By: Adam Freeman
The Mt. Lions marched into the state tournament and walked out with a statement win, knocking off No. 3 Huntington St. Joseph’s in a nail-biting 59-57 thriller in the Class A opening quarterfinals, on Tuesday in Charleston, WV.
From the opening tip, it was clear this one would be anything but easy. St. Joe won the jump, but Tucker wasted no time setting the tone. Cayden Arnold got things rolling early with a strong drive to the basket, and Xander Lambert immediately made his presence felt on the glass, something that would become a theme all night.
Tucker’s defense came out aggressive, forcing misses and turning rebounds into quick opportunities. Lambert dominated the boards in the first quarter, while Arnold and Carson Dearborn attacked the paint to give the Mt. Lions an early edge. By the end of the first, Tucker held a 16-13 lead, fueled by timely three-pointers from Mikey Mitchell and Arnold.
But St. Joe wasn’t going anywhere.
The Irish battled back in the second quarter, capitalizing on turnovers and second-chance points to take their first lead. Every Tucker run was answered in a fast-paced, physical stretch. By halftime, the game was deadlocked at 23-23, setting up a second half that felt more like a championship bout than a quarterfinal. That’s when Tucker flipped the switch.
Coming out of the break, the Mt. Lions found their rhythm. Dearborn knocked down a huge three, Mitchell followed with another, and suddenly Tucker had breathing room. Lambert continued to control the paint, while Ethan Cummings and Sam Marks added key buckets to push the lead. By the end of the third quarter, Tucker was back in front 38-34, riding a surge of momentum.
Still, no one in the building thought this one was over, and they were right. The fourth quarter turned into a full-on war.
Tucker had a lead as much as 9 in the final frame, however, St. Joe chipped away possession by possession, cutting the lead to just a few points in the final minute. But Tucker stayed composed. Marks delivered clutch fast-break layups, Arnold attacked the rim when it mattered most, and Mitchell calmly sank free throws down the stretch. The tension inside the arena was electric. But Tucker didn’t flinch. A final defensive stand, highlighted by yet another big block from Arnold, sealed the deal.
With 2 seconds left, St. Joe buried a three to make it a two-point game, but at this point Tucker was celebrating. Final score, Tucker County 59, Huntington St. Joseph’s 57.
With the win, the Mt. Lions now turned their attention to a familiar foe, advancing to face the No. 2 Tug Valley Panthers in what was shaped up to be a highly anticipated rivalry showdown in the next round.
C. Dearborn 14pts, 5 reb, 1ast, 1 stl, FT 1-3; C. Arnold 12pts, 1 reb, 3 ast, 3 blk, FT 3-4; M. Mitchell 12 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, FT 4-6; S. Marks 7 pts, 8 reb, 1 ast, 2 bk, 2 stl, FT 1-6; E. Cummings 7 pts, 3 reb, FT 1-4; X. Lambert 5 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, FT 1-2; J. Black 2 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast.
3-Point Field Goals (6-15)
Dearborn (3) Mitchell (2) Arnold (1)
Tucker County came into the semifinal matchup fired up on Thursday, ready to battle their rivals, the Tug Valley Panthers, and from the opening tip, you could feel the intensity of a Charleston atmosphere with everything on the line.
The Mt. Lions didn’t back down early. Even after a couple of tough turnovers to start, Tucker settled in behind strong play from Ethan Cummings and Cayden Arnold. A huge three from Sam Marks midway through the first gave Tucker life, and Mikey Mitchell’s late bucket brought them within one. After a fast, physical opening stretch, Tucker trailed by just a point at the end of the first, 15-14.
The second quarter was a grind. Tucker fought hard in the paint, with Cummings and Arnold battling for tough buckets, and Carson Dearborn stepping up at the line to keep things close. The Mt. Lions even grabbed a brief lead after a strong inside finish by Arnold. But Tug Valley answered late, knocking down a three just before the buzzer to shift momentum heading into the locker room with a seven-point lead, 27-20.
Coming out of the break, Tucker showed perseverance. Sam Marks and Carson Dearborn helped spark a push, and the Mt. Lions kept attacking, refusing to let the moment slip away. But Tug Valley capitalized on turnovers and second-chance opportunities, slowly building their lead to 46-34. Even with big plays from Arnold and Marks, Tucker found themselves chasing, heading into the fourth.
In the final quarter, the fight never faded. Ethan Cummings added another strong finish inside, and Cayden Arnold knocked down back-to-back threes late, bringing energy and heart in the closing minutes. But the Panthers controlled the tempo and sealed the game at the line, with a final of 56- 43.
Not only did this loss mark the end of the Mt. Lions’ run in Charleston, but it was also a farewell to a senior class that helped define this team.
Sam Marks, Carson Dearborn, Xander Lambert, Mikey Mitchell, and Jonathan Black played their final game of Tucker County basketball. Through wins and losses, big moments and quiet ones, they showed what it means to wear the Mt. Lions jersey. They led by example and battled every game.
No doubt, Tucker will be back next year at the Charleston Coliseum, as they have a strong junior class and a rising group of underclassmen eager to continue the tradition.
C. Arnold 17 pts, 7 reb, 1 ast, 2 blk, FT 1-1; E. Cummings 9 pts, 1 reb, FT 1-2; S. Marks 8 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, FT 1-2; C. Dearborn 4 pts, 5 reb, 1 stl, FT 2-2; M. Mitchell 2 pts, 7 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk; J. Black 2 pts, 1 reb, FT 2-2; X. Lambert 1 pt, 7 reb, FT 1-2.
3-Point Field Goals (3-19)
Arnold (2) Marks (1)
Cayden Arnold was selected to the All-Tournament Team.
