Lumberjacks Cut Down Blue Devils

Visiting Beallsville took a 14-9 first quarter lead over Valley on Thursday night, in Pine Grove, behind five points each from Kaylee Hagan and Logan Taylor, and held a 22-18 lead at halftime. However the Lumberjacks outscored the visitors 30-20 in the second half to pick up the win 48-41 and improve their record to 9-4 on the season.

Gavin Derby was held to eight first half points, but came alive in the second half to score 19 points, with 13 coming in the last eight minutes. He hit four 3-pointers in the second half and went 8-12 from the free throw line in the game to lead all scorers. Backing him on the night was Trevor Stackpole who pitched in 12 points, including two first half 3-pointers. Patrick Higgenbotham added seven points, including a three, while Brigg Anderson scored three points and Landen Jerico got two.

Taylor finished the night with 13 points for the Blue Devils, while Chance Allen also hit double figures with 22 markers. Garrett Perkins pumped in seven, while Hagan had five and Kinley Hughes nailed a 3-pointer to round out the visitorsá scoring.

Valley hit 16 field goals, including seven 3ás and went 11-17 from the free throw line. Beallsville hit 16 shots from the floor, including a pair of 3ás and went 7-12 from the charity stripe.

Lumberjacks top Wildcats

Visiting Paden City traveled to Pine Grove on Tuesday night, January 17, looking for an upset over the Lumberjacks. In December the Lumberjacks defeated the Wildcats by 36 points on the Cats floor. This time Paden City jumped out to a 13-4 first quarter lead and looked to be a different team. However the Lumberjacks would have nothing to do with it as they stepped up their game and held the Wildcats to just 17 points over the next three quarters to squeak out a six point 36-30 win.

The Cats scored early on an inside basket fron Adri Lila and a steal and layin from Oskar Lehtonen for a 4-0 lead before Valley got a basket from Higgenbotham. Paden City then scored the next nine points of the quarter while holding the Lumberjacks scoreless.

The second quarter saw Valley outscore the Cats by seven to cut the lead to two at the break. Valley out scored the Wildcats by eight in the second half to move to 8-4 on the season while dropping the Wildcats to 4-8.

Valley was led by senior guard Patrick Higgenbotham with 13 points, including three 3-pointers, while sophomore Gavin Derby cashed in 11 markers, including a three ball. Landen Jerico and Chris Kennedy each added four points, while Trevor Stackpole and Briggs Anderson both had two.

The Wildcats who never had a player hit double digits, were led by Lehtonen with eight markers, including a pair of 3ás. Joey Baker added seven points , while Mickey Guerra also had seven, with a three pointer. Lila added five, while Brayden Neff hit a three to round out the scoring for the Cats.

Valley hit 13 shots from the floor, including four 3ás and went 6-8 from the free throw line. Paden City had 10 field goals, including four 3ás and went 6-13 from the free throw line.