BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NAUGATUCK — The Tug Valley Panthers won a pair of games in the Kaydence Maynard Memorial Christmas Tournament, which was hosted and played at their home gym in Naugatuck.
Tug Valley went into the weekend ranked No. 5 in Class A in both the AP and Coaches Polls.
Tug Valley 74, St. Joe 54
The Panthers won their opener in the tournament as they downed a good Huntington St. Joe team Friday night.
Tug Valley took a 17-10 lead as junior shooting guard Kaden Hale fired in a trio of 3-pointers in the first quarter.
The Panthers outscored the Irish 21-17 in the second quarter. Hale swished in another trey at the end of the first half to give him 15 points and to help his team take a 38-27 lead into the dressing room at the half. Braydun Ferris pumped in nine first-half points and dished out three assists.
The Panthers of Coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson got some breathing room in the third quarter, outscoring the visitors 17-9.
Tug Valley had a balanced scoring attack. Ferris led the way with 18 and dished out eight assists. Hale finished with 17 points which included five 3-pointers, Ashton Davis added 14 points, Bryson Elia 13 and Buddy Marcum eight. Brady Brewer and Carson Newsome each chipped in two points. Davis and Elia both dished out four assists.
TVHS made 8-16 from behind the arc for 50 % and shot 54 % from the floor for the game. They made 6-7 free throws for 86%.
Grady Paynter and Micah Ehrim led St. Joe as both scored 14 points.
Score by quarters:
St. Joe: 10 17 9 18 – 54
Tug: 17 21 17 19 – 74
Tug Valley 63, Wayne 54
Tug Valley improved to 4-0 on the season with a 63-54 victory Saturday over Class AA Wayne in the Kaydence Maynard Memorial Christmas Tournament.
The Panthers led 38-27 at the half and kept the lead the entire game to pull away with the early season victory.
Tug Valley had a balanced scoring attack with Ashton Davis leading the way with 16 points. Buddy Marcum banked in 12 and pulled down 21 rebounds, while Braydun Ferris scored 10 and dished out five assists, Bryson Elia and Brady Brewer each scored nine, and Kaden Hale scored seven.
The Panthers were cold from behind the arc in this game, making only 5-17 for 29%. They were also cool at the foul line, making 8-14 for 57%.
Isaac Meddings led the Wayne Pioneers with a game-high 20 points.
Tug Valley, ranked No. 5 in Class A, is slated to play West Logan Christian School on Tuesday and then travel to Mingo Central on Jan. 9.
Score by quarters:
Wayne: 11 12 14 17 – 54
Tug: 21 12 19 11 – 63