HAMBLETON – Tucker County opened sectional play on Thursday March 1st against Pendleton County. The Mt. Lions trailed in the contest for most of the second half, but an offensive rebound and layup by Corrick Ambrose as time expired gave Tucker County the dramatic 54-52 win.
The visiting Wildcats started the game with some great shooting as they led Tucker County at the end of the first quarter 12-8. The Mt. Lions charged back in the second quarter as they outscored Pendleton County in the period 14-6 to put Tucker County ahead at the half by the score of 22-18.
The Wildcats controlled the scoring in the third quarter as they outpaced the Mt. Lions 24-16 in the third to give Pendleton County a 42-38 lead after three. The visitors continued to keep Tucker County behind them throughout the fourth quarter. The Mt. Lions would come back to tie the game with under 2 minutes left to play in the contest. The Wildcats then missed 2 foul shots with 1:29 left in the game to keep the score at 50-50. Tucker County would take the 52-50 lead on the next possession as Brandon Zirk made 2 foul shots to break the tie. Pendleton County then made 2 foul shots with under 30 seconds to play to tie the game back up at 52-52. Tucker County then had the ball with the final possession of regulation. Wesley Snyder then drove to the basket and pulled up in the corner from about 6 feet away with about 5 seconds remaining. The shot was missed by Wesley Snyder and Corrick Ambrose grabbed the offensive rebound and laid it over the rim and the ball banked off the glass and fell through the basket as time expired to give the Mt. Lions the dramatic 54-52 win. The basket gave Tucker County the win and ended Pendleton County’s season as the loser of this Sectional Semi-Final game was eliminated from the playoffs.
Tucker County was led by Corrick Ambrose with 18 points, 7 rebounds and Brandon Zirk added 14 points for the Mt. Lions in the win. Jeffrey Snyder led Tucker County on the boards as he pulled down 11 rebounds. Wesley Snyder chipped in with 8 points for Tucker County in the victory.
PETERSBURG – The Mt. Lions traveled to Petersburg High School on Saturday March 3rd to face off against Paw Paw in the Sectional Championship game. Tucker County got off to a slow start, but pulled away in the second quarter and held off a late comeback by the Pirates to give the Mt. Lion Boys’ a Sectional Championship for the second straight season by the final score of 60-52.
The first quarter was a slow start for Tucker County as they were outscored in the period as the score was 11-10 Paw Paw after one. The Mt. Lions would create some steals on defense and get some easy baskets in transition to outpace the Pirates 23-15 in the second to make the halftime score 33-26 Tucker County.
The third quarter belonged to Tucker County as they extended their lead with a 14-9 advantage in the period to give the Mt. Lions a 47-35 lead after three. Tucker County built a bigger lead in the fourth quarter, but Paw Paw did not quit as they fought back to cut the lead to 8 late in the contest. The Pirates could not complete the comeback as they fell in the game by the final score of 60-52 Tucker County.
Brandon Zirk led the Mt. Lions in scoring with 17 points and 5 assists. Jeffrey Snyder and Wesley Snyder added 16 points each. Jeffrey ended the contest with a team high 15 rebounds and Wesley added 4 assists, 3 steals. Alec Cummings chipped in with 9 points for Tucker County.
Tucker County(13-10) will now host Trinity on Wednesday March 7th at 7pm for the Regional Championship. The winner of that game will compete in the WV Boys’ Basketball State Tournament in Charleston on March 8th. For more info or complete schedules go to TuckerCountySports.Com.
