CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With Parkersburg South having eliminated Jefferson in a state semifinal last season, Patriots’ coach Mike Fallon was well aware the Cougars were eagerly awaiting their chance to get even Thursday.
However, as much as the seventh-seeded Cougars wanted another shot at his team, Fallon stressed to his squad not to view the game as anything more than an opportunity for the No. 2 Patriots to get back to a state final for a second straight year.
Behind a balanced and crisp offensive showing, Parkersburg South did just that, as the Patriots shot better than 57 percent overall and scored 40 paint points to cruise by Jefferson 87-66 at the Charleston Coliseum.
“All we heard is they couldn’t wait to play us. We were excited to play them, too,” Fallon said. “We knew there was a bigger picture than us versus them. Our kids were so dialed in and focused. You’re trying to win a state championship, so there’s something bigger that we’re waiting to accomplish.”
With the win, the Patriots (21-6) await the winner of No. 1 Morgantown/No. 4 Huntington in Saturday’s state title game. The Mohigans defeated PSHS in last year’s final.
“The focus in these kids the last few days has been unreal,” Fallon said.
Riding momentum from a quarterfinal win over No. 2 George Washington, the Cougars came out hot and made 7-of-11 field-goal attempts in the opening quarter, including half of their six three-pointers, to hang tough.
However, Parkersburg South guard Cyrus Traugh scored 14 points in the opening frame, including 10 of his team’s last 12 points to leave the Patriots with a 23-19 advantage through one quarter.
Jefferson (17-8) got a three from Jaiden Gladney to pull within a point 7 seconds into the second quarter, and Traugh picked up his second foul on the ensuing possession, forcing him to the bench.
But a Parkersburg South squad that prides itself on depth showed why by rattling off seven unanswered points on an Austin Reeves three and layup and Cole Joy’s second-chance basket.
The Patriots’ Harry Silvis and Jackson Smith accounted for back-to-back triples moments later that left JHS facing a 36-24 deficit.
“We’ve had guys in foul trouble and someone on the bench steps up. Guys are always ready and you have to be ready when your name is called,” Fallon said. “That was a big spark for us. They got offensive rebounds and they defend. We call them G2 for Group 2. They provide that energy. Early in the year, those guys weren’t scoring. They’d keep the score level, but now they’re producing and scoring points, which makes us even better.”
Fallon’s team hardly slowed up and went to halftime leading 47-30.
PSHS shot 50 percent from the field through two quarters and got 12 bench points in the second period to up its advantage. Although the Cougars shot 11 for 24, they were out-rebounded by eight and struggled getting stops. PSHS had 10 of the game’s 15 offensive rebounds through two quarters which led to nine second-chance points.
“Really where they got us a little bit in the second quarter was on offensive rebounding,” JHS head coach Richard Lewis said. “We weren’t thinking we’d turn them over that much, but second chances hurt us.”
Parkersburg South started the second half with seven straight points, getting two baskets from 6-foot-8 center Nathan Plotner, one free throw from Reeves and Aiden Blake’s layup to lead, 54-30.
The Patriots wound up scoring 16 paint points in the third period and overcame three triples from the Cougars to increase their advantage to 69-41.
“We knew we could get to the rim if we were patient,” Fallon said.
Jefferson made five more threes in the final frame, but never got its deficit inside 19 down the stretch.
The Cougars made 12-of-27 threes in their season-ending setback.
“We shot really well the last two days,” Lewis said. “Them being comfortable and being here three years in a row, that was a lot of the key, too. Being here so many times, you become veterans here and making twelve threes is not easy. We shot the ball well enough. We just didn’t get stops.”
Traugh led all players with 25 points and reached 1,000 career points during the contest. He made 9-of-11 shots and 6-of-7 free throws to lead the way.
“It means everything to me. My passion for this game, it’s insane,” Traugh said. “On the court sometimes it looks like I’m going crazy, but it’s how much I love the game. I have only one game left. I wouldn’t want to score 1,000 points under anybody but coach Fallon. He’s helped me so much.”
Reeves followed with 20 points. He made 6-of-8 free throws and is 19 for 22 on foul shots in two state tournament games.
Smith scored 11 to go with a team-high eight rebounds.
Jamari Jenkins led Jefferson with 21 points. Will Shively added 13 and six rebounds, while Gladney scored nine to go with five assists.
“It hurts right now,” Lewis said, “but life goes on and we have to move on and be better.”
(Parkersburg South postgame press conference)