Lady Warriors pass big test

Covington, Va. – The Pocahontas County Lady Warriors basketball team was tested Tuesday night at Covington, VA for the first time this season under new coaches Mike Kane, Jessica Hays and Mike Murphy. Kane and Murphy took over the program after leading Green Bank Middle through the last six seasons with only four losses and two undefeated seasons.

PCHS faced Allegheny High School last night, a VA Class AA team with over 800 students. PCHS last faced the VA Mountaineers in 1993 when PCHS was still a Class AA school and played in the fall, and the two teams split, and that PCHS team only lost three games that 93-94 season and sent four girls on to play college sports. Allegheny was coming off a 50-20 win over Bath County VA at Covington, so Kane knew the game would be close. PCHS beat Bath at Hot Springs 48-25 the first game of this season.

The Lady Warriors took charge early with a 24-11 first quarter that included four threes from senior co-captain Olivia Workman, and sophomores Bobbie McNabb and Tristin Day. Freshman Melissa Murphy came off the bench late and got two fast, weaving layups.

PCHS struggled with their passes some with the constant Mountaineers full-court press in the second canto but took it 16-15 for a 40-26 half-time lead.

Allegheny kept improving each quarter and took the third quarter 18-16 to close the gap to 50-44, a six-point lead.

The fourth quarter was a battle royal and tested every nerve of the PCHS faithful with Allegheny taking their only lead of the game at 53-52 and tying the game at 59-59 and 61-61. Workman, Snead and Murphy hit 15 free throws out of 23 down the stretch to seal the victory.

Day finished with 18 points and 8 rebounds, Snead had 16 points, and Murphy was 4 for 4 at the foul line, all in the fourth quarter and had 14 points. McNabb got all 9 of her points in the first quarter and had 5 great blocks. Senior co-captain Olivia Workman made 8 points, slammed 3 blocks and as point-guard had to get through the tough press all night long. The final score was 71-64 Pocahontas.

The taller VA team drops to 1-4, and three of their losses were by less than 10 points and one by 13. PCHS improves to 4-0 and will be tested again at the Reynolds Oil Classic in Hinton at Summers County High School Friday night at 5 PM versus Class AA Clay County. Clay won the same game last year by 9 points.

The PCHS JV plays Summers County at 3:30 PM on Friday and 4 PM on Saturday.

Summers plays Webster at 7:45 PM Friday.

Marlinton Middle 7th and then 8th grade girls play Summers on Saturday at 12:30 PM and 2 PM.

The Varsity consolation game is 6 PM Saturday with the championship at 7:45 PM.

The Seth Franco Ballhandling Show is part of your ticket on Friday and starts at 6:45 PM.