PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — After playing their first fifteen games of the season on the road or at neutral sites, Parkersburg took advantage of their first home game, defeating Cabell Midland 63-49.
The two-time defending Class AAA state champions jumped out to a sizable early lead and fended off several Knight runs to stay unbeaten in MSAC play.
“First home game of the year so you are curious how they are going to come out with adrenaline,” said Parkersburg head coach Scott Cozzens. “We had kind of a rough start to the first quarter but we got it going.”
The Big Reds jumped out to a 17-9 lead after the first quarter and kept that eight-point cushion into halftime, leading 34-26. The Knights crept within seven points in the fourth but an 8-0 run from the Big Reds put the game out of reach.
Maddi Leggett led PHS (11-5) with 14 points. Maggie Richards and Kirsten Roberts each added 11 points.
“Maddi has had a great year. She has improved so much year-to-year. She is really the engine that makes us go. We are real proud of how she has played all year.”
Rylie Allie led the Knights (13-2) with 18 points and Autumn Lewis added 15. They have dropped back-to-back contests after a 13-0 start.
The Big Reds have played almost half of their schedule to date at tournaments in South Carolina and Tennessee in late December. Cozzens says the team still has room to improve. “I think we are going to get better. We still have room to grow.”