By Stephen Smoot
One of the great satisfactions in coaching, or parenting for that matter, comes when they face a challenge, struggle, find a way around it and learn something in the process.
In 13 games this season, the Pendleton County girls’ basketball team has tasted victory three times, but with each test from each game has come another piece of the puzzle. The Wildcats had to earn those lessons learned through hard fought battles and bitter defeats, but this has brought them closer to the team they need to be come season’s end.
Petersburg’s record at the start of the contest, six and four, includes big wins and losses where they still showed their strength. Just prior to Christmas, they decisively defeated Pendleton County in their holiday tournament.
The Wildcats, first against Tucker County, then in a 47-43 loss last week to Petersburg showed how far they have come, even in losses. The margin of loss in the two games against the Mountain Lions closed from 36-16 in just two weeks.
Petersburg won by 47 in December, by only four last Friday.
The Vikings won the opening tip, but faltered in the first minutes. Jameigh Miller ended their opening possession 20 seconds in with a steal, leading to center Susan Vincell stepping out to 17 feet to drill a basket and take the lead. Not long after, a deep pass on a fast break found first the hands of Tia Heavner, and next the bottom of the basket for a 4-0 lead.
After Petersburg halved the lead with their first points, Vincell extended it with free throws. Seven straight points came from the Wildcats after the Vikings’ first bucket.
One change in recent games has come in the increasing use of man-to-man defense. Travis Heavner, head coach, in the first half of the season relied heavily on zone defenses, but against Petersburg turned his athletes loose. For most of the game, the Wildcats demonstrated strong man-to-man fundamentals both individually and in help situations.
Petersburg adjusted toward the end of the first stanza and entered an eight to one run that extended into the early second quarter. Viking coaches called for their defense to press, at first lightly, and then with more vigor. This rattled the young Wildcats through the end of the first half.
Also unfortunate, Vincell picked up foul trouble in the second. Katie Heavner and Lauren Williams filled in capably in defense and rebounding, but Petersburg took advantage of Vincell’s absence. From 6:19 in the second when the game was tied at 14 until the end of the half, the Vikings surged ahead on a 20 to six run.
Similar to the Tucker County game, Pendleton County fell behind by a large margin, but battled their way back into the game. The refusal to quit no matter the score has been evident all year even when not always apparent in the final tally.
In the third quarter, Pendleton County started to solve the Viking press. Errant passing became more accurate; unsure decision-making gave way to confidence. Consistent defensive effort wore down the visiting squad, and the Wildcats put themselves in position to possibly score a huge upset by game’s conclusion.
Crisp offensive play helped as well. The opening bucket came when Vincell at the corner fired a pass to a cutting Miller, who used a pump fake to gain a few inches of room and hit a shot. Vincell hit two free throws at the 6:19 point, but then Petersburg put in their first score of the half to set it at 34-24.
At the 3:24 mark, Vincell pulled down two straight offensive rebounds, drew a foul, and drained two charity shots to bring the score to 40-28. The Vikings scored 15 seconds later, but not again until the 7:28 mark in the fourth.
Then something remarkable happened. Pendleton County held a strong offensive team to merely two points for the remainder of the game.
Jess Parker and Lexi Tingler combined for eight points on the night, but their impact extended well beyond the scoreboard. The diminutive duo play with zero hesitation. Their hands constantly swipe and swing to disrupt the opponents’ offensive flow. Relentlessly, they dive to the floor after the ball, anything to extend a possession. Both players combined for nine rebounds as well.
Hustle plays set up scores and scoring builds momentum. Pendleton County had all of that in the fourth quarter. At 5:34, Miller hit Parker on a cut to lay in a score to cut the lead to eight. Viking outside shooting, clutch earlier in the game, went cold. Tingler took a steal at just under three minutes that led to a Miller corner three.
Up only 44-39, the Vikings hit a 10-foot shot at 2:08. The visitors held the home team off the scoreboard for almost another minute. At 1:14, Tingler powered inside to pull down an offensive rebound that she aided back in the basket. Then, with 40 seconds left, the Wildcat press forced a turnover and a Vincell pass to Miller brought a layup.
Now Pendleton County was within one shot of tying the game and sending it to extra minutes. Petersburg had multiple chances to hit free throws in the time remaining, but converted on only one. That was enough, however, and they escaped with the four-point victory. 47-43.
