Clay-Battelle 49, Paden City 48

Paden City’s girls’ basketball season comes to a close as Clay-Battelle defeats the ‘Cats 49-48 in overtime in the WVSSAC Region I, Section II Sectionals at Tyler Consolidated High School Feb. 22.

After falling behind 11-4 after one period – and down as many as 15 in the second period – the ‘Cats clawed their way back to close the gap to 23-15 at the break. Having to play without their leading scorer Myah Charkawi – sidelined with an injury from a previous game – the Wildcats leaned on sophomore center Cydney Blatt to do the bulk of the scoring and she came through with a game-high 23 points to make it a game.

However, it was sophomore point guard Taylor Cosper that scored six late free throws to put the game into overtime.

Cosper also gave the Wildcats the lead with .50 seconds left in overtime, but Clay-Battelle sank a triple to give the Cee-Bees the win.

Blatt scored a game-high 23 points and padded her stats with 14 rebounds and a blocked shot, while Hannah Stanley posted nine markers and Cosper landed seven points. Kayla Barker contributed five points and made two steals, while Kayla Hizer ended the Wildcat scoring with four markers.

Tyler Consolidated 69, Paden City 40

Tyler Consolidated grabbed a quick 23-6 lead and held on for a 69-40 victory over the Paden City Wildcats at TCHS Feb. Feb. 19.

Charkawi paced the ‘Cats with 22 points and padded her stats with six boards and three steals, while Cosper and Katie Shreve each contributed six markers. Barker scored two points and made three steals. For Tyler, Sydney Reed had a game-high 30 points and 14 rebounds, while Sophie Kinnard contributed 22 points, eight rebounds, nine steals and five blocked shots.

Clay-Battelle 51, Paden City 48

Paden City led for almost the whole game, but the Killer Cee-Bees stung the Wildcats in the fourth period to escape Bob Burton Gymnasium Feb. 13 with a 51-48 victory.

Charkawi netted 26 points that included three baskets from beyond the arch for the girls in Green, while Blatt contributed seven points that included a basket from downtown. She also pulled down 17 rebounds, while Cosper sank eight markers that also included two from downtown. Stanley ended with four markers, while Barker sank a deuce and a free throw for all the Paden City scoring.

“I’m so proud of the girls this season,” said Paden City Head Coach Dave Riggle. “We grew up as the season went on and the girls responded with a Hometown Invitational Championship and a top four placement in the OVAC. We will miss Myah and Katie, but we will bring the bulk of our lineup back and I’m as excited as can be to come back and continue what we started.”