CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Tug Valley faced a 12-point deficit after the opening quarter of Tuesday’s Class A quarterfinal against Ritchie County.
The second-seeded Panthers then showed why they’re two-time defending state champions.
Tug Valley outscored the Rebels by 16 points in the second and an additional eight in the third, overcoming its slow start for a 67-61 victory and a spot in a semifinal at the Charleston Coliseum.
“We were dead in the water to a certain extent,” Panthers’ coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson said. “Eventually, we kept feeding off the momentum that we had.”
Ritchie (17-7) made 8-of-15 shots in the first quarter and locked down on the Panthers over that time to build a 17-5 lead.
But TVHS (19-5) dominated the second and faced a 21-18 deficit after a Braydun Ferris three-pointer 3:41 before halftime.
Ferris’ next three came 33 seconds later and cut the Ritchie lead to 24-21, before Cameron Sloane scored from close range 52 seconds before halftime to give the Panthers on top 27-26 for their first lead since 3-2.
The Panthers built the advantage to six before Seth Cronin scored just before halftime to make it a 32-28 deficit for RCHS.
Ferris went to halftime with 18 points, 16 of which he scored in the second quarter.
“He got us going a little bit, and with every basket, it seemed like we got more confidence and momentum out of it,” Thompson said. “Luckily, we had the lead by four at halftime.”
MetroNews broadcast interview with Tug Valley head coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson following their 67-61 win over Ritchie County: #wvprepbb pic.twitter.com/ssge73nqDE
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Ritchie’s deficit was 37-34 after a conventional three-point play from Isaac Hodges, but the Panthers countered with seven unanswered points to gradually built separation.
Ferris and Carson Newsome had the first two baskets during that stretch, while a Zade Rash triple at the 2:16 mark of the period made it a 10-point game for the first time.
Tug Valley also ran off the last six points of the third to lead 50-38 with 8 minutes remaining.
Ritchie’s deficit was as large as 16 on separate occasions in the fourth, before the Rebels closed with 10 consecutive points, seven of which Hodges scored.
“This was a fight,” Thompson said.
Tug Valley shot 29 for 58 overall and made 27-of-43 shots excluding the first quarter.
Ferris scored 30 points, including 16 in the second quarter.
Rash added 17 in the win.
Hodges led all players with 32 points and 16 rebounds.
“We couldn’t do anything with him,” Thompson said. “He handles the ball well and got to the basket.”
Cronin contributed 18 points in defeat.
With the victory, the Panthers advance to face No. 6 Tucker County.