BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — The Tug Valley Panthers smashed the visiting Calhoun County Red Devils, 104-51, in the Class A, Region IV semi-finals at the TVHS gym at Naugatuck Thursday night, March 5.
The Panthers are top-seeded in the region and came into the postseason ranked No. 2 in the state, after spending most of the season ranked No. 1.
Maybe Tug Valley, coached by Garland “Rabbit” Thompson, had something to prove as they started their quest to make it back to the state tournament in Charleston and go for their third straight state title.
Tug Valley fired in 41 first-quarter points to lead 41-6 after the first 8:00 minutes of play. They outscored the Red Devils 26-19 in the second period.
Braydun Ferris scored 16 in the first quarter to lead the offense, while Carson Newsome pumped in 11.
Coach Thompson was able to play his reserves plenty of minutes in the contest as the Panthers coasted to the victory. Thompson got his 277th career win with the victory. He is the all-time winningest coach in Tug Valley hoops history and is thought to have the most wins by a coach in Mingo County history.
Ferris finished with 23 points, Newsome ended with 20, Aiden Copeland and Bryson Richardson each scored nine, and Cam Slone and Braxton Farley each scored seven. Jackson Jewell scored six, Preston May, Zade Rash and Alex Seranno all scored five points, Jace Hale and Leyton Brumfield scored five apiece and Howard Hodge added two points for Tug.
Chase Schoolcraft led Calhoun with 22 points, while Chase Groves added 10.
Tug Valley forced the Red Devils into 25 turnovers and had 15 steals in the game.
The Panthers improved to 17-5 on the season.
Calhoun’s season ended at 5-19.
Tug will host No. 5 seed Man (16-7) March 11 at 7 p.m. in the regional co-championship game with a state tournament berth on the line.
Man defeated Wahama 57-49 on Thursday to advance.
TVHS defeated the Hillbillies twice in the regular season.
The Panthers are gunning for a historic three-peat in the state tournament this year and searching for their sixth overall state championship in boys basketball.
Score by quarters:
Calhoun: 6 19 10 16 – 51
Tug: 41 28 16 19 – 104