CHARLESTON, W.Va. — St. Marys smothered Pocahontas County from the outset of Tuesday’s Class A quarterfinal at the Charleston Coliseum.
Combined with offensive efficiency that amounted to almost 53 percent first-half shooting, it allowed the Blue Devils to cruise from start-to-finish in a 65-28 win over the Warriors.
“We talked about the first 3 or 4 minutes would determine the game. We wanted to overplay, get deflections that could help us runout and go,” Blue Devils’ head coach Fred King said. “We turned the horses loose today.“
The result allows No. 3 SMHS (21-4) to advance to a Class A semifinal against the winner of Tug Valley/Greater Beckley Christian.
PCHS (19-3) never found its footing, shooting 2 for 10 in the first quarter and turning it over eight times, while the Blue Devils opened with eight straight points and ran off the last nine of the opening frame to lead 23-4 after 8 minutes.
“We ran into a buzzsaw,” Pocahontas coach Tim McClung said. “We knew they were good. They’re quick and play extremely good defense. They get up in you. They have a really nice team.”
Laney Watkins was the catalyst in St. Marys’ stellar start as the sophomore made all six shots and scored 15 points in the first period.
“Just trying to get open, be aggressive and run the court as much as I can,” Watkins said. “Was looking for teammates or trying to get open so I could get a good shot.”
King’s team hardly slowed up in the second quarter, making 10-of-20 shots and getting eight points and four steals from standout junior Brynnley Bulluck to help build a 44-8 halftime lead.
“When the tip goes up, all the nerves kind of shake out and I’m just ready to play basketball,” Bulluck said.
St. Marys settled for a 54-18 advantage through three quarters and held the Warriors without a three-pointer on 13 attempts for the game.
Watkins led all players with 29 points, making 12-of-16 field-goal attempts in the process. She also contributed nine rebounds.
Bulluck scored 22 points and had six of her team’s 19 steals.
Anna Bennett recorded a game-high 15 rebounds in the win, while teammate Landrey Riggs added five steals.
“I can read the ball pretty well but I just find a girl and basically shove my butt into her,” Bennett said of her rebounding mentality.
“The best rebounder, I think, in the whole state,” King said.
Allyson Taylor led the Warriors with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Pocahontas had 12 field goals and 29 turnovers.
“They got us out of our offense. We did not run a good motion offense,” McClung said. “They got up into the ball side and forced everything to the weak hand, but those are things we can work on. We’re looking forward to our summer.”