HURRICANE, W.Va. – On Saturday, it was an evening filled with emotions and remembrance at Hurricane High School. Multiple people in Hurricane’s arena were there for a more significant reason other than basketball: remembering Will Washburn’s life.
The Winfield Generals remained undefeated by defeating the Hurricane Redskins, 57-51, in the last game of the Will Washburn Classic.
The classic honored the life of Washburn, passing away in 2020 at the age of 15. He was loved by many, and his smile was so infectious that it would brighten up a room. Many players that competed in Saturday’s game were former teammates and peers of Washburn.
“This event has been special,” said Winfield head coach Travis Tarr. “A lot of guys did play with Will. For us to take the floor in recognition of the young man no longer with us, we got to celebrate him, which was the message in the locker room. It is hard to be out there if you cannot get fired up for that special moment.”
Winfield saw four players tally double-figures, including senior Cody Griffith with a team-high 12 points.
“He is our go-to,” Tarr stated. “Cody is a guy that when you need a bucket, he will get you one. He has waited his time to get here. Cody is well-deserved of the recognition.”
The Generals opened the game on an 8-0 run thanks to an and-one opportunity from Toby Laughtery and a three-pointer from senior Ross Musick. Musick finished the game with 10 points, including two threes, coming in the first quarter.
However, Hurricane stormed back by out-scoring Winfield, 15-7, in the latter half of the first quarter. Senior Jackson Clark led the charge in that first period, recording nine points. Clark finished with a game-high 17 points.
There were three lead changes in the first minute and a half in the second quarter. Hurricane had stretched its lead to three before Winfield junior Drew Dillard cashed in a three-pointer mid-way through the second quarter.
Following multiple runs in the final four and a half minutes, both sides entered the half tied at 28.
Both sides picked up the pace starting in the third quarter. Winfield finished the final 2:45 of the quarter on a 6-0 run, including a three-pointer in the last 15 seconds from Griffith.
“We opened up in our 3-2 zone to see if they would shot settle so we could get a little of a cushion, which we did,” Tarr noted. “Coming out to scout, some of those guys want to shoot fast coming out of that zone. Our goal was to stay in that zone for three possessions, but we stayed in it for about four minutes. That gave us the momentum to go execute on the offensive end.”
Winfield saw its largest lead, nine, come in the first few possessions of the fourth quarter. However, a Mondrell Dean and one shifted the momentum toward the Redskins. Hurricane would outscore Winfield, 7-2, in the following three minutes, which found the Redskins down four with 3:51 left.
After a Winfield free throw, which extended the advantage to five, Dean drilled a three that cut the Generals’ lead to two, 52-50, with 1:50 left.
Winfield would score its final five points from the charity stripe thanks to Dillard and fellow junior Jayce Miller. Dillard and Miller shot a combined six-of-eight from the free-throw line last quarter.
“I kept thinking that we needed the buckets, and I needed to put them in the hoop,” Miller said. “My team needed me, and I stepped up.”
Miller played pivotal minutes in the first half when Musick went out due to foul trouble. The junior forward finished the game with 11 points, including six points in the third quarter.
“Jayce Miller has been our energy,” Tarr noted. “You can see the confidence of the floor increase when he steps on the floor. He executes well. Jayce does not outplay himself. For us, that is important because everybody has to play their role to the best of their ability.”
Miller still had a bitter taste in his mouth following football season. Hurricane blew past Winfield in week one, 48-21.
“It meant a lot to me because we got beat,” Miller stated. “I was excited to get them back.”
Winfield also saw senior Tanner Laughtery pile in 10 points.