CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It didn’t come easily, but Class A No. 1 Webster County became the first 28-0 team in the history of West Virginia high school basketball.
The Highlanders overcame a nine-point halftime deficit against No. 6 Parkersburg Catholic to claim a 47-40 victory at the Charleston Coliseum on Saturday.
Webster County High, which sprang from school consolidation in 1974, claimed its first team state championship in any sport. It became Class A’s first unbeaten team since Paden City went 27-0 in 1987.
Dorian Groggs scored a game-high 21 points, 14 in the fourth quarter. Drew Holcomb added 12 points and nine rebounds.
“I’m still on a high right now,” Highlanders’ coach Michael Gray said. “It was a great game. These kids keep showing good they are. We came out in the second half and got after them on defense. That was the turning point in the game.”
Parkersburg Catholic (19-8) held a six-point lead 15 seconds into the fourth quarter after Ty Sturm sank a jump shot.
But Webster County played its best basketball of the afternoon over the final 7:36 and outscored PC 17-4.
Groggs made two free throws, then made a steal leading to his layup His 3-pointer put Webster County on top for good with 4:33 left, and he followed with a layup and another 3 for a personal 12-0 run.
“My adrenaline went up and I was ready to go,” Groggs said.
Trailing 42-36, Parkersburg Catholic scored the next four points to make it a two-point game with 2:34 left. But Groggs and and Tyler Gray combined for 5-of-6 free throws in the final 90 seconds.
The Highlanders fed off their abundance of crowd support throughout the final period, which helped turn the game in their favor.
“We brought up seven buses today and some kids drove forty-five minutes to the high school just to catch the bus,” coach Gray said. “That atmosphere was awesome. I haven’t been to state tournament with an atmosphere like that. Our fans are amazing.”
After a sluggish first half saw the Highlanders score only 16 points, the game flipped in the third quarter. Holcomb scored seven straight points, turning a 30-21 PC lead into a two-point game.
“We extended our (2-3 zone) defense clear out to halfcourt,” coach Gray said. “We’re after the ball every time. The key to the game is our defense. We close out really well on the ball and space really well on defense.”
Although Webster jumped out to a 6-0 lead 1:55 into the action, the remainder of the first half was controlled by the Crusaders.
Sturm scored nine first-quarter points, while Cade Ullman and Jeb Boice each made a 3 that allowed PC to hold a 15-11 lead entering the second quarter.
In the second, the Crusaders scored eight points in the paint and held the Highlanders to only one field goal in the quarter.
Groggs’ 3 with 55 seconds remaining in the first half cut a 10-point deficit to seven, but the Crusaders took a 25-16 lead into the locker room.
“We were very deliberate in the first half and we got some good shots and got in the paint,” PC coach Rob Strcula said. “In the second half, they focused in and locked in a little bit better.
“It’s almost like watching Syracuse sometimes. Their length bothers you.”
After holding a 9-6 advantage in points off turnovers, the Highlanders dominated that category over the final two quarters to the tune of 13-0.
“I knew this was the state championship and every shot counts,” Holcomb said.
Sturm led the Crusaders with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Ullman scored 10 points to give him 70 in three games at the state tournament. Boice battled foul trouble but finished with nine points and six steals.
“It’s hard to swallow, but it’s a life lesson and you have to move on,” Strcula said. “But it’s going to hurt and it should hurt.
“The hardest thing will be Monday a four o’clock when school’s out and we go our separate ways. It might be worse than the loss to know we’re going our separate ways for a while.”
CLASS A ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Cade Ullman, Parkersburg Catholic
Jeb Boice, Parkersburg Catholic
Dorian Groggs, Webster County
Tyler Gray, Webster County
Cole Taylor, Webster County
Jaidyn West, Notre Dame
Briston Bennett, Trinity
Jalen Creighton, Wheeling Central