BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

MAN, W.Va. — The Tug Valley Panthers held the Man Hillbillies to single digits in all four quarters to run past their regional rival 79-25 on Feb. 13 at the Man Memorial Fieldhouse.

Ashton Davis was 3-for-3 from behind the arc to lead TV with nine first-quarter points, while Kaden Hale fired in a couple of 3s and scored eight early points. The Panthers jumped out to a 26-9 lead in the first eight minutes of play.

Davis scored five more in the second quarter as Tug outscored Man 19-5 in the period to give him 14 points in the first half.

Tug Valley continued to turn up the pressing defense, outscoring the Billies 17-3 in the third quarter and 17-8 in the fourth period.

Coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson cleared his bench for much of the second half. Several players got into the scoring column for TV.

Davis finished with 14, Hale 13, and Braydun Ferris 12 with four assists. Carson Newsome scored nine, Brady Brewer eight, Bryson Elia had seven and dished out six assists, Buddy Marcum added six points, Brady Brewer five, Cam Slone three and C.J. Branham two.

Noah Frazier led Man with 8 points.

Tug is ranked No. 2 in the AP and Coaches polls and now has a record of 15-4. The Panthers are No. 1 in the MetroNews Sports Power Index for single A schools. They are winding down the season and headed toward sectional tournament play in just a few days.

After the last regular season home game with Van, the Panthers take on No. 1 Tucker County and Class AA power Westside before postseason action begins.

Score by quarters:
Tug: 26 19 17 17 – 79
Man: 9 5 3 8 – 25