The top ranked Tucker County Mountain (22-3) Lions jumped out early and never relented as they picked up a 66-41 win over the 8th ranked Hunting St Joe Irish (17-8) in the opening round of the Class A tournament on Wednesday at the Charleston Civic Center.
Tucker County jumped out to a 6-3 lead when St Joe’s Micaiah Ehirim went down with an injury with 4:19 left in the opening quarter. Ehirim came back into the game a few minutes later, but Tucker County stretched out the lead to 18-11 after the first period.
The Mountain Lions really stretched out the lead in the second quarter as they outscored St Joe, 17-4, in the frame to take a 35-15 advantage into the locker room at the half.
Tucker County extended the lead to 48-23 after three quarters and closed the game out from there.
“Collectively, we’re a young team, and this was a good opportunity for us,” said St Joe head coach Todd Maynard. “It was a great measuring stick for these guys. Tucker County has a good chance at a state championship. They’ve been here before and experience matters. There’s a big difference between 15-year-olds and 18-year-olds. Strength came to play in it. The physicality definitely hurt us. They have some men.”
Ehirim led St Joe with 14 points. Grady Paynter followed with 7 points. Gavin Polan, Isaiah Sanders and Carter Woelfel scored 4 points each. Brayden McDowell and Brody Runyon netted 3 points apiece. Nymir Bryant Finished with 2 points.
Photo Courtesy of WV MetroNews
