BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — Tug Valley senior star Braydun Ferris is the First State Bank Player of the Week.
Ferris delivered one of the most dominant postseason runs in recent memory, leading the Panthers to a third straight West Virginia Class A state championship.
Ferris was the driving force behind Tug Valley’s championship run in Charleston, pouring in 86 points over three state tournament games as the Panthers defeated Ritchie County in the quarterfinals, Tucker County in the semifinals and Greater Beckley Christian in Saturday’s title game.
The lightning-quick senior guard opened the tournament Tuesday with a spectacular performance in Tug Valley’s 67-61 quarterfinal win over Ritchie County.
After the Panthers stumbled to a slow start and trailed 17-5 after the first quarter, Ferris took over. He erupted for 16 points in the second quarter alone, including a stretch in which he nearly single-handedly flipped the game. Tug Valley’s patented full-court pressure began forcing turnovers, and Ferris turned those miscues into momentum-changing baskets as the Panthers stormed back to take a 32-28 halftime lead.
By the final horn, Ferris had posted a game-high 30 points and added five assists, helping Tug Valley advance despite a 32-point outing from Ritchie County’s Isaac Hodges.
“Braydun carried us in the first half,” coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson said after the win.
Ferris followed that with another standout effort Thursday in a 56-43 semifinal victory over Tucker County. This game sent Tug Valley back to the state championship for the third straight year.
The veteran point guard scored 26 points, once again leading the Panthers, and reached a major personal milestone in the closing minute when he knocked down a pair of free throws to surpass 2,000 career points. Ferris finished the semifinal with seven rebounds and four assists, doing far more than just scoring as Tug Valley pulled away in the second half.
The championship game Saturday brought more of the same.
Facing top-seeded Greater Beckley Christian, Tug Valley found itself down early before battling into a 25-25 halftime tie. With the game deadlocked 44-44 in the fourth quarter, Ferris delivered the defining shot of the tournament, burying a corner 3-pointer to give the Panthers the lead for good.
Ferris once again led all scorers with 30 points and added four assists. He was named Most Valuable Player and was also named to the Class A All-Tournament Team.
