BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — The Tug Valley Panthers picked up their 12th straight win with a 63-48 victory over the Belfry Pirates Saturday night. The game was rescheduled from a date postponed early in the season.

The Panthers jumped out to a 14-8 first quarter lead, led 40-16 at halftime and outscored the Pirates 32-23 in the second half to come away with another good victory.

Coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson was pleased with where his team was at this point in the season. “We’re as bonded as we’ve ever been. Our players are close as we’ve been. We still make some mistakes. But the kids are playing hard and they are very unselfish.”

Thompson knows as the regular season winds down he wants his squad to be peaking at the right time. A solid win over Belfry continued that progress.

Leading the way for the Panthers, senior Parker Davis fired in 24 points, including five 3s; Ashton Davis scored 17 and Buddy Marcum got into double digits with 10. Braydun Ferris and Joey Gollihue each scored three, Jonathan Wagoner had four off the pines, while Kaden Hale chipped in a basket. Ashton Davis dished out five assists, Parker Davis had three and Ferris and Gollihue both had two.

For Belfry, Cody Erwin led the way with 19; Eric Daniels scored 10 and Noah Brown nine.

Score by quarters:

Belfry: 8 8 16 16 – 48

Tug: 14 26 10 13 – 63