BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — It was a border war between two solid high school basketball programs from the area Feb. 17 as the regular season winds down. In the end, Belfry found out how tough it is for visiting teams to play at the Tug Valley High School gym in front of a loud capacity crowd in Naugatuck as the Pirates lost 61-46.
Like hot butter, Tug Valley got on a roll early and jumped out to an early lead. Coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson came out with a full-court press, forcing the Pirates into several early turnovers that led to transition baskets for the Panthers.
Tug Valley led 23-10 after the first quarter, which set the tone for the game. “We got some easy layups there,” Thompson said. “When we are active defensively we are playing our best basketball.”
Thompson praised the large crowd that attended the game.
Tug Valley used a zone press, but then dropped back into a man-to-man defense that seemed to frustrate Belfry in the early minutes.
Senior guard Braydun Ferris scored 12 first-half points to lead the Panthers. Early in the game, junior guard Zade Rash scored a basket to give him 1,000 points in his career.
The Panthers, ranked No. 1 in Class A in West Virginia, took a 36-19 lead into the dressing room at the half.
Then they took a commanding lead in the third quarter. At the end of the frame, the Panthers led 50-27.
Ferris led the Panthers with 22 points and dished out six assists. Preston May netted 10 points, Carson Newsome scored nine, Rash five, Jace Hale five, Aiden Copeland four, and Cam Slone and Bryson Elia had two points each.
For Belfry, Bryce Hagy led the scoring with 13 points, while Peyton Owens had 12.
The Pirates shot 33% from the floor, including 5-17 from 3-point land for 28%. They were 9-19 at the foul line for 47%.
Tug Valley shot 51% from the field and 2-10 from behind the arc for 20%. The Panthers were 9-13 from the free-throw line, shooting 69%.
“We were able to play a lot of kids,” Thompson said.
The TV coach said he tried to give the reserve some minutes, but Belfry did not give up and kept battling.
Belfry head coach Brent Perry returned to the bench after serving the last of a three-game suspension after he was tossed from a recent game at Corbin. Assistant coach Sean Hurley led the team during those three contests.
Score by quarters:
Belfry: 10 9 8 19 – 46
Tug: 23 13 14 11 – 61