By Bill Nestor, Sports Editor
The basketball season came to an end this past week for Harrison County teams. A pair of teams represented in Class AAA defending champion Bridgeport and Robert C. Byrd. Both squads had aspirations of garnering a state championship. Charleston was kind to the Indians a year ago and the Flying Eagles were making a second consecutive trip down I-79 to Charleston.
Robert C. Byrd opened up against top-seeded Chapmanville and found themselves down early. Behind Tiger buckets and whistles (14 first half fouls were called on the Flying Eagles) RCB was staring at a 41 to 24 halftime deficit. Logan Boyce was the lone bright spot for a team that looked shell-shocked from all of the first half calls. Boyce netted 13 first half points to keep his team in the game.
Chapmanville, one of the tallest teams in the state (6’7, 6’6, and 6’4 inside and 6’4 and 6’3 on the perimeter) had a distinct size advantage, but the Flying Eagles were quicker and more athletic. Veteran mentor Basil Lucas decided to get aggressive after the break and the move paid off on both sides of the floor. Robert C. Byrd scored 19 third quarter points and held the Tigers to a game low 15 to cut into the disadvantage.
Heading into the final period of play, the Flying Eagles went to a full court man press that dazed and confused Chapmanville. With a minute and a half left in regulation, RCB had cut the Tigers lead to five, but the fouls kept coming and Chapmanville would make just enough free money shots (seven made) down the stretch to hold on for a 75 to 68 win. Chapmanville would shoot 43 free throws in the game while the Flying Eagles attempted seven.
Boyce led RCB with a game high 22 points while Cam Neusaunn added 19 and Elijah Holmes netted 11.
Bridgeport geared up play with a 58 to 57 win over East Fairmont. After a sluggish start (just nine first quarter points) the tribe outscored the Bees by 10 points in the second game to take a 26 to 17 halftime lead. It remained close until the fourth quarter when the Indians scored 23 points to pull away. Aaryon Dodd led Bridgeport with 20 points and four blocked shots. Anderson McDougal hit for 17 points and had four steals. Daniel Riley had seven points and a team high seven rebounds in the victory.
The Indians had a rematch from the regular season in the semi-finals against North Marion. It was a game of runs, and for the Tribe, they had less of them than the Huskies ending their run at back-to-back championships.
After trailing for the majority of the first half, Bridgeport managed to get back to striking distance just before the break. A 10 to three run brought the Indians within single digits at 31 to 23. North Marion, however, a team that was running and gunning from the start began the third period like they had finished the first frame. The Huskies led 17 to six after the first and a nine to one start to the third pushed their lead out to 16. North Marion would cruise to a 62 to 46 win.
McDougal was the lone double-digit scorer for the Tribe with 18 points and a team high five rebounds.
Even though the season didn’t end the way that either team would have liked, they still represented the area well. Congratulations to Bridgeport and RCB for fantastic seasons!
That will do it for now! Until next week . . . take care and God Bless!!!!