BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
LOGAN, W.Va. — The Tug Valley Panthers swatted the Williamstown Yellowjackets 77-64 in the Willie Akers Classic played Friday at the Logan Memorial Fieldhouse.
Tug Valley coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson’s team came out with a full-court press and took an early 10-2 lead. Class AA Williamstown, ranked No. 3 in the state, fought back by hitting some 3-pointers. The Panthers led 25-11 after one quarter.
The Panthers also hit a few treys early in the game to build a lead. They took a 34-27 lead into the dressing room at halftime. The Jackets outscored the Panthers 11-9 in the second quarter. The first half went by quickly in the fast-paced game.
Kaden Hale fired in 13 first-half points for the Panthers including a trio of 3-pointers, while Braydun Ferris scored eight points and dished out six assists and Bryson Elia chipped in six.
Parker Schram scored 13 and Jayden Bryant scored nine points to lead the Yellowjackets in the first half.
Both teams swished in five treys in the first half.
Tug Valley came out of the break and outscored Williamstown 17-11 in the third quarter to build a little cushion on their lead. But the Yellowjackets did not quit and kept battling back. Both teams fired in 26 points in the fourth period.
The Panthers had a comfortable 64-42 lead with 2:29 left in the game and pulled out the victory.
Hale finished with 19 points to lead Tug Valley in scoring. Ferris had a double-double with 18 points and 11 assists, Carson Newsome fired in 16, Elia had 10, and Ethan Ferrell and Ashton Davis both chipped in seven points.
The Panthers were 19-21 at the free throw line for 90% and shot 57% from the floor for the game. They made 6-11 from behind the arc for 55%.
Parker Schram led Williamstown with 29 points, making 9-13 from 3-point land, while Cruz Isaly scored 19 and Bryant finished with 10.
The Yellowjackets made 13-28 from behind the 3-point line for 46% in the game.
“I thought we played very well. Of course when you make shots it makes things easier,” Tug Valley assistant coach Tyler Hodge said. “Williamstown is a top 3 team in AA – year in and year out and they’re very well coached.”
“We’ve got to continue getting better. Our schedule doesn’t get any easier. Hopefully this will prepare us to play games like this for the tournament. Our best basketball needs to be played in March,” Hodge added.
Tug Valley (5-2) is ranked No. 2 in the Coaches Poll this week in Class A. They were slated to play Charleston Catholic at Logan on Saturday, but due to the inclement weather that game was canceled.
Weather permitting, Tug Valley is scheduled to host Van on Jan. 14 and travel to Mingo Central on Jan. 18.
Score by quarters:
Tug: 25 9 17 26 – 77
W’town: 16 11 11 26 – 64