By Stephen Smoot
The 2023-24 season has brought a little bit of everything to Pendleton County – at least in terms of facing adversity. Last week, for the most part, Old Man Winter canceled both basketball games and practices.
This week started off with a still short-handed girls’ basketball squad facing a familiar rival to the south in Pocahontas County.
The Warriors boasted big wins over East Hardy, Tygarts Valley, and Webster County and a narrow loss to Petersburg as they rolled into Franklin.
Pendleton County took the opening tip, but the Warriors landed the first blow with a layup one minute in. The Wildcats responded 90 seconds later at the 5:33 mark. Julia Mongold snagged an offensive rebound and hit a 10-foot jump shot to tie it up.
With a little more than five minutes left in the first, Susan Vincell showed her outside shot. She buried a 16-foot shot to give her team a 4-2 lead.
Avery Townsend, as per usual, made big plays on defense that translated to baskets at the other end. At the 3:55 mark she stole the ball, drove, and pulled up to hit a shot from the foul line extended. She followed that up 30 seconds later with a steal and coast to coast drive that ended with her making one of two from the foul line.
The Wildcats edged ahead as the quarter came to a close. Jenna Smith’s three with 15 seconds remaining put her team up 13-11 as the frame closed.
Townsend connected on a three early in the second quarter. The Warriors answered with a three of their own and retook the lead 17-16.
At this point, the second quarter turned to “Miller Time.”
Jameigh Miller took it right back with a layup at the 3:30 mark and Pendleton County never lost it again.
Miller followed that with another basket off a deftly thrown pass from Kiera Heavener. At the 1:28 point, she made a move to free herself and hit a six-foot shot.
“Miller Time” took the team from a one point deficit to a 22-17 lead. Townsend added to it with another cross court drive and score. The half ended with the Wildcats up 24-19.
Townsend opened the second half by taking an offensive rebound and hitting a 10-foot jumper. No more scoring happened until the 5:56 point when she took another steal in for a score.
The Wildcats played man much of the time and pressed at strategic points. Mindful of his team’s fatigue, head coach Donnie Kopp also used a two-three zone as well. Both kept the Warriors at bay much of the night.
Pendleton County methodically built the lead in the third. Heavener scored after an offensive rebound. Shortly thereafter, Smith found Jessica Parker with a pass. Her basket set the lead at 32-21.
As of late, Parker has shown more confidence in making moves to create shot opportunities. She has also developed a baby hook style shot for use close to the hoop.
Scoring in the third ended with Miller hitting one of two free throws to give Pendleton County a 37-24 lead.
Then the wages of the weather induced lack of practices and games came into play.
Pocahontas County brought a full roster and was counting on attrition to wear down the home team. They started pressing to push the pace on exhausted Pendleton players.
From six seconds remaining in the third until 2:35 remaining in the game, the Wildcats found a lid on their basket. Tired legs left shots short and the Warriors took advantage when they could.
As the quarter wound down, Pocahontas County crept closer and closer. Their parents screamed in support and their coach exhorted them in time outs to keep running as fast as they could, to keep working as hard as they could.
With 3:32 left, the Warriors hit a layup to cut the once 13 point lead to 37-32.
As she has all year, Townsend stepped forward and put her team on her back. She arced in a three-point shot at 2:35 to lift her squad to a 40-32 advantage. She followed that by going one for two at the line.
One more basket for each side closed the scoring. In a true gut check game, Pendleton County defeated a feisty Pocahontas County team 43-34.
Coach Kopp praised his team, saying they never give up regardless of the situation. He also credited good free throw shooting.
Of his team, he said, “They all came through big time.”
The Wildcats are scheduled to host Petersburg at 7 p.m. today, travel to Harman Friday and host Keyser at 5 p.m. Saturday.