 through February 25. Boys sectional games are from February 24 through March 4.
PCHS JV, 43
Pendleton County JV, 24
Eleven girls played in their last PCHS JV game this season at the Pink Out on Saturday, and they finished 8-3 and 4-2 in the PVC. The fans have enjoyed the play of this team and come to love the four exchange students from Mexico, Spain and Germany. Eleven players saw action, and nine of them scored, PCHS took every quarter, and Carr was game high scorer with 17 points. PCHS committed many fewer turnovers, 22 to 42 for the Wildcats. Pendleton grabbed more rebounds, 30-24.