3:06pm: Hotline with Dave Weekley

Braxton County locks down defensively to eliminate Hoover, 51-38

Herbert Hoover’s Allison Dunbar looks to go off the dribble against Braxton County’s Maggie Skidmore.

 

GASSAWAY, W.Va. — With a decisive height advantage, it was imperative for Braxton County’s girls basketball team to impose its will on Herbert Hoover in Tuesday’s sectional semifinal.

The Eagles did just that by locking down defensively and riding another strong performance from 6-foot-3 senior Jocelyn Abraham to claim a 51-38 victory against the Huskies in Class AA Region II, Section 2 action.

“We told the girls before the game it would all start with defense,” Eagles’ head coach Keith Greene said. “We had to get out on shooters and play up on them and we did for the most part.”

With the win, Braxton County (17-6) advances to play at Lewis County on Friday in the sectional title game.

Abraham accounted for a pair of baskets in the opening quarter — the only player on either team to make more than one field goal in the period.

The Huskies (16-8) were held without a field goal in the opening quarter as they missed 11 of their attempts and fell behind, 10-2.

“We had four or five solid looks in and out the basket,” Hoover head coach John Vencill II said. “You give us two or three of those and we’re right in the game. We got the shots that we wanted.”

Not until a Taylor Ray three-pointer 1:35 into the second quarter did Herbert Hoover record a field goal. That cut Braxton’s lead to 12-5, but the Eagles responded with a 9-0 run aided by a Peyton Smith triple and back-to-back buckets from Abraham.

Trailing by 16, the Huskies got six straight points from Allison Dunbar to draw to within 23-11 at halftime. Dunbar had eight of Hoover’s 11 points at the break.

A three from Maggie Skidmore and Lacy Liston’s layup allowed the Eagles to take a 15-point lead early in the third, but Hoover answered with an 8-2 surge to pull to within 30-21 at the 3:40 mark.

Skidmore hit two more threes in the period, however, to help send the Eagles into the fourth with a 36-26 advantage.

Liston scored inside twice to start the fourth and give her team a 14-point lead, and Abraham had all nine of her second half points over the final six minutes to put to rest any thought of a Hoover rally.

“We did a better job being patient and working for the open shot,” Greene said. “We were able to get them to come out of their zone late, which we were hoping for. Then Jocelyn was really strong down the stretch.”

Abraham finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to lead the way in the win.

“She has height, but she has the skill to go with it too,” Vencill said.

Skidmore made four threes for 12 points, while Liston finished with nine points and a game-best 12 boards. Smith totaled nine rebounds to help Braxton control the glass, 44-35.

The Huskies finished just 11-of-50 for 22 percent shooting from the field.

Dunbar had 19 points and seven rebounds in her final high school game.

“Her freshman year we were 2-21 and here we are finishing 16-8,” Vencill said. “She’s a great player and a great kid.”





More High School Sports

High School Sports
Class AAA Boys Basketball All-State List
State champion Shady Spring lands two on first team, including captain Ammar Maxwell.
March 28, 2024 - 8:42 am
High School Sports
Montague & Nutter each drive in four runs as Morgantown rallies past University, 8-6
The Mohigans took their only lead of the game in the sixth inning with Caleb Nutter's 3-run double.
March 27, 2024 - 9:59 pm
High School Sports
Class AA Boys Basketball All-State List
Charleston Catholic's Jayallen Turner captains first team.
March 27, 2024 - 12:10 am
High School Sports
Class A Boys Basketball All-State List
Webster County's Rayden Triplett captains first team.
March 26, 2024 - 9:46 am