BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
Tug Valley finished a perfect 3-0 week. The Panthers defeated regional foe Van in a road game Jan. 31, then won two games in the Hatfield-McCoy Shootout over Belfry and Shelby Valley Friday and Saturday.
Below is a recap of the action.
Tug Valley 62, Belfry 49
WILLIAMSON — Tug Valley won a border battle over Belfry 62-49 on the first night of the Hatfield-McCoy Shootout at the historic Williamson Fieldhouse.
The final score was not indicative of the game Friday night as the Pirates hung around for three quarters before the Panthers outscored them 23-16 in the final 8:00 to pull away.
Tug Valley, ranked No. 3 in Class A in the Mountain State, led 26-20 at the half and held that six-point lead going into the final quarter as both teams scored 13 each in the third period.
Ashton Davis led Tug Valley with 19 points and Joey Gollihue scored 17, while Buddy Marcum banked in 10 down in the low post. The Panthers were playing without senior Parker Davis who was sitting out with an injury.
Tug Valley had a cold shooting night and only made 5-of-18 three-pointers for 28% and shot 45% from the floor for the game. The Panthers were a perfect 11-11 at the free-throw line for 100%.
Jonathan Banks and Cody Erwin led Belfry with 17 points each and Banks led BHS with nine rebounds.
Score by quarters:
Belfry: 6 14 13 16 – 49
Tug: 12 14 13 23 – 62
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Tug Valley 69, Shelby Valley 66 (OT)
WILLIAMSON — Tug Valley came from behind to defeat Shelby Valley in overtimes 69-66 in the finale of the Hatfield-McCoy Shootout Saturday night at the Williamson Fieldhouse.
The Wildcats led 16-12 after one quarter, but Tug battled back in the second quarter to take a 31-28 lead into the dressing room at halftime.
The highly touted Shelby Valley squad outscored the Panthers 22-11 in the third quarter to take a comfortable lead into the final quarter.
Tug Valley battled back in the final period and the game ended in a tied 66-66, forcing overtime.
The Panthers battled back and took a slim 66-65 lead in the final seconds, but a steal and foul put Shelby Valley’s Preston Johnson on the free-throw line with just under five seconds remaining. Johnson made the first free throw to tie it up but missed the second.
Tug Valley scored the only three points in the extra period to gain the victory. Coach Garland Thompson’s team got a baseline jumper from Ashton Davis and a free throw from Joey Gollihue for those three points that proved to be the difference.
Parker Davis, who missed Friday’s game with an injury, returned to play one of his best games of the season. The senior scored 27 points to lead TV, while Gollihue scored 19 and Ashton Davis 12. Kaden Hale chipped in five off the bench, Buddy Marcum had four and Johnathan Wagoner added two.
Preston Johnson led Shelby Valley with 23 points, Ethan Stykes followed with 14 points and Russ Osborne scored 12.
Tug Valley made 9-of-27 three-pointers for 33% and shot 37% from the floor. The Panthers were 80% at the charity stripe, making 16-20 free throws.
Score by quarters:
Shelby Valley 16 12 22 16 0 – 66
Tug Valley 12 19 11 24 3 – 69
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Tug Valley 85, Van 44
VAN — Tug Valley traveled to Boone County and defeated regional foe Van 85-44 on Jan. 31.
The Panthers had four players in double figures. Several reserves received extended playing time in the win over the Bulldogs.
Carson Newsome led TV with 16 points, followed by 11 each for Brady Brewer and Joey Gollihue and 10 for Aiden Armstrong. Parker Davis, Ashton Davis and Kaden Hale each scored eight, Braydun Ferris seven, Paul Preece four and Bryson Elia two for Coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson’s squad.
Tug Valley came into the week ranked No. 3 in Class A.
Score by quarters:
Tug Valley: 23 17 18 27 – 85
Van High: 9 11 8 16 – 44
