Beckley, WV -

Preps Round-Up

Parkersburg News & Sentinel

Huntington 67, Parkersburg South 59

BECKLEY — In a battle of Class AAA powers at the Coal Classic Saturday night, No. 2 Huntington (17-1) upset No. 1 Parkersburg South (16-1), 67-59, as the two stalwarts split their season series.

The Patriots, who played without Danielle Floyd because of an injury, trailed 25-14 after one and never recovered.

Asia Greenleaf (14), Kayla Ayers (13) and Ali Morris (12) all reached double figures in the setback. Ayers had the game’s only double-double as she grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.

Huntington, which held the Patriots to 38 percent from the floor and made six more foul shots (22-16) than Parkersburg South attempted, was led by Nicole Eubanks (16), Whitney Bays (15) and Logan Clark (11) in the scoring department.
 

Huntington wins girls title

By Dan Stillwell, Register-Herald Sports Writer
 

Another Mountain State Coal Classic, another championship for the Huntington girls.

The Class AAA No. 2 Highlanders knocked off No. 1 Parkersburg South 67-59 Saturday night in the tournament final, avenging an earlier season loss.

The 17-1 Highlanders took quick action to ensure the championship, shooting the eye out of the basket in taking a 25-14 first-quarter lead.

They finished the half 15-of-28 from the floor, 53.6 percent shooting, and led 38-25. All-stater Whitney Bays scored 11 of her 15 points in the opening two stanzas.

She played despite muscle problems in her back.

“Whitney’s back was killing her, but she gutted it out,” coach Lonnie Lucas said. “When the ball hits her hand, she forgets it.”

A 10-0 run starting late in the third quarter and continuing into the fourth gave Huntington its biggest lead, 21 points at 58-37.

“Huntington shot the ball extremely well early and put us in a hole,” South coach Scott Stephens said. “It let them sit back in the zone they like and we didn’t shoot the ball that well.”

The Patriots made several late runs, particularly after the Highlanders’ Logan Clark and Nicole Madison fouled out, to narrow the gap to its final eight points.

South had won the earlier battle 66-57 Dec. 29 at Parkersburg.

Lucas said revenge wasn’t a factor.

“When we played up there, we weren’t in condition,” he said. “I didn’t even show the kids the tape of the game. I just told them what I wanted them to do.”

South (16-1) played without point guard Danielle Floyd, who was out with a leg injury.

The Patriots made 10 first-half turnovers and 20 in the game.

“When the wheels fall off, sometimes they fall all the way off,” Stephens said. “We’ll find out whether we like (losing) or want to work hard to get away from this feeling.”

South got 14 points and eight boards from Asia Greenleaf, 13 points and 10 rebounds from Kayla Ayers and 12 points and eight assists from Ali Morris.

Nicole Eubank topped Huntington with 16 points, including a 9-of-10 performance at the foul line.

Clark scored 11 and had seven assists. Bays had eight rebounds in addition to her 15 points.

Huntington is now 12-0 the past four years at the Coal Classic.

“I love playing in this building,” Lucas said.

Parkersburg South (16-1)

Kayla Ayers 6-14 0-1 13, Ali Morris 4-10 4-7 12, Amber Sheaves 1-4 1-2 4, Kara Longwell 2-5 0-0 5, Asia Greenleaf 6-13 2-5 14, Jessica Gilkerson 0-3 0-1 0, Dani Haverty 0-0 0-0 0, Kately Porter 0-0 0-0 0, Mary Seagraves 4-8 0-0 9, Sammy Hicks 1-3 0-0 2, Jessica Moore 0-4 0-0 0. Totals: 24-64 7-16 59.

Huntington (17-1)

Nicole Eubank 3-10 9-10 16, Whitney Bays 6-18 2-2 15, Nicole Madison 3-3 2-3 8, Logan Clark 4-5 3-4 11, Erin Bailes 2-3 5-7 9, Sarah Cummings 0-0 0-0 0, Leah Ching 2-4 1-2 6, Brittany Eubank 0-0 0-0 0, Sam Spurlock 1-2 0-0 2, Talequia Hamilton 0-0 0-0 0, Heather Eubank 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-45 22-28 67.

PS 14 11 12 22 — 59

H 25 13 18 11 — 67

Three-point goals: PS: 4-17 (Ayers 1-3, Morris 0-3, Sheaves 1-4, Longwell 1-2, Gilkerson 0-1, Seagraves 1-4); H: 3-7 (N. Eubank 1-3, Bays 1-2, Bailes 0-1, Ching 1-1); Fouled out: H (Clark, Madison).