CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Class AA defending state champion and No. 4 seed Sissonville survived a back-and-forth battle Wednesday night, beating No. 5 Summers County on a last-second jumper by Madison Jones, 47-45.
With multiple Summers County defenders breaking away to cover Karli Pinkerton, Jones sank an open 14-footer.
“I wasn’t even paying attention (to how open I was),” Jones said. “That’s a shot I practice. I was confident in taking it, that’s a shot that I shot yesterday. When I saw I had it, I took it. When it came out of my hands, I knew it was in.”
After forcing a Summers County turnover in the final minute and the game tied at 45, Sissonville (24-2) took a timeout with 13.7 seconds left to set up the game-winner.
It didn’t develop how it was drawn up.
“We were supposed to clear out after the screen and get out of (Pinketon’s) way, but it looked like we had three Summers County jerseys guarding her and two (Sissonville) jerseys guarding her,” said Sissonville coach Rich Skeen.
“So she had five people on her. Madison kept her head and her cool, I think that’s the senior in her. Madison works so hard and she deserves to hit a shot like that.”
Summers County (22-3) held Sissonville to 29.5 percent from the floor and allowed zero fast-break points.
“We wanted to play defense (on the final play) like we had done all night,” said Summers County coach Wayne Ryan. “We had done a really good job of keeping them out of the lane. We did a great job on a dynamic offensive team all night long. Unfortunately, they hit the game-winner with no time left. That’s the ballgame.”
The game garnered more of a semifinal or championship feel in terms of back-and-forth plays late – a sign of the depth this year in Class AA.
“Those are two darn good basketball teams,” Ryan said. “It’s a loaded field. You can argue the seeds, but the bottom line is it’s a loaded field. Today showed that and it’s going to be a great AA tournament. Unfortunately, we’re going to have to watch the rest of it. That hurts, but I’m extremely proud of my basketball team and the game that they played tonight.”
Sissonville entered as the fourth seed despite just two losses and losing only one starter from its state championship team last year.
“I don’t understand it and it’s kind of like a lack of respect,” Skeel said. “You have to win three games to be a state champion anyway, regardless of who you play.
“There are no bad teams here. We really thought there could be six or seven teams that could win the championship this year and those teams are down there. Whomever wins it, they’re going to deserve it.”
Summers County led 26-23 at the half, but Sissonville used a 15-9 third quarter to take a 38-35 lead into the fourth.
The two teams traded baskets early in the fourth before Morgan Miller hit a 3 just with under five minute to go, tying the game at 41-41.
A breakaway layup by Brittney Justice gave Summers County a 45-43 lead at the 2:14 mark before Pinkerton’s two free throws tied it.
Pinkerton finished with 14 points, while Jones added 13 points. Freshman Laila Arthur scored nine points on three 3s.
Justice led Summers County with 18 points and Morgan Miller scored 10.
Sissonville advanced to face No. 1 Wyoming East on Friday.