CHARLESTON, W.Va. — When Chapmanville struggled with shooting at the beginning of this season, Tigers’ coach Brad Napier quipped that his team’s best offense was its ability to score off second-chance opportunities.
Chapmanville made plenty of strides with its shooting throughout the season, and its offensive rebounding hardly tailed off. Ultimately, the latter played a major role in the Tigers’ 71-67 victory against North Marion on Saturday in the Class AAA state championship at the Charleston Coliseum.
“That was a war,” Napier said. “I’m spent. I know these guys are spent. North Marion has a great team. They battle. Steve [Harbert] does a great job and there’s nobody that plays harder and with more grit than that bunch. I told these guys before the game they’d have to match their grit.”
With the No. 1 Tigers (23-3) ahead by two and in possession as the 2-minute mark approached, Benji Adkins was fouled in the act of shooting. Adkins missed both free throws, but a loose rebound deflected off the Huskies and out of bounds, eventually leading to perhaps the most important bucket of the matchup — Jay Brock’s three-pointer for a five-point lead.
As it did throughout, No. 2 North Marion (23-3) countered immediately and got a three from Maddox Batson to again make it a two-point game.
Adkins was sent back to the free-throw line 17 seconds later, and after again missing both, teammate Kati Martin came up with the offensive rebound and follow-up basket for a 67-63 advantage at the 1:44 mark.
“Probably the difference in the game,” Napier said. “This whole group attacks the offensive glass pretty much every shot. That’s kind of become who they are and they embrace that. A team that can rebound it that well can hurt you in a lot of ways even when they’re not shooting the ball well. “
NMHS eventually got back to within one at 68-67 when Conner Balwanz and Batson scored 16 seconds apart, but Terry scored in response from close range to make it a three-point margin with 31 seconds left.
Out of a timeout, the Huskies played for the tie, but guard Eli Ramsey’s corner three was off the mark. Terry then sealed the victory by making the first of two free throws with 5.9 seconds left, securing the Tigers’ fourth state championship over the last nine years.
“That’s how a championship game should be,” Harbert said. “That was an absolute battle between 2 good teams. They just happened to come out on top.”
Offensive execution was at a high level from both squads for much of the matchup, which went to the second quarter tied at 17 after Terry keyed the Tigers with eight points on 4-for-4 shooting in the first half, while the Huskies got one three from four of their five starters in the opening period to hang tight.
Chapmanville went to halftime with a 35-34 lead — somewhat remarkable on the Huskies’ front from the perspective that the Tigers were shooting 15 for 20 from the field and had made all but one of 15 two-point field goals.
“We had that next-play mentality,” Harbert said.” We gave up a basket and the next thing you know, we beat them down the floor. It showed how tough, gritty and resilient our kids are.”
Terry was the catalyst through two frames with 12 points on 6-for-7 shooting, while Balwanz had 10 points to pace NMHS at the break.
The entirety of the third quarter was playin with a six-point margin, though the Huskies led 44-40 before Chapmanville ran off 10 straight on a stretch where Brock made a pair of triples.
“I saw the defense sag off. I was open and I’m comfortable letting it fly because I spend my summer workouts in the gym,” Brock said.
Wesly Scott’s triple for the final points of the third cut the Huskies’ deficit in half.
Chapmanville scored the first six points of the fourth and went up nine courtesy of Terry’s conventional three-point play with 6:24 remaining, but the Huskies were back to within five 38 seconds later when Ramsey and Batson scored, while Jacob Kucish converted from close range with 5:39 left to make it a one-possession game and help set the stage for the frenzied finish.
“This was a tough one,” Terry said. “Those guys were hitting everything.”
Terry led all players with 23 points and 19 rebounds and was chosen the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
“He’s a man for being a sophomore,” Harbert said.
Brock scored 20 and made five threes, while Adkins and Martin contributed 11 points apiece.
The Tigers made 29-of-47 field-goal attempts to shoot better than 61 percent and were 24 for 34 inside the arc.
“We stressed just win possessions,” Napier said.
Batson made 8-of-12 shots and four threes to lead North Marion with 20 points.
Balwanz (17), Ramsey (14) and Kucish (12) were also double figure scorers in defeat for a team that had 26 field goals, nine threes and six turnovers.
“We were always caring and looking for each other,” Batson said. “We wanted to always short effort and play our hardest.”