By Stephen Smoot
This season, the Pendleton County High School basketball squad started out trying to get to know its identity. During the course of the season, they grew in skill and confidence. By the end of the year, the Wildcats defeated teams easily that had provided problems earlier in the season.
The road ended against East Hardy, a team with only three losses on the year, two to the titanic team from Tucker.
Pendleton County controlled the tip, but East Hardy hit the first of many three-point shots only 35 seconds into the game. The Cougars opened in a man to man, which Chase Owens exploited for a baseline drive and a layup at the 6:55 mark.
East Hardy hit a layup with six minutes left in the first, but Dusty Smith laid a shot in to close the lead to 7-5. Cashton Kisamore shortly after that rejected a Cougar shot. Then with only three minutes remaining, Josiah Kimble found Owens on the outside. He buried another three to pull his team to within two.
An East Hardy surge, however, put them up 16-9 at the end of the quarter, despite good defense from the Wildcats, especially Zykijah Wright who blocked a shot.
Defense early in the second brought the Wildcats back. Bradey Bowers forced a turnover by tying up the ball. At the 4:57 shot, a timely three by Kimble put Pendleton County up 17-16. East Hardy tied it with a free throw, but a give and go play with Henry Warner and Jaydon Hess put the Wildcats up 18-17.
East Hardy, however, went on a nine to three run to close the half.
The Wildcats brought tremendous effort into the second half, but the Cougars put their game in another gear. They executed their offense well and hit big shots over and over. Their experience and athleticism took a toll and they gradually extended their lead over the course of the third quarter.
East Hardy’s defense also tightened considerably, choking off Pendleton County offensive opportunities. By the end, East Hardy advanced to the state tournament with a 65-39 win.
Nevertheless, after losing two key seniors last year, the underclassmen stepped up in 2023-24, more than anyone could have expected. They complemented well the juniors and seniors on the floor, showing their potential and supporting the team’s goal of improving every game.
They are primed to be a power going into next season.
