By Dave Helmick
TuckerCountySports.Com
CHARLESTON – The Tucker County Boys’ Basketball team played #6 Pendleton County in the first round of the State Tournament on Tuesday March 15th. The Mt. Lions pulled away in the third quarter to get the win over Pendleton County 59-45 to earn a spot in the Semi-Finals.
The first quarter went back and forth as Tucker County built a lead of 13-10 after one quarter of play. The Mt. Lions came out firing in the second as they lead by as many as 8 points 25-17 with 3:19 left in the second. The Wildcats of Pendleton County then fought back as they ended the quarter on an 8-0 run to outscore Tucker County in the quarter 15-12 to tie the score at halftime 25-25.
The Mt. Lions then outpaced Pendleton County in the third 15-9 to put the score to 40-34 Tucker County after three quarters. In the fourth quarter the Mt. Lions connected on 3 consecutive 3 point baskets by Haden Wamsley, Levi Bennett and Maddox Anderson to push the Tucker County lead to 53-39 with 3:51 left in the game. The Wildcats would cut the lead to 11, but the Mt. Lions responded to pull away for a 59-45 victory.
The Mt. Lions were led in scoring by Haden Wamsley with 17 points and Owen Knotts added 12 points, 10 rebounds. Ashton Lycliter chipped in with 9 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and Levi Bennett had 6 points, 6 rebounds for Tucker County in the win.
CHARLESTON – The Mt. Lions returned to the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center on Thursday March 17th for a Semi-Final game against #7 Greater Beckley Christian. Tucker County fought hard throughout the game, but Greater Beckley held off the Mt. Lions for a 48-40 victory.
The first quarter belonged to Greater Beckley as they raced out to an 11-2 lead with 1:50 left in the quarter, but Tucker County scored the next 4 points to put the score to 11-6 Crusaders after one quarter. The Mt. Lions fought back early in the second as they cut the lead to 11-8 with 6:12 left in the second. Greater Beckley responded as the scoring in the quarter ended at 9-9 to make the halftime score 20-15 Crusaders.
The offense got going for both teams in the third as Greater Beckley edged the Mt. Lions in scoring in the third 19-16 to put the score to 39-31 Crusaders after three. In the fourth quarter Tucker County cut the Greater Beckley lead down to 4(43-39) with 3:56 left in the game. However, the Mt. Lions never got any closer as Greater Beckley held off Tucker County for the 48-40 victory. The win put Greater Beckley into the Class “A” Championship Game.
Tucker County was led in scoring by Ashton Lycliter with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals and Levi Bennett added 11 points in the Mt. Lions loss. Trevan Bonner chipped in with 7 points, 5 rebounds for Tucker County.
James Monroe would then run by Greater Beckley in the Class “A” Championship game by the score of 72-47. Tucker County’s Ashton Lycliter was named to the All-Tournament team.
Tucker County finished the season with a 24-3 record. For more info go to TuckerCountySports.Com.