Elia saves game with steal and basket
BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Bryson Elia stole the basketball midcourt and made a contested layup to give Tug Valley a one-point lead with just 13 seconds left in the West Virginia Class A championship game Saturday at Charleston Coliseum. The Panthers went on to defeat No. 1 seed Tucker County 35-32 to bring the big trophy back to Naugatuck.
Elia’s only basket of the game turned out to be the biggest of his high school career and will go down in the annals of Tug Valley basketball history.
“I knew I couldn’t give up because it’s do or die,” a modest Elia said. “In that type of situation, it doesn’t matter who scores. It just happened to be me. There was an open opportunity and I attacked the rim.”
The Panthers trailed 32-31 late after Tucker County’s Ethan Rosenau scored with 55 seconds left to put his team ahead. Panther fans were nervous at that point, but Elia, who is also an all-state running back and defensive back for the TVHS football team, became a hero for years to come.
Tucker County had a chance to tie the game, but as the shot fell short Tug players, coaches and fans could feel that a state title was in their grasp.
Braydun Ferris tacked on two free throws with one second left to give the Panthers breathing room and to set the final score.
Kaden Hale had the hot hand early for Tug Valley, scoring a trio of 3-pointers in the second quarter to keep Tug in the game. He swished in three straight treys to put the Panthers ahead at the end of the first half.
Tug Valley led Tucker County 18-17 heading into the dressing room at halftime.
The low-scoring contest saw the lead seesaw back and forth. Neither team shot exceptionally well, but the Panthers pulled it out with outstanding defense.
Tug Valley outscored the Mountain Lions 9-4 in the final quarter to pull ahead for the school’s fourth-ever state championship. The Panthers also won state championships in 1999, 2012 and 2013.
Tug Valley coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson was naturally elated and overwhelmed in the media room after the game.
“It’s hard to express and put into words how I feel,” Thompson said. “The school’s only been around 30 years, give or so. To win four state titles is simply amazing. It’s not me; it’s the kids … And there are little kids out there dreaming that they can one day be like these guys and cut down the nets.”
The coach praised Hale, who led all scorers with 13 points for the Panthers.
“Kaden Hale kept us in the game the first half,” said Thompson. “He gave us hope and life because we were on life support at that time.”
Buddy Marcum, the lone senior on the Tug Valley team, banked in nine points and hauled in a team-high eight rebounds.
“Buddy’s been with me four years,” remarked Thompson. “He’s been through the trials, the good, bad and ugly and finally gets to raise that championship trophy.”
Rounding out the Tug Valley scoring, Ferris netted six points and dished out five assists, Ashton Davis scored three points, and Elia and Carson Newsome scored two points apiece. Elia and Davis each dished out two assists and Hale had four rebounds.
Tug Valley went into the game as the No. 2 seed, having lost a regular-season contest to Tucker County. The Panthers had also lost to the Mountain Lions in the semifinals of the state tournament last year. So revenge was sweet for the Panthers in the game that counted.
Marcum, Ferris and Davis all made the Class A All-Tournament team for Tug Valley.
Ashton Lycliter led Tucker County with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Panthers finished the 2023-2024 campaign with a fine 22-6 record.
Tucker County saw the heartbreaking end to a 23-4 season.
Score by quarters:
Tug Valley: 5 13 8 9 – 35
Tucker Co.: 10 7 11 4 – 32