GLENVILLE, W.Va. — Williamstown’s perimeter play allowed the Yellowjackets to bounce back from their first loss of the season with a Little Kanawha Conference championship Saturday against Webster County.
The Yellowjackets made 14 three-pointers, including nine in the opening half as they never trailed in a 78-54 victory over the Highlanders at Glenville State’s Waco Center.
“We always talk about shot selection,” Yellowjackets’ head coach Scott Sauro said. “Those kids are doing a pretty good job of choosing when to take those shots, and when not to and that’s a big key to have good percentages.”
Senior guard Peyton Amrine made seven triples and scored 23 points, while teammate Sam Cremeans led all players with 25 points and made three shots from behind the arc.
Xavier Caruthers made the other four three-pointers and added 12 points to give Williamstown (21-1) a third double figure scorer.
It was a strong performance for the Yellowjackets four days after they suffered their first loss of the season to Fort Frye (Ohio), 56-53.
“It was workmanlike. Peyton got hot, Sam got hot and that helped us a lot,” Sauro said. “The key is to have that balance between our interior game and perimeter game. Our interior game can be just throwing it inside to a big guy or just dribble penetration.”
Amrine connected on four triples in the opening quarter, the second of which gave the Yellowjackets a 12-2 lead. Although the Highlanders put together a strong stretch soon after and got to within 15-10 on a Kadin Wright three, Amrine finished the first-quarter scoring with his fourth triple to make it 23-13.
The Yellowjackets led by as many as 16 on two different occasions in the second quarter — following threes from Amrine and Cremeans, respectively — but Webster County (14-8) strung together enough offense to trail 41-28 at halftime.
Cremeans made a three and two free throws to score the first five points of the second half, and Caruthers followed with a three to make it 49-28.
The Highlanders closed the quarter on an 8-3 run to face a 59-44 deficit entering the fourth, but got no closer than 12 over the final period.
Leading 61-49, Williamstown scored the next 10 points to put the game out of reach.
“We couldn’t get a run and everytime they’d hit a three and it takes the wind out of the kids sometimes,” Highlanders’ head coach Michael Gray said. “We played pretty well. We had some shots we could’ve hit that would’ve helped us get over the hump at times. It’s a game of runs and we needed that run.”
Colten Luther added nine points and a game-best 12 rebounds in the win.
Rye Gadd led the Highlanders with 18 points, while Wright scored 12 and William Lewis added 10 in defeat.