By Dave Helmick
TuckerCountySports.Com
CHARLESTON – The Mt. Lions Boys’ Basketball team traveled to Charleston to compete in the WV State Tournament. Tucker County faced off against East Hardy in the first-round game on Wednesday March 15th. The Mt. Lions pulled away in the third quarter to get the win over the Cougars 77-51.
Tucker County got off to a good start in the game as they led after one quarter 25-10. East Hardy battled back in the second as the Cougars outscored the Mt. Lions 17-11 to make the halftime score 36-27 Tucker County.
The Mt. Lions would explode for 23 points in the third quarter, while holding East Hardy to 9 points in the period to make the score 59-36 after three quarters. The final quarter was also won by Tucker County 18-15 to give the Mt. Lions the Quarterfinal win by the final score of 77-51.
Tucker County was led in scoring by Trevan Bonner with 17 points and Levi Bennett added 14 points in the win for the Mt. Lions. Ashton Lycliter had 10 points, 8 rebounds for Tucker County, while Owen Knotts and Garrett Wilfong collected 8 rebounds each for the Mt. Lions in the win.
CHARLESTON – Tucker County then played Tug Valley in the State Semi-Finals on Thursday March 17th. The Mt. Lions got the win over the Panthers 71-58 to advance to the State Championship.
The game was back and forth in the first quarter as Tug Valley led 12-11 after one quarter. Tucker County then outscored Tug Valley in the second quarter 17-9 to make the halftime score 28-21 Mt. Lions.
The third quarter was another close quarter as the Panthers edged Tucker County in scoring 18-17 to put the score to 45-39 Mt. Lions after three quarters of play. The final quarter would belong to Tucker County as they outshot Tug Valley 26-19 in the fourth to give the Mt. Lions the big Semi-Final win 71-58. The win put Tucker County into the State Championship game for just the third time in school history. The last time Tucker County played for a State Championship was 2004.
Trevan Bonner led Tucker County with 22 points and Levi Bennett added 13 points, 7 rebounds. Ethan Rosenau added 11 points and Ashton Lycliter chipped in with 10 points, 10 rebounds.
CHARLESTON – The Mt. Lions took the court again inside the Charleston Coliseum on Saturday March 18th as they took on James Monroe in the Class “A” State Championship. The Mt. Lions were outscored 36-15 in the second half as James Monroe got the win by the final score of 66-35.
The first quarter was highly competitive as both teams battled with the Mavericks leading 13-9 after one quarter. James Monroe then controlled the second quarter, but a little run by Tucker County at the end of the quarter cut the Mavericks lead to 30-20 at the halftime break.
The third quarter would belong to the defending State Champion James Monroe as they outscored Tucker County 18-8 to expand their lead to 48-28 after three quarters. The Mt. Lions were not able to mount a comeback in the fourth as the Mavericks controlled the final quarter 18-7 to give James Monroe the win and the State Championship by the final score of 66-35.
Trevan Bonner led Tucker County with 14 points and Garrett Wilfong added 11 points, 5 rebounds for the Mt. Lions in the loss. Bonner and Lycliter were named to the State All-Tournament team.
The Mt. Lions finished the season with a 21-4 record, and they were presented the State Runner-Up Trophy after the game. For more info go to TuckerCountySports.Com.