Bruce McKean
Contributing Writer
PCHS V – 38
East Hardy V – 24
The East Hardy Cougars girls basketball teams traveled to Pocahontas County High School November 30 for Varsity and JV games.
The PCHS Lady Warriors will play 22 varsity games this season, and the JV squad will play 20 games after only eight JV games could be played last season due to COVID.
PCHS varsity took all four quarters – 5-3, 11-10, 14-5 and 8-6 for the 38-24 win. Our home team hit five of 12 free throws, and sophomore Olivia Vandevender, senior Macaden Taylor and junior Talisa Arbogast each hit one three. The Cougars committed 41 turnovers versus only 29 for our home team. The Lady Warriors out-rebound-ed EHHS 33-30. PCHS made 24 percent of their field goals.
Vandevender had team-highs with 14 points (game high also), three assists and six deflections.
Brooklyn Tinnell led EHHS with 10 points.
Other PCHS team highs were: junior Haley Spencer – nine rebounds (close behind was Macaden Taylor – eight), senior Makayla Ervine – three assists, and Macaden Taylor – seven steals and three blocks. Ervine and Spencer each scored seven points. Seven girls scored for PCHS.
PCHS V – 21
Pendleton County V – 40
The PCHS Lady Warriors traveled to Franklin December 2 for Varsity and JV games versus the #11 Pen-dleton County Wildcats (2021-22 AP Class A pre-season poll). Last season the Warriors lost to the Wildcats 20-25 at Franklin in the third regular season game, and then we had to forfeit our post-season game at Frank-lin in the sectional champion-ship due to COVID. The forfeit sent us to Tucker County and a 57-23 loss in the Region II co-championship game for a possible trip to states.
The improved Wildcats took all four quarters Thursday –12-3, 13-8, 6-2 and 9-8 for their 40-21 win. PCHS head coach Mike Kane commented that this year’s Wildcats are the best team out of Franklin he has ever seen. The Lady Warriors full-court press made a big difference in the closer second half. Pocahontas hit four of 11 free throws, and senior Allyson Alderman hit our only three. The Wildcats committed 37 turnovers versus 26 for our team. The Lady Warriors were out-rebounded by the taller team 44-28. PCHS made only 12.5 percent of their field goals.
Vandevender had 12 points, the high for Pocahontas. Other Pocahontas team highs were: Macaden Taylor – 10 rebounds and two blocks, and Allyson Alderman – five steals and three deflections. Five girls scored for PCHS.
Sophomore Ana Young hit three treys and led Pendleton with a game-high 16 points.
PCHS V – 54
Bath County V – 25
The Lady Warriors traveled by car to Hot Springs, Virginia, December 3 for a Varsity game versus the Bath County Chargers. Last season we could not schedule games with Bath due to COVID. Bath County currently requires masks to be worn in their schools, so we were all prepared with our masks.
PCHS won all but the fourth quarter – 17-7, 18-0, 14-3 and 5-15 for our 54-25 win. Pocahontas hit seven of 20 free throws, and Vandevender, sophomore Kynlee Wilfong and Ervine each hit one three. The Chargers committed 40 turnovers versus 23 for our team. The Lady Warriors were out-rebounded by the taller team 39-34. PCHS made 29 percent of their field goals.
Vandevender had 20 points, the high for Pocahontas and the game, and Ervine followed with 11 points. Other Pocahontas team highs were: Junior Kelsi Taylor – six rebounds, Vandevender – six assists, Macaden Taylor – six steals and Allyson Alderman – four deflections. Nine girls scored for PCHS (2-1) and five for Bath (0-2).
Bath was led by Zoey Jenkins, 10 points, and Lindsay Oliver, eight points including their only three.
PCHS JV – 35
East Hardy JV – 19
The PCHS JV took three of four quarters – 4-1, 1-7, 8-6 and 22-5 for the 35-19 win. The Warriors hit six of 15 free throws, and freshman Riley Pollack, freshman Brooklyn Moyers and sophomore Andrea Alderman each hit one three. The Cougars committed 38 turn-overs versus only 26 for our home team. The Lady Warriors out-rebounded EHHS 36-32. PCHS made 18 percent (13 of 73) of their field goals.
Moyers was team and game high scorer with nine points. Other PCHS team highs were: Adelyn Warner and freshman Mackenzie Taylor with seven rebounds each, sophomore Mileya Bircher – six deflections and five steals, and freshman Jasey Kramer – three assists and four steals. Nine Lady Warriors and eight Wildcats scored.
Brooklyn Miller was the Cougar high scorer with five points.
PCHS JV – 29
Pendleton County JV – 40
The improved Wildcats took the first three quarters – 8-0, 13-17, 5-4 and 14-18 for their 40-29 win.
The Lady Warriors full-court press made a big difference in the closer second half. Pocahontas hit seven of 12 free throws, and Pollack and Andrea Alderman hit one three each. The Wildcats and the Warriors each committed 40 turnovers. The Lady Warriors were out-rebounded by the taller team, 29-19. PCHS made 22 percent of their field goals. Other Pocahontas team highs were. Andrea Alderman – four rebounds. Six girls scored for PCHS. Pollack was game high scorer with 11 points.
Julia Mongold and Jena Smith led Pendleton with 10 points each.
The next two games for both PCHS teams will be at Greenbrier West December 10, and at East Hardy December 14. The JV games at both schools start at 5:45 p.m., and the V games will follow at 7 p.m.