6 makes 4
6-player Cavs advance
By JESSICA DAVISBluefield Daily Telegraph
BECKLEY — Mercer Christian Academy’s six-man squad rose to the challenge Wednesday night, as the Cavaliers defeated Mount Hope for the third time this season 56-53 to claim the Class A, Region VI championship.
The win sends Mercer Christian (14-10) to the Class A state playoffs in Charleston for the fourth straight year.
“Going to state holds a special meaning this time,” MCA head coach Kevin Shirey said. “The boys have faced so many challenges this year and to make it with only six players in uniform is terrific.
“The guys have stayed true to the team and believed in each other. They continue to work hard and that is real impressive.”
Mount Hope’s season ends 13-11.
“It was a great game,” Mount View head coach Jim Maynor said. “It came down to the wire and MCA pulled through. We fell short at the end, but I’m proud of the boys. They never gave up.”
The first two times the teams took to the hardwood ended in dramatic fashion. Nothing things this time around.
The Cavaliers entered the fourth period leading 36-35. With 5:52 on the clock, Mount Hope Jeff Johnson hit a layup to tie the score 41-41. Mercer Christian edged out to a five-point lead, but with less than 50 seconds left in the game, Jamel Shelton and Brian Allen scored back-to-back baskets to cut the Mustangs’ lead to one.
Jacob Woodrum would then go to the free throw line for the Cavaliers with 19 seconds left on the clock, and hit both to give MCA a 54-51 lead. The Mustangs drove down the court, but missed a layup.
Matthew Parker grabbed the rebound and was sent to the foul line. Parker, who hit 7-for-7 from the charity stripe, hit both shots to end the scoring for MCA.
At the buzzer, Shelton scored on a wide-open layup, but it didn’t provide Hope for the Mustangs.
“I have to give Mount Hope a lot of credit,” Shirey said. “They are a great team and have put us to the test every time. I’m real proud my boys can hang on for the win.”
In the last two minutes of the first period, MCA used a 14-2 run to jump out to an eight-point lead. The two teams went shot-for-shot in the second quarter, but the Cavaliers were able to enter the locker room with a 26-17 lead.
The Mustangs went on an 11-0 run after the break to take their second lead of the night at 28-26. That would be the last time Mount Hope led in the game.
Johnson led Mount Hope with 19 points, while Shelton added 17 for the Mustangs. Parker paced MCA with 25, and Brett Tolliver added 16 for the win.
“This trip to Charleston holds a little more meeting than before,” Tolliver said. “Other the guys on the team, our fans and our coaches, no one really expected this from us.”
MOUNT HOPE (13-11)
Jamel Shelton 8 1-3 17, Jeff Johnson 9 1-3 19, Jordan Maynor 1 0-0 2, Channing Lowe 3 1-2 9, B.J. Wallace 0 0-0 0, Brian Allen 2 0-0 4, David Grant 1 0-2 2. Totals 24 3-8 53.
MERCER CHRISTIAN (14-10)
Matthew Parker 8 7-7 25, Matthew Duncan 3 0-2 6, Jacob Woodrum 3 3-4 9, Brett Tolliver 7 1-1 16, Chad Hutchins 0 0-0 0, Justin Bryan 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 11-14 56.
Mount Hope.......................8 9 18 18 — 53
Mercer Christian..............16 10 10 20 — 56
3-point goals: MH 2 (Lowe 2); MCA 3 (Parker 2, Tolliver 1).
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