CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Top-seeded Fairmont Senior may miss injured leading scorer Kaden Whaley sometime during the state tournament. But the Polar Bears showed a strong supporting cast during Wednesday night’s Class AA quarterfinal victory over pesky No. 8 Grafton.
Erica Bowles finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds as Fairmont Senior rolled 56-41.
After losing Whaley to a season-ending knee injury during regionals, Fairmont Senior (21-1) found other contributors in her absence. Along with the big game from Bowles, do-it-all point guard Emily Stoller produced 15 points and five assists.
Grafton (17-5) was led by Hannah Griffith’s 15 points and 11 boards before she fouled out with 1:41 left. Tessa Clark also generated a double-double with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting and 10 rebounds, but the Bearcats shot just 26 percent from the field.
Fairmont finished the game shooting 33 percent (19-of-57) from the field and converted just 16-of-28 from the foul line.
Both teams went cold from the field in the second half, combining for just 12 baskets.
The Polar Bears scored 20 points off 27 Grafton turnovers.