CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Philip Barbour senior Cole Whited set a state tournament record on Wednesday night, going 13 of 13 from the floor in a dramatic 57-56 win over No. 5 Bluefield in the Class AA quarterfinals.
“It’s amazing,” Whited said. “It’s an honor to be here and be able to play. This is something I’ll obviously remember forever. But just getting the win (is special), being able to contribute and get us to a second game (in the state tournament) is something I will never forget.
“Bluefield was a little bit smaller and I liked my matchup going into the game,” he continued. “My teammates did a good job of penetrating and getting me open looks close to the basket. As the game progressed, I got more comfortable shooting the ball and could go out a little bit more.”
WHITED’S LATE AND-ONE:
Whited finished with 27 points and his 13 of 13 effort set the record for most makes without a miss in state tournament history, surpassing the 12 of 12 mark set by Skip Pettry of Marsh Fork back in 1994 against Ceredo-Kenova.
“It’s very cool,” said Philip Barbour coach Marcus Johnson. “He gets himself in pretty good positions around the basket and he’s able to use his body. That’s hard for anybody to make even 13 layups in a row – I don’t care what kind of shot you do.
“That speaks volumes not only for him, but everyone else,” he continued. “When he had position, (his teammates) were getting him the ball. He uses his body pretty well.”
It was Whited who ultimately hit the game-winning shot for Philip Barbour (22-3), connecting on a bucket inside the paint, drawing a foul and adding the and-one to put the No. 4 Colts up 57-55 with 1:09 remaining.
“I was pumped, turned around and had all my teammates screaming and yelling,” he said. “I had to try to calm down so that I could make the free throw.”
Overall the game featured eight lead changes and 11 ties as Bluefield (19-5) held the 33-27 lead at the half.
Mookie Collier led the Beavers with 27 points in the loss, going 9 of 13 from the floor, while Braden Crews added 15 points.
Bluefield had a final chance for the win in the closing seconds, but a shot at the top of the key from Crews was off as time expired.
“I made it to the state tournament four years in a row and lost in the first round,” Collier said. “I don’t really want to show it right now, but it’s really touching me deep that we lost.
“Just knowing that we had the game in our hands, really,” he continued. “We were up and kept doing what we were doing, but we lost. Things happen for a reason. Maybe next year Bluefield will win. I’m thankful and blessed with the teammates I had this year and the season that we had.”
David Shriver also added 16 points for the Colts in the win. Philip Barbour shot an impressive 71 percent in the win, hitting 25 of 35 shots.
It was the sixth state tournament appearance for Philip Barbour and the first win for the Colts on that stage.
“It means a lot,” Johnson said. “Not only for these guys on the team this year, but also for everyone who has put on a Philip Barbour uniform. It was the first win for any boys team in a state playoff game – first win in history, so that’s a big thing.”
The win sets up another matchup against No. 1 Fairmont Senior on Friday at 1 p.m. The Polar Bears won a regular season game between the two teams back on December 22 84-55.
“Everyone knows about West Fairmont – but it’s also a team that we’re not afraid of,” Johnson said. “We had an opportunity last year when we lost to them by three at home. When we played them this year, at halftime, we were losing by three.
“We know Fairmont is good – I’m not taking anything away from them,” he continued. “But the thing is that we have a pretty good team also and I think we matchup well against them.”
POSTGAME: