By Dave Helmick
TuckerCountySports.Com
HAMBLETON – The Tucker County Boys’ Basketball team hosted Tygarts Valley on Monday February 24th for the last game of the regular season. The Mt. Lions got behind early and Tucker County was unable to complete the comeback as they fell in the contest 57-45.
The first quarter was won by the visiting Bulldogs 15-5. Tygarts Valley then outscored the Mt. Lions in the second quarter 15-12 to push the Bulldogs lead to 30-17 at the halftime break.
Tucker County then battled back in the third quarter as the Mt. Lions outpaced Tygarts Valley in the third 18-12 to make the score 42-35 Tygarts Valley after three. Tucker County cut the Bulldogs lead down to 5 in the fourth, but the Mt. Lions could not complete the comeback as Tygarts Valley got the win by the final score of 57-45.
Tucker County was led in scoring by Zack Colebank with a game high 25 points and Wyatt Betler added 11 points in the loss for the Mt. Lions. The Tucker County JV team finished their season with a 59-44 win over Tygarts Valley.
HARMAN – The Mt. Lions opened up Sectional Playoff action on Saturday February 29th at Harman. Tucker County jumped out to an early lead and never trailed in route to a 55-41 victory.
The visiting Mt. Lions exploded in the first quarter as they led after one 17-3. Harman fought back in the second quarter as they got the score to within 5, but Tucker County ended the quarter on a 6-0 run to make the score at the half 25-17 Tucker County.
The third quarter was back and forth as the Mt. Lions edged the Panthers 19-16 in the third to push the Tucker County lead to 44-33. The Mt. Lions then put the game away in the fourth with a 11-8 advantage over Harman to give Tucker County the road playoff win by the final score of 55-41.
Rudy Pennington led Tucker County with 22 points, 8 rebounds and Zack Colebank added 11 points, 10 rebounds. Wyatt Betler chipped in with 6 points and Zach Long had 5 points for Tucker County in the win. The Mt. Lions outrebounded Harman in the game 38-18.
Tucker County (4-19) was scheduled to play the Sectional Semi-Final game at Pendleton County on Tuesday March 2nd. The winner of Tuesday’s game will play the winner of Moorefield / East Hardy on Friday March 6th in Petersburg for the Sectional Championship. For more info go to TuckerCountySports.Com.
