CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Chapmanville Regional won its first boys basketball state tournament game in school history on Thursday morning, beating Wyoming East 65-42 in the Class AA quarterfinals.
“I’m sure it means a lot to the community and the school – everybody who has followed us all year,” said Chapmanville coach Brad Napier. “We’ve had a really good following and I hope they’re really proud of these guys because I am in the effort they give. They’re a good group of guys to coach.”
Drew Williamson hit four 3s and scored 23 points to lead the No. 3 Tigers (22-4), who shot 52 percent overall from the floor.
It was Williamson who set the tone from the start, hitting two straight 3s in the game’s first minute.
“I got loose in warm-ups,” Williamson said. “When I hit those first two 3s and made them, I knew that I was on.”
Chapmanville opened up the game with a 21-6 lead after the first quarter, but saw Wyoming East tighten the game to 30-23 at the break.
“We really talked about our defensive intensity and getting it back up to where it was,” Williamson said of the halftime conversation. “We were on fire in the first quarter, but then started slacking. Coach got us in the locker room for it.”
The Tigers responded with a 23-8 third quarter, including a 15-0 run, taking back full control of the game and a 53-31 lead into the fourth.
“We wanted to go out in the first three minutes (of the third) and basically try to end it,” Williamson said.
No. 6 Wyoming East (15-11) was led by Zach Cook and Dylan Brehm who scored 10 points apiece.
“Nobody expected us to be here at all,” said Wyoming East coach Derek Brooks. “We were picked pretty much next to last in our section. These guys had that feel all year of exceeding those expectations that everyone set for them. They were going to prove everyone wrong. I’m so proud of these guys.”
It’s the third overall state tournament trip for Chapmanville as the Tigers lost quarterfinal contests in their previous two appearances.
Chapmanville will face either Bluefield or Lincoln in the semifinals at 11:15 a.m. on Friday.