Bland Hits 1,000 In Big B-ball Victory

Dunmore, WV – The Pocahontas Lady Warriors have a tough basketball schedule, and that’s on purpose. The PCHS roundballers are one of the top single-A teams in the state and want to play tough competition to prepare for playoff action in Charleston.

The Lady Warriors played two double-A teams at the Reynolds Oil Classic last weekend. On Friday night, AA Clay County defeated PCHS, 55-46, and defending AA state champion Summers County defeated Webster County, 81-43.

In Saturday’s tournament action, Pocahontas brought home the bronze medal with a 55-42 victory over AA Webster. The Summers Bobcats kept the trophy at home with a 76-64 win over Clay County.

Leading the Lady Warriors in their chase for a state title is senior Chloe Bland. In a thrilling 51-48 victory last Wednesday night against AAA Woodrow Wilson, Bland scored her 1000th career point.

The star athlete said hitting the 1000-point milestone didn’t go to her head.

“It’s pretty memorable, but, you know, I just keep playing the game,” she said. “I don’t let it affect my playing ability, at all.”

Bland said the big win over Woodrow Wilson was very important for the team.

“It was awesome,” she said. “I’m so proud of us. It’s unbelievable. It’s going to help us out so much in the future, with future games.”

“We don’t play that many big, tall teams and when it comes to tournament time, we get down in Charleston and we have these big, tall aggressive girls,” she said. “These triple-A teams and double-A teams are really helping us against our single-A teams.”

Among others, Bland credits former PCHS stars Madeline Jerome and Chelsea Gum for helping her become a great player.

Coach Kane from Green Bank – fourth through eighth grade – he really helped,” she said. “Then, when I went to high school, Tim [McClung] and everyone and my parents. You know – teammates from the past, like my freshman year, Madeline Jerome and Chelsea Gum and all them.”

The ace shooter says her team has good prospects for making it all the way.

“I think it’s going to go great,” she said. “We have a lot of teamwork and a lot of potential.”

Up next for the Lady Warriors is a home game against Richwood Tuesday night.

Mark your calendars for January 10, 7:15 p.m. when WVMR-FM and WNMP-FM will broadcast the Lady Warriors when they host the Lady Bulldogs from Tygarts Valley.