CHARLESTON – The #7 Mt. Lions traveled to the Charleston Civic Center to face off against #2 Greater Beckley Christian in the first round of the WV State Tournament on Wednesday March 18th. Tucker County was outscored 43-29 in the second half and Greater Beckley pulled away for the 79-50 quarterfinal win.
Both teams traded baskets in the first quarter and a basket by Seth Evans with 4:13 left in the quarter put the Mt. Lions up 8-6. The momentum then changed as the Crusaders ended the quarter on a 12-2 run to take the lead after the first period 17-10.
Greater Beckley started the second quarter with 4 straight points before a foul shot from Derek Zirk stopped the run. However, Zirk only made 1 foul shot and the Crusaders hit another 3 point basket and a layup to push the lead to 29-11 with 5:14 left in the first half. Tucker County faced their largest deficit of the game with 2:51 as they trailed 34-14. The Mt. Lions cut the lead to 13 with 1:22 left in the first half after a 3 point basket from Zirk, but Greater Beckley converted on a layup to make the halftime score 36-21 Greater Beckley Christian.
The third quarter started with both team exchanging baskets then the Crusaders went on another run. From 6:20 left in the third quarter until 2:48 mark in the quarter Greater Beckley went on a 14-0 run to expand the lead to 52-23. Tucker County fought back to end the quarter on a 15-7 run to make the score after three quarters 59-38 Greater Beckley.
A jump shot by Tucker County’s Landon Dillard to start the fourth quarter cut the Crusaders lead to 19, but that was as close as the Mt. Lions would get the remainder of the game. Greater Beckley would outscore Tucker County 20-10 the rest of the quarter and Tucker County would fall in the game by the final score of 79-50.
Derek Zirk and Seth Evans led the Mt. Lions with 11 points each and Zirk and Evans also collected 7 rebounds each. Ethan Crosten had 8 points, 6 rebounds and Owen Evans chipped in 6 points, 5 rebounds for Tucker County in the loss. Tucker County ended the season with an 18-7 record. Magnolia defeated Wheeling Central in the Class “A” Championship Game on Saturday 51-46. For more info or news go to TuckerCountySports.Com.
