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Mountain Lions headed to Charleston

Cold-shooting night too much for Tygarts Valley to overcome in 53-36 co-regional final setback

HAMBLETON — A cold shooting performance was too much for Tygarts Valley to overcome as Tucker County claimed a 53-36 win in a Class A, Region II co-final on Wednesday night.

The Mountain Lions (12-5) advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2016 and will be the eighth seed. They will face top-seed Man at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in quarterfinal play at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.

The Bulldogs bucketed just 12 field goals on the evening and were 9 of 28 from the free-throw line. They never led as Tucker County jumped out to a 7-0 advantage to start the game.

A 3-pointer by Levi Bennett in the second quarter treated the Mountain Lions to an 18-10 advantage before baskets by Aidan Row and Jordan Phillips cut the lead to 18-15.

Tygarts Valley came no closer the remainder of the game, however, as two free throws from Zack Colebank, a trey by Gus Mullennex and another free throw from Maddox Anderson resulted in a 24-17 lead at the intermission for the hosts.

A putback by Ashton Lycliter in the third gave the Mountain Lions a 15-point lead, at 33-18.

Josh Bright, who had a game-high 15 points, then led a rally for the Bulldogs as he drilled a trey and scored inside to cut the lead to 35-27.

But a key 3-pointer by Bennett distinguished the charge and gave Tucker County a 38-27 lead entering the final quarter.

Tygarts Valley’s offensive woes continued in the fourth frame as the Bulldogs didn’t net a field goal until late in the quarter when Row converted a three-point play with Tucker County holding a 50-31 cushion.

Colebank and Lycliter each had 10 points for the Mountain Lions.

Row added nine points and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs, who finished the season 8-5. Seniors included Bright, Row and Liam Depp.

Tygarts Valley (8-5)

Josh Bright 6 1-9 15, Paden Haney 0 2-6 2, Aidan Row 2 4-9 9, Ashton Workman 2 0-2 4, Dalton Goode 1 0-0 2, Jordan Phillips 1 0-0 2, Liam Depp 0 2-2 2. Totals 12 9-28 36

Tucker County (12-5)

Gus Mullennex 2 0-0 5, Zack Colebank 1 8-10 10, Zach Long 1 0-0 2, Levi Bennett 3 0-0 8, Ashton Lycliter 4 2-2 10, Trenton Wilfong 3 0-2 6, Maddox Anderson 2 2-6 6, Rory Nestor 1 0-0 3, Harper Russell 1 0-0 2, Blake Anderson 0 1-2 1. Totals 18 13-22 53

Tygarts Valley 6 11 10 9 — 36

Tucker County 13 11 14 18 — 53

3-point goals: TV 3 (Bright 2, Row), TC 4 (Bennett 2, Mullennex, M. Anderson and Nestor)

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