By: Adam Freeman
The Tucker County Mt. Lions Boys Squad played in four games over the holiday break. The team started off participating in the Lincoln Invitational Holiday Tournament in Shinnston, taking on the host team, Lincoln High School. Tucker was on top after one period of play, 13-9. TCHS continued its dominance in the second period taking a 35-26 lead before halftime. The second half would prove to be all Mt. Lions with Tucker taking a 26-point win 79-53.
Bonner 27 pts, FT 3-3; Wilfong 18 pts, 8 reb, FT 4-9; Mitchell 13 pts, 6 reb; Marks 9 pts, 4 ast; Arnold 4 pts; Cummings 4pts; Carr 2 pts; Dearborn 2 pts
3 Point Goals 6-18: Marks (1) Mitchell (1) Bonner (4)
Tucker would then take on the Philip Barbour Colts in the title round of the tournament. Tucker would hold a narrow lead at the end of one, 20-16. They would extend their lead, but the contest was still tight at the half with Tucker holding the edge 33-27. The Mt. Lions began to separate in the second half holding the Colts to only 6 points in the third quarter and pushing the lead out to 54-33. Tucker would double up the Colts outscoring them 14-7 in the final quarter to garner the win and the title 68-40.
Bonner 19 pts, 6 reb, FT 2-4; Wilfong 16 pts, 7 reb, 8 stl, FT 4-10; Mitchell 15 pts, 4 reb, FT 3-4; Marks 8 pts, 4 reb; Lambert 6 pts, 5 reb, FT 2-3; Dearborn 2 pts; Arnold 1 pt, FT 1-2; Carr 1 pt, FT 1-2
3 Point Goals 5-18: Bonner (1) Marks (2) Mitchell (2)
After the weekend spent in Shinnston, Tucker would return home to take on their all-sport rivals in the Cougars of East Hardy. Tucker would lead their regional foe from tip to final whistle, holding a 9-point lead after the first quarter and a double-digit lead from that point on. Tucker dominated the contest, which was never in doubt as the Mt. Lions were in command throughout. Tucker took the win in the first of two matchups of the season 59-40.
Bonner 20 pts, 3 ast, FT 1-2; Wilfong 13 pts, 14 reb, 4 blk, FT 1-4; Mitchell 10 pts; Arnold 6 pts, FT 0-2; Marks 5 pts, 5 reb; Lambert 5 pts, 4 reb, FT 3-4
3 Point Goals 6-14: Bonner (3) Marks (1) Mitchell (2)
The final contest over Tucker’s holiday break would prove to be the most anticipated and difficult victory of them all. The reigning state champion Tug Valley Panthers made the long trip North for a title rematch from last season, in a game that would end up being delayed a day due to the weather. In front of a packed house with standing room only, Tug would take the lead after one quarter of play, 13-11. The game would stay taught in the first half with Tug still holding a narrow lead 28-26. This game would never have a double-digit lead at any point in the contest as the Panthers continued to lead after 3 quarters 43-42. The fourth period just wouldn’t be enough to decide a winner in this clash of Single A title contenders, as the fourth quarter horn blew, the game was tied 57 all. In overtime Tucker would find itself down 1 point with under 30 seconds left to play. Senior Garrett Wilfong would step to the line and knock down two free throws to go up by one point. Wilfong would then get a stop on the following possession as Trevan Bonner would secure the rebound and draw the foul with under 5 seconds left to play. Bonner would hit 1 of 2 from the line putting Tucker up 2 with one possession left for Tug. Tug would get up a shot at the buzzer that would fall short, and Tucker would take the massive, early season win 65-63 in dramatic fashion.
Bonner 18 pts, 3 ast, FT 4-6; Mitchell 14 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast; Marks 12 pts, 5 reb, FT 0-2; Wilfong 9 pts, 8 reb, FT 5-8; Arnold 7 pts, 4 stl, FT 1-2; Lambert 5 pts, 3 reb
3 Point Goals 7-18: Bonner (2) Lambert (1) Mitchell (4)
The Tucker County Mt. Lions will play again January 8th at home, hosting Moorefield, with a tipoff of 5:45pm.