Panthers run past visiting Westside
BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — The Tug Valley Panthers got their season started in the right direction with an impressive 78-51 win over Westside Friday night at the TVHS home gym in Naugatuck.
Tug Valley jumped out to a 22-10 first-quarter lead and outscored the Renegades 26-5 in the second quarter to take a commanding advantage into the dressing room at halftime.
Point guard Braydun Ferris scored eight points and dished out five assists in the first quarter, while forward Ashton Davis poured in 10 early points.
Ferris continued his blazing start and scored 14 more points in the second quarter to lead the Panthers offense.
Coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson used his bench a lot in the second half.
Ferris led Tug Valley with 26 points, six assists and four steals. Davis followed with 21 points and six rebounds. Kaden Hale fired in nine points. Bryson Elia scored eight points, grabbed six rebounds and had three steals. Aiden Armstrong scored three points. Camron Stafford, Derek Jewell, Cameron Slone, Carson Newsome and Jace Hale all chipped in two points each and Evan Bryant finished with one point.
“The first game of the season is always a question mark, but I thought our kids responded very well,” Coach Thompson said. “We were able to create some turnovers early, which gave us a lead at halftime. I thought Braydun Ferris, Ashton Davis and Bryson Elia played very well – and Kaden Hale came in and really gave us a lift offensively. Now it’s a rematch with our arch-rival Tolsia on Friday.”
For the Renegades out of Wyoming County, Brayden French led the way with 17 points and Austin Bishop followed with 16.
Tug Valley, ranked No. 6 in Class A in the West Virginia Coaches Poll and No. 4 in The Associated Press Poll, will head up U.S. 52 on Dec. 22 to take on regional rival Tolsia. Then they will host the Kaydence Maynard Memorial Holiday Tournament on Dec. 29-30, where they will take on Huntington St. Joe and Wayne.
Score by quarters:
Westside: 10 5 16 20 – 51
Tug Valley: 22 26 15 15 – 78