The Inter-Mountain photo by Joey Kittle Elkins High’s Maddy Zirkle is guarded by Tucker County’s Addi Moats Wednesday night at Richard P. Simmons Memorial Gymnasium.

ELKINS — Tucker County used a strong third quarter to hold off Elkins, 44-40, in the season opener for both teams Wednesday night at Richard P. Simmons Memorial Gymnasium.

The Lady Tigers carried a slim 14-13 lead into the intermission as both squads endured some early first-game jitters through the first two quarters on the offensive end.

Scoring picked up over the final two frames, however, with the Lady Mountain Lions holding 19-8 edge in the third quarter to carry a 32-22 advantage into the final canto.

Elkins had its best scoring frame in the fourth with 18 points.

MaKenna Evans had 16 points and Addi Moats chipped in 12 to lead Tucker County, which hosts Pocahontas County at 6:30 p.m. Friday in a key early-season contest.

The Lady Tigers were led by Maddy Zirkle with 10 points, followed by Kelsey Bonnell with 10.

Elkins begins Big 10 Conference play at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at home against Lincoln.

Tucker County (1-0)

MaKenna Evans 5 5-7 16, Addi Moats 5 1-2 12, Izzy Kitzmiller 2 0-2 4, Cortney Shaffer 2 2-4 6, Peyton Hicks 0 0-2 0, Willow Carroll 3 0-4 6. Totals 17 8-19 44

Elkins (0-1)

Ella Bates 1 0-0 2, Madi Shreve 1 2-2 4, Ziah George 2 2-2 6, Emma Gilbert 3 0-0 7, Maddy Zirkle 5 0-0 11, Kelsey Bonnell 4 2-2 10. Totals 16 6-6 40

Tucker County 6 7 19 12 — 44

Elkins 4 10 8 18 — 40

3-point goals: TC2 (Evans and Moats), EHS 2 (Gilbert and Zirkle)

Pocahontas County 67

Bath County 34

HOT SPRINGS, Va. — Pocahontas County captured a 67-34 win over Bath County (Va.) on Wednesday evening.

Alexis Arbogast had 20 points, including six treys for the Lady Warriors, while Allyson Taylor added 15 and Savana Sharp and Calli Propst 12 each.

Pocahontas County, which defeated Richwood on Tuesday in the season opener, is now 2-0 and travels to Tucker County at 6:30 p.m. Friday.