The senior tossed in 36 points as the fourth-seeded Tigers fended off No. 5 Lewis County, 66-56, to advance in the Class AAA, Region II tournament.

“He had a great night,” Elkins coach Amrit Rayfield said of Shreve. “The senior put us on his back and didn’t want to lose at home and have his season end.”

Elkins will now visit top-seed Bridgeport at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a co-regional final. The Indians defeated the Tigers, 59-49, in the lone regular-season meeting played in Elkins.

In a back-and-forth opening half, the Minutemen led 15-14 after one quarter, before the Tigers held an 18-12 scoring edge in the second to carry a 32-27 lead into the halftime break.

The Inter-Mountain photos by Steve Chamberlain Elkins High’s Bryson Gainer (2) puts up a shot over Lewis County defender Josiah Heiney (10) Thursday night in Class AAA, Region II action at Richard P. Simmons Memorial Gymnasium.

They maintained a 45-37 after three quarters.

Elkins built a 10-point cushion in the final frame but a trey by Robert Furr cut the deficit to 56-50.

Lewis County came no closer, however, as Shreve converted an old-fashioned three-point play to push the lead back out to nine points with 1:30 left in regulation.

Shreve had 12 of his game-high point total in the final canto.

Bryson Gainer, filling in for injured starter Dreyton Boggs, chipped in 10 points and Isaiah Nutter and Lincoln Fletcher just missed double figures with nine each for the Tigers.

“Bryson gave us some much-needed production tonight,” Rayfield added.

Jesse Kemper and Josiah Heiney had 20 points each for the Minutemen, who concluded the season 7-15.

Heiney had six 3-pointers on the night.

Lewis County (7-15)

Jesse Kemper 6 8-10 20, Lukas Moodispaw 1 2-4 4, Josiah Heiney 7 0-0 20, Aiden Oldaker 1 0-0 3, Robert Furr 3 1-2 9. Totals 18 11-16 56

Elkins (5-17)

Bryson Gainer 3 2-2 10, Lincoln Fletcher 3 1-2 9, Isaiah Nutter 1 3-6 5, Landon Shreve 14 8-14 36, Amari Lonon 1 2-2 4, Rilan Hill 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 16-26 66

Lewis County 15 12 10 19 — 56

Elkins 14 18 13 21 — 66

3-point goals: LC 9 (Heniey 6, Furr 2 and Oldaker), EHS 4 (Gainer and Fletcher 2)