Rivalries don’t often develop between schools over four hours apart, but it sure feels like we have a new great rivalry on our hands in Class A.
The top ranked Tug Valley Panthers (12-2) jumped out early and never trailed as they picked up a 56-39 win over the 2nd ranked Tucker County Mountain Lions (13-2) on Saturday in front of a packed gym at home in Naugatuck.
With the win, Tug Valley avenged a 65-63 overtime loss at Tucker County a month ago. It was also a rematch of the 2024 Class A state championship game that saw Tug Valley earn a 35-32 victory.
The Panthers fed off the crowd early and jumped out to an 8-0 lead. The Mountain Lions battled back to tie the score at 8-8, but it would be the last time the two teams would be tied. Tug Valley responded with a 9-2 run that ended with a corner three-pointer from Carson Newsome at the end of the quarter to make it a 17-10 lead. Newsome had 10 points in the quarter to lead the Panthers.
Tug Valley kept slowly stretching out the lead in the second quarter, outscoring Tucker County 13-7 in the period. Newsome came calling again on a three-pointer from the same quarter to beat the buzzer for a second time and lift Tug Valley to a 30-17 advantage at the intermission.
The Panthers saw their lead continue to grow and led by 19 with just a little over a minute left when Tucker County’s Garrett Wilfong threw down a dunk but then pulled himself up on the rim, resulting in a technical foul. It was Wilfong’s second technical foul of the game and resulted in his disqualification. Tug Valley was able to take a 44-25 lead into the final period.
Tug Valley pushed the lead past 20 at one point and then was able to cruise to the convincing win over its new rival to the delight of the home crowd.
Newsome led the Panthers with 17 points. Braydun Ferris followed with 14 points and 5 assists. Ashton Davis added 10 points. Ethan Ferrell recorded 5 points. Bryson Elia had 4 points and pulled down 6 rebounds. Braxton Perry finished with 2 points.
Wilfong paced Tucker County with 11 points. Trevan Bonner added 10 points in the loss.
Tug Valley will next play on Tuesday when Huntington St Joe visits Naugatuck.
Photos Courtesy of Karen Watts
