CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Having faced Class A No. 1 seed Gilmer County twice during the regular season, No. 8 Webster County was well aware what it was up against Tuesday in a Class A quarterfinal at the Charleston Coliseum that marked the third meeting between the two teams this year.
“We were hoping we could pull the [No.] 7 seed and see Tug Valley,” Highlanders’ coach Corrie Phillips admitted.
That was no slight at the Panthers as much as it was a nod to the difficult matchup the Titans present with their abundance of size.
On this day, however, the Titans also shot the ball extremely well, namely guard Lena Frymier, who made all but one of her team’s seven three-pointers to come within one point of matching the Highlanders’ point total in the Titans’ 67-19 triumph.
“I liked how we mentally prepared for this week,” Titans’ coach Amy Chapman said. “The girls looked real confident. Practices have been good and that’s a huge credit to our schedule and the opponents we’ve played. We were very much tested throughout the season and that’s important when you get to this level.”
The result sends GCHS (23-2) into a Class A semifinal against the winner of Tucker County-Ritchie County.
Half of Frymier’s six triples came in the opening quarter on four attempts, with the senior scoring nine of her team’s 24 points to help the Titans built a 15-point advantage.
“I could tell they were really keying in on Ava and Blair [Dobbins],” Frymier said of her 6-foot-4 teammates. “I had opportunities to shot where I was open, so I knew I had to take those.”
She continued to excel in the second, making 2-of-4 threes and helping to open up more paint touches for an undersized Webster (12-12) squad designing its defense to limit them as much as possible.
Frymier had 15 of her team’s 41 first-half points on 5-for-8 shooting from long range, while teammate Erin Stoddard added a trey among her nine points through two frames, while Webster entered halftime with five field goals, 11 turnovers and a 29-point deficit.
“Going into this, we said their guards have to beat us, and they shot well from the three-point line,” Phillips said.
Gilmer’s Kenley Hartshorn scored nine of her 13 points in the second half, to help the Titans maintain the separation and then some.
“Kenley’s been a game-changer all year,” Chapman said. “Whoever she goes in for, she does a nice job of doing what she’s supposed to be doing. Her confidence is gaining. She’s only a sophomore and playing in big games and she’s handling all that very well.”
Frymier shot 6 for 10 and all but one attempt was a three, while Hartshorn made all but two of seven field-goal attempts and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.
The Titans shot 27 for 56 and had a 53-29 rebounding advantage.
Maddie Williams led Webster with 12 points and five steals.
“They’ve had four coaches in four years and been to the state tournament three times,” Phillips said. “It’s incredible how they’ve been able to adapt to a new personality. I’m tremendously proud.”