(Photos courtesy of TBT/TST)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Trailing by a dozen points midway through the second quarter of the TBT West Virginia Regional championship game, WVU alumni team Best Virginia saw top-seeded Elite Nation rain 3-pointers from all corners of the floor at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
However, Best Virginia yielded just 24 points after halftime to clinch a spot in the national quarterfinal round of The Basketball Tournament, 79-68.
Best Virginia trailed 44-39 at halftime and 59-58 at the end of the third quarter. They outscored Elite Nation, 21-9 in the fourth quarter and Elam Ending periods to secure a regional title for the second time in four years.
“We were able to get some stops,” said Best Virginia head coach Jarrod West. “First half, you have to give that team a lot of credit. They made 10-of-17 [3-pointers]. Four or five were from 25 [feet] or farther with a hand in their face. You have to give them credit. Once we got a few stops, we were able to get in transition and turn it around.
“You are banking on our defense getting three or four kills, which is three stops. We kind of got that in the second half. You have to give the crowd a little credit. Once we got going, the crowd kind of helped us.”
Elite Nation used a 10-0 third-quarter run to build a 12-point lead before Best Virginia chipped away at the sizable deficit. A 3-pointer from Isaiah Sanders on the opening possession of the fourth quarter gave BV a 61-59 lead. Elite Nation took the lead back on their next possession but Best Virginia yielded just six points the rest of the way.
“With this team, it can be a different person every night. It was a complete, complete team effort.”
Best Virginia held Desi Washington to just eight points on 3-of-9 shooting from the floor. West says he was a focus of their defensive game plan.
“I was worried about him. I thought we did an excellent job on him. He is kind of the head of their snake.”
James Reese V hit the game-winning basket in the Elam Ending, giving him a game-best 24 points. Reese played collegiately at North Texas and he frequently lined up against Best Virginia guard Jarrod West while he was competing at Marshall.
“When you get called by a good group of guys like West Virginia, it just felt like home,” Reese said. “It is easy to play with these guys.”
JD Weatherspoon scored 16 points and grabbed a team-best eight rebounds for Best Virginia. He did not play in the tournament opener against Dubois Dream, but he has played a key role in the last two victories.
“I am just a firm believer in God. What I mean by that is I could have been pouting,” Weatherspoon said. “I could have went to coach and I didn’t say nothing to coach. I could have took negative energy to the team. You can’t do that. I am going on ten years of professional basketball. I know the guys need me. It is crazy to say but I am the oldest on the team, besides [John] Flowers.”
“Give the coaches credit. The players are being professionals,” Reese said. “But it is real easy doing the job when the coaches are telling you the right things. It is second nature to us. We are hearing the right stuff. And coaches put us in good positions.”
Final: Best Virginia 79, Elite Nation 68.
Best Virginia wins the TBT West Virginia Regional. They will host Maryland alumni team Shell Shock in the national quarterfinals Monday, July 28. pic.twitter.com/0wqhiRfsQV
— Joe Brocato (@joebrowvm) July 23, 2025
Kedrian Johnson added 17 points and a game-high five steals for Best Virginia. Tre Mitchell scored 11 points as Best Virginia’s fourth player to score in double digits.
With the victory, Best Virginia has won their last six TBT games played in Charleston. They will host Maryland alumni team Shell Shock Monday, July 28 in the national quarterfinals. The game will be played at the Coliseum and Convention Center at 6 p.m. Shell Shock won the James Madison Regional Tuesday with a 68-62 win over NXT Era Elite.
“I have been trying to take it one game at a time and not look ahead,” West said. “The blessing is we are back here in the friendly confines of the Charleston Civic Center. Hopefully we get a good crowd next Monday.”