Tucker advances to Class A semifinals
Colebank grabs 25 rebounds, hits go-ahead free throws with :06 left in 46-45 win over Tug Valley
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Photo courtesy of the West Virginia Press Association
Tucker County coach Dave Helmick gives his team instruction during the fourth quarter of Tuesday's Class A quarterfinal contest against Tug Valley at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. The Lady Mountain Lions won the game, 46-45, and will face Cameron in Thursday's semifinals.
CHARLESTON -- Kadie Colebank tossed in 16 points, including the go-ahead free throws with six seconds left, to go along with 25 rebounds as No. 6 Tucker County held off No. 3 Tug Valley, 46-45, Tuesday morning in Class A quarterfinal action at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.
The Lady Mountain Lions (19-6) advance to face second-seed Cameron (22-4) at 11:15 a.m. Thursday in the semifinals.
"We wanted to push the pace, attack them and keep them on their heels," Tucker County coach Dave Helmick said. "(Tug Valley) knocked us out in the semifinals last year and we didn't play well.
"We were also motivated coming down here as the sixth seed. I feel our schedule was strong enough that we deserved better than a sixth seed and I used that as motivation for the kids."
The defending state champion Lady Panthers forged ahead, 45-44, on a 3-pointer by Audrey Evans with :18 left in regulation.
Colebank then grabbed a rebound off a missed free throw on the other end and was fouled. The 6-foot-1 junior forward hit both attempts and Tug Valley misfired on a 3-point attempt as time expired.
"We fouled (Colebank) and she made her shots," Lady Panthers coach Clyde Farley said. "We got a good look at the end, but just didn't knock it down."
Colebank's rebounding effort set a single-A record. However, that mark was broken in Tuesday's third game of the day when Cameron's Ashlynn Van Tassell collected a state-record 31 boards to set a new mark for all classes in a 74-43 win over No. 7 River View.
The Mountain Lions embarked on a 12-0 run to close the third quarter to lead 38-30 entering the final frame.
Tug Valley eventually tied the game at 38-38 on two free throws by Kaylea Baisden with 3:42 left in the contest that capped off an 8-0 surge.
A jumper by Jayden Kuhn and putback by Ericka Zirk allowed Tucker County to regain a 42-38 with 2:29 left.
Two more free throws from Baisden was answered by a jumper by Colebank.
But the Lady Panthers forged ahead briefly on two foul shots from Baisden and Evans' trey.
Kuhn and Brylee Wetzel followed Colebank with seven points each for the Lady Mountain Lions. Zirk added nine rebounds and Kuhn, Colebank and Katie Hicks added two assists each.
Baisden had 17 points and nine rebounds, Evans 10 points, 10 rebounds and four assists and Hall 13 caroms for Tug Valley, which ended the season 17-6.
Tucker County lost a 48-45 decision to Cameron on Jan. 20 when the teams played in the St. Marys tourney.
Tucker County (19-6)
Jayden Kuhn 2 3-6 7, Avery Colebank 1 0-0 2, Brylee Wetzel 2 1-7 7, Macy Helmick 2 2-5 7, Kadie Colebank 6 4-6 16, Katie Hicks 1 0-0 2, Ericka Zirk 2 0-0 4, Jacey Davis 2 0-0 4. Totals 18 8-19 46
Tug Valley (17-6)
Haley Gillman 1 0-0 3, Kaylea Baisden 3 10-11 17, Kenzie Browning 2 3-4 9, Autumn Hall 2 2-3 6, Audrey Evans 3 3-7 8. Totals 11 18-25 45
Tucker County 5 16 17 8 -- 46
Tug Valley 6 11 13 15 -- 45
3-point goals: Tucker County 2 (Wetzel 2), Tug Valley 5 (Browning 2, Gillman, Baisden and Evans)