BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — For stretches of Friday night’s exhibition at Buckhannon-Upshur High School, Best Virginia looked like a team that had practiced only once in advance of its lone tune-up before beginning play in The Basketball Tournament next Saturday.
At other times, Best Virginia looked like a team plenty capable of making a deep run in TBT.
Ultimately, the West Virginia University-alumni based squad overcame a slow start and sluggish third quarter for a 75-59 victory against a team of former college players, some of whom have ongoing professional careers overseas.
“Yesterday was our first practice. We all played for WVU and we have that chemistry a little bit, but these guys are all overseas players and have different roles when they go overseas,” said Best Virginia coach/general manager Chase Harler. “When they come back, we’re still kind of just finding our niche with that.”
Donning BUHS jerseys, the opposing team was largely put together by Buckhannon native Tanner McGrew.
McGrew played for the Buccaneers and went on to have a decorated Division II career at West Virginia Wesleyan. He parlayed that into a professional career and previously played for Best Virginia in TBT, though on this night, he often found himself matched up with former Mountaineers Sagaba Konate and Jonathan Holton.
Both teams struggled offensively in the opening quarter and Best Virginia was scoreless for the game’s first 3-plus minutes, but managed to lead 11-7 through the first of four 9-minute frames.
Harler’s team put together what was easily its best quarter in the second when six of seven players scored, allowing BV to create separation and enter halftime with a 42-20 lead. Five of the team’s 13 field goals in that frame were three-pointers, including one from forward Esa Ahmad as part of his 13-point opening half.
“We have a ways to go, but we had one day of practice before playing the game. We’re still getting a feel for each other, but overall, we know how to play basketball,” Ahmad said. “It’s going to take a couple days, but I feel like we’re going to be good.”
Two of the remaining four triples in the second quarter were provided by Xavier Bledson, the only Best Virginia player present Friday with no WVU ties. Bledson won the Missouri Valley Conference Sixth Man of the Year last season for his efforts with Indiana State.
Guard Marcus Keene is the other Best Virginia player to never play for the Mountaineers, though Keene, fellow guard Tarik Phillip and post player Devin Williams were not with the team Friday, though Harler indicated each of the three will be in Morgantown for practice Monday.
“Devin Williams, Marcus Keene and Tarik Phillip will be huge additions to our team,” Harler said.
Best Virginia saw its lead significantly dwindle within the first few minutes of the third quarter and former Fairmont Senior all-state guard Darhius Nunn was a major reason why.
Nunn played collegiately at Glenville State and Palm Beach Atlantic and plays professionally in France. He started his 13-point frame with a four-point play. After three two-point field goals, Nunn made his second trey of the frame and one of his six for the game as he easily led all players with 29 points.
McGrew chipped in with seven points in the third, while Zakeem Davis, a former Morgantown High player, added five to help cut Best Virginia’s lead to 49-44 at one point, though it grew to 56-47 entering the fourth.
“One thing we could do better with was our defensive IQ,” Harler said. “We gave up a lot of layups and easy shots where defense needs to be our M.O. We have a full week of practice coming up and we’ll work on that.”
The teams agreed to an Elam Ending following the first stoppage of play inside the 4-minute mark of the fourth quarter, at which time Best Virginia led 67-57.
The Elam Ending, which takes place in every TBT game, adds eight points to the leading team’s score as the target score for both teams.
Though the lead was cut to eight moments after the game went to an Elam Ending, Best Virginia finished it off with eight consecutive points, including a triple from Bledson and another from guard Taz Sherman that wrapped up the win.
Ahmad led Best Virginia’s five double-figure scorers with 19 points. Holton added 12 and Bledson, Wesley Harris and Teyvon Myers scored 10 apiece. Sherman and Konate chipped in with eight and six points, respectively.
McGrew scored 11 to provide his team with a second double-figure scorer.
“This was great. It’s tough. I’m the general manager, too, so I’m making decisions and setting up events and what not,” Harler said. “I have a great team behind me. The least stressful thing I have to do is coach. We have a good group of guys that compete. This was the first game and maybe these guys haven’t played 5-on-5 in a while.”
Best Virginia opens TBT on July 20 at 3 p.m. against Brotherly Love at Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.