BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — The Class A No. 2-ranked Tug Valley boys basketball team closed out the regular season with a come-from-behind 78-60 win over Westside at home Feb. 21.

The game served as Senior Night and Tug Valley’s two seniors, Parker Davis and Jonathan Wagoner, were honored during pregame ceremonies.

The Panthers rallied from 13 points behind, improved to 19-3 and won their 15th straight game heading into sectional tourney play.

Tug is the top seed for the upcoming sectionals and is set to host Man or Van on Wednesday (March 1). A win would put the Panthers in the sectional finals, set for Friday (March 3).

Tolsia and Sherman are the other two teams in the section, with Tolsia being the No. 3 seed and Sherman the No. 2 seed.

Sophomore guard Joey Gollihue led the Panthers with 31 points, while freshman point guard Braydun Ferris scored 14 points and dished out eight assists. Parker Davis and sophomore Ashton Davis each scored 10 points for Coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson’s squad. Buddy Marcum added six, Jonathan Wagoner five and Kaden Hale two for TVHS.

Tug Valley shot 55% from the field, including 11-25 from behind the arc for 46%. The Panthers were 9-of-12 at the free-throw line for 75%.

Westside led 21-13 after one quarter and 40-33 at halftime. However, Tug Valley outscored the Renegades 18-12 in the third quarter and pulled away in the final eight minutes by outscoring Westside 27-8 to pull away.

Colton Lester led Westside with 17 points, while Hunter Lester and Bryson Blankenship each scored 12.

Score by quarters:
Westside: 21 19 12 8 – 60
Tug Valley: 13 20 18 27 – 78