Going back
Beavers win region once again
By BRIAN WOODSONBluefield Daily Telegraph
PRINCETON — Next stop: Charleston.
Ever since Bluefield lost in the Class AA state championship game last season, the Beavers have been yearning for another chance.
That opportunity will come next week, after Bluefield thrashed Summers County 58-41 on Wednesday night at Princeton High School, securing the Region VII title and a fourth straight trip to the Charleston Civic Center.
“It feels great to got back up there, I feel like we’ve got unfinished business,” Bluefield junior Ansel Ponder said. “As far as us losing last year, I feel like we’ve got a chip on our shoulder like I said at the beginning of the season.
“We want to go up there and compete and try to win it all.”
“It’s a good feeling to get back there,” added Dexter Moore. “After we got so far last year, we’re hoping we do it this year.”
Bluefield earned that its way to Charleston by jumping out to a 9-2 lead, eventually building the margin to 15-5 after one quarter and 37-11 at the break. It was similar to last week’s sectional title game when the Beavers took a 30-11 lead into the half against James Monroe, and eventually won by 30.
“That’s been one of our mottos is to get off to a good start and play with a lot of intensity early,” Bluefield head coach Ernie Gilliard said. “The last couple of games the kids have done a tremendous job of doing that.”
Bluefield placed three players in double figures in scoring, led by Shaun Brooks with 13 points, while Ponder and Moore added 12 apiece. Kyle Hammond led the defensive charge with five steals and also added five boards.
The Beavers hit 15-of-23 shots in the first half, and forced 15 Summers County turnovers to take the commanding lead.
“We knew they were going to try and take us out of our fast pace on offense so we had to be patient,” Moore said. “When we got the ball we had to do something with it, and we had to be patient on defense.”
Summers County (14-10), which lost 24-points-a-game scorer Andrew Gunnoe to a broken hand on Feb. 9, tried to be deliberate, holding the ball on its first possession for nearly three minutes before attempting a shot that missed its mark.
Bluefield responded, with Moore taking the ball downcourt and hitting a 3 for the early 5-0 lead. The Beavers eventually led 9-2, and then built the margin to 17 at 22-5 on a pair of Moore free throws.
“We realized they were going to try and control what they did and it was quite obvious that they were going to be very patient and pick and choose their opportunities when they took shots,” Gilliard said. “It was by no means a slow-down attempt, he wanted to make sure he took shots when he was ready to take shots and that they took care of the ball.
“We felt like we had to get out early and keep them from getting in their comfort zone and allow ourselves to get in our own comfort zone.”
Summers County did control the third quarter, outscoring the Beavers 18-9, but still trailed by 17 heading into the final period. A 3 by Nate Crawford cut the margin to 16 with four minutes left, but that’s as close as the Bobcats would get.
“We’ve got a pretty young team and I’m not sure they had confidence in themselves without Gunnoe playing, to score enough points to be in a game like this,” Summers County head coach James Payne said. “Once we woke up, I thought they came out and answered the bell pretty good.
“It’s tough to come back from that. I thought we came out in the second half and played with a little bit of pride and did a nice job overall in the second half.”
Cameron Mann led the Bobcats with 12 points, while Crawford added 10.
“I’ve got 17 of 18 back plus Gunnoe so we’re in pretty good shape,” Payne said. “Hopefully we can avoid the injury bug and that kind of thing.
“We’ve got a lot of kids coming back and I figure with a little luck we’ll play in this game next year.”
Bluefield will open tournament play next Thursday at the Charleston Civic Center. The task ahead won’t be easy for any of the eight teams involved.
“It’s a business trip and it’s going to be tough,” Gilliard said. “I think Group AA basketball is probably as balanced and as tough as any division in the state.
“There is probably more parity there in Group AA, and any of the teams remaining can win it all.”
at Princeton High School
BLUEFIELD (21-3)
Kyle Hammond 3 1-2 8, Ansel Ponder 6 0-0 12, Justin Harris 0 0-0 0, Dexter Moore 4 2-3 12, Chance Cottrell 3 0-3 6, Craig Ponder 0 1-2 1, Shaun Brooks 6 1-3 13, Turquan Casey 0 0-0 0, Jacob Powell 1 0-0 2, Marcus Patterson 0 0-0 0, Warren Furrow 1 0-0 2, Tre’ Baker 0 2-2 2. Totals 24 7-15 59.
SUMMERS COUNTY (14-10)
Mark Stiltner 1 0-0 2, Cameron Mann 5 1-2 12, Brandon Plumley 1 0-0 2, Chance Worth 2 1-2 5, Nick Dent 2 0-0 6, Nate Crawford 4 0-0 10, Kyle Newcome 0 0-0 0, T.T.Wynes 0 0-0 0, Tyler Miller 1 0-0 2, Ryne Nehdohil 1 -0-0 2, Devon Wynes 0 0-0 0, R.L. Meadows 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 2-4 41.
Bluefield.........................................15 22 9 12 — 58
Summers County.............................5 6 18 12 — 41
3-point goals: BF 3 (Moore 2, Hammond 1); SC 5 (Crawford 2, Dent 2, Mann 1). Total fouls: BF 7; SC 12. Fouled out: Stiltner. Technicals: none.
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