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CHARLESTON -- Third-seed Tucker County and No. 6 East Hardy square off for the fourth time this season at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday in Class A quarterfinal action.
The surging Mountain Lions, winners of 11 straight games, hold a 2-1 edge in the season-series, including a convincing 62-26 victory in the sectional title game March 4 at Keyser High School.
Tucker County (19-4) secured its third straight state berth with a victory over Tygarts Valley in one Region II co-regional final, while the Cougars knocked off homestanding Pendleton County in the other half of the finale.
Sophomore guard Trevan Bonner leads head coach Daniel Helmick's squad in scoring at 13.6 ppg.
Junior guard Ethan Rosenau is averaging 11.1 points per game and junior guard Maddox Anderson, 6-foot-4 junior forward Ashton Lycliter and 6-5 junior forward Owen Knotts all around seven points per contest.
The Cougars (18-7) counter with junior guard J.W. Teets, who is hitting for 18 points per game, followed by senior Ashton Haslacker at 16.2 ppg.
East Hardy is making its first state appearance since 1996.
The Mountain Lions advanced to last year's state semifinals, defeating Tug Valley in the quarterfinals before bowing out in the semifinals in a loss to Greater Beckley Christian.
Class A quarterfinal matchups set for today include top-seed James Monroe vs. No. 8 Cameron at 7:15 p.m. and No. 4 Clay-Battelle vs. No. 5 Webster County, also at 11:15 a.m.
No. 2 Tug Valley and No. 7 Wahama battle at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday in the other quarterfinal contest.