10:06am: Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval

May scores 28 as Tug Valley keeps up torrid postseason pace

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Tug Valley continued its dominant postseason run on Thursday morning, beating No. 6 Greater Beckley Christian 83-52 in the Class A boys basketball state tournament quarterfinals.

“(Greater Beckley) has a tendency to turn the ball over and we felt like if we could switch our defenses up, we could cause them to turn the ball over,” said Tug Valley coach Edwyn May. “But we were struggling to guard them in our man – we went to a half-court trap for a little bit. But when we went to the 2-3 zone in the second quarter, (Greater Beckley) just completely shut down offensively.

The No. 3 Panthers (19-7) have won their four postseason games by an average of 42.5 points.

“I feel like our last three games that we’ve played have been our best three games of the season,” May said. “We’ve been playing our best basketball coming into the tournament. I just hope we do it for two more days.”

Tyler May, who averages 23 points per game, led Tug Valley with 28 points in the win, going 6 of 9 from 3.

Mason Layne scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in Tug Valley’s quarterfinal win over Greater Beckley Christian.

“Since we’ve been in the postseason, I would say he’s been better than 60 percent from the 3-point line,” May said. “He’s just been shooting lights out. When he shoots the ball like that, everyone just feeds off of it. That lets our guys get going in the post.”

Mason Layne added a double-double for Tug Valley, scoring 17 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Jonathan Blankenship also finished in double figures with 12 points and seven steals.

Jay Moore and Chance Potter both led Greater Beckley Christian (16-8) with 18 points apiece in the loss.

“I’m proud of these steps they’ve taken,” said Greater Beckley coach Brian Helton. “In 2015 we went to the semifinals here and in 2016 we won four or five games. In 2017, we made it to the regional finals – the year after that, here we are playing in the state tournament.

“I’m proud of the progress we’re making and the attitude they all had throughout the year,” he continued. “There’s a lot of chemistry with these guys and they’re all going to be committed to getting better. Next year we plan on being back here, taking that next step and having a chance to play for a state championship.”

Tug Valley heads into the semifinals as the only team to have defeated No. 2 Ravenswood – the Panthers overall haven’t lost to an in-state Class A opponent on the year.

“Our guys are focused. Most of these guys have been here for three years now and they know this is their last go-around,” May said. “As a coach, you tell your guys that you had better play every possession like it’s your last – they’re playing that way because they know it is.”

The Panthers will face either Ravenswood or No. 7 Webster County at 11:15 a.m. on Friday.

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