Browning gets 1,000th career point
BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — The Tug Valley Lady Panthers win streak improved to 14 straight with back-to-back wins over St. Joe 57-27 and Mingo Central 59-39 last week at home.
The Ladies took an easy 57-27 victory over visiting perennial Class A power St. Joe of Huntington on Feb. 4.
The win should help Tug Valley’s seeding in the upcoming post-season tournament.
Early in the contest, with her first basket of the game, Tug Valley senior Kenzie Browning eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in the game played at the TVHS gym in Naugatuck.
“That is a big accomplishment,” Coach Seth Ooten said of Browning. “She has really worked hard and is a team player.”
The game was paused to present her with a special plaque and to get a photo to honor the occasion.
Tug Valley came out with a smothering full-court press and forced the Lady Irish into several turnovers. The Lady Panthers jumped out to an 18-10 lead and held St. Joe to just three points in the second quarter.
They also held them to single digits in the final two quarters at just six points in each frame.
“We take a lot of pride in our defense and our pressure,” Coach Ooten said. “We like to create havoc on defense.”
Tug Valley outscored St. Joe 22-6 in the third quarter to pull away.
Haven Deskins led Tug Valley with 18 points, while Browning finished the game with 15. Bailee Hall had another double-double with 11 points and 19 rebounds.
Katie Hall chipped in 5 points, Katelyn Richardson three and Kylie DeBoard two.
DeBoard, a point guard, also had five steals and five assists in the game. Browning also had five assists for the Lady Panthers.
Ava Gallion led St. Joe with 10 points.
Score by quarters:
St. Joe: 10 3 6 6 – 27
Tug: 18 8 22 9 – 57
Tug 59, Mingo 39
The Lady Panthers defeated county rival and Class AA Mingo Central 59-39 on Feb. 5 at the TVHS gym.
It was the 14th win in a row for Tug Valley with just one more regular season game left before the tournament. The Lady Panthers will travel to River View for that game.
Tug Valley led Mingo Central 17-9 after one quarter of play and 31-17 at the halftime break.
Kenzie Browning fired in 22 points to lead Tug Valley, while Bailee Hall scored 16 and Haven Deskins 11. Katelyn Richardson added four, Kyle DeBoard four and Katie Hall scored two points.
Bailee Hall pulled down 14 rebounds for yet another double-double, while DeBoard and Deskins each dished out four assists.
All-Stater Addie Smith led Mingo Central with 12 points.
Tug Valley improved to 18-2 while the Lady Miners dropped to 9-6.
Score by quarters:
Mingo: 9 8 12 10 – 39
Tug: 17 14 18 10 – 59