BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The No. 2-ranked Tug Valley Panthers outscored East Hardy Cougars 14-4 in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 52-39 semifinal win Friday in the West Virginia Boys State Basketball Tournament. The event took place in the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.

With the win, the Panthers (21-6) advance to Saturday’s championship game against the No. 1 seed Tucker County (23-3) at 5 p.m.

This was Tug’s second straight trip to the state tournament, third appearance in the last four years and 17th overall in school history.

Forward Ashton Davis led Tug Valley with 20 points. Davis made 5-of-10 shots, including 4 of 7 from behind the arc. He also pulled down seven rebounds and had four assists.

Buddy Marcum added seven points and led all players with 12 rebounds. Point guard Braydun Ferris scored eight points, pulled down six boards and dished out seven assists. Kaden Hale and Bryson Elia each added six points, while Carson Newsome chipped in five off the bench.

The game was close until TVHS turned up the defense in the final minutes.

“You have to keep contesting shots, find where that release point is and close out,” Tug Valley coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson said. “We do a pretty good job of closing out.”

J.W. Teets led the Cougars with 17 points, while Mason Hamilton scored nine to go with five steals.

Score by quarters:
East Hardy: 12 10 13 4 – 39
Tug Valley: 10 15 13 14 – 52