PARKERSBURG - Blennerhassett swept Williamstown in both ends of a Wood County middle school girls basketball tournament championship doubleheader Thursday night at Parkersburg South.
First up was the sixth-grade title tilt, in which the second-seeded Bobcats (9-3) topped the tourney upstart, the fifth-seeded Yellowjackets (5-8), by a 43-25 score.
Blennerhassett used a 7-0 run in the last 43.2 seconds of the first half to snap a 15-15 tie, then held off Williamstown in the third quarter before using a 12-3 point advantage in the fourth quarter to finally put away the 'Jackets.
Article Photos
Photo by Jeff Baughan
Blennerhassett Middle School's Jordan Johnson, top, battles with Williamstown's Ashley Morris for the ball during the Wood County Middle School sixth grade girls basketball tournament Thursday at Parkersburg South.
Kenzie Johnson led the 'Cats with 14 points, while Katie Munday added 11 and Jordan Huffman 10.
For Williamstown, Bethany Arnold tallied eight points, Mackenzie Hill seven and Breanna Lowe six.
In the 7th-8th grade nightcap, it seemed only fitting that Blennerhassett and Williamstown should battle right down to the wire to decide the tourney crown before the Cats (13-1) prevailed 46-39.
Fact Box
Wood County Middle School Basketball
Girls Tournament
Championship Games
6th Grade
Blennerhassett 43, Williamstown 25
Williamstown 7 8 7 3 - 25
Blennerhassett 11 11 9 12 - 43
WILLIAMSTOWN (5-8)
Mackenzie Hill 2 3-9 7, Isabelle Erb 1 0-0 2, Darcy Johnson 0 1-2 1, Breanna Lowe 3 0-0 6, Megan Ellis 0 1-3 1, Bethany Arnold 2 4-9 8, Aallyah Enoch 0 0-1 0, TOTALS: 8 9-24 25.
BLENNERHASSETT (9-3)
Lenzie Johnson 6 2-5 14, Katie Munday 4 2-2 11, Jordan Huffman 5 0-0 10, Courtney Greathouse 1 0-0 2, Jordan Kirk 0 0-2 0, Kiera Mosley 1 0-0 2, Brianna Jones 1 0-0 2, Jacqui Foggin 1 0-0 2, Jessica Hutson 0 0-2 0, TOTALS: 19 4-11 43. 3-point goals: Munday 1
All-Tournament Team: Marissa Miller, Jackson; Bethany Arnold, Isabella Erb, Mackenzie Hill, Williamstown; Katie Munday, Kenzie Johnson, Jordan Huffman, Blennerhassett; Kelly Amos, Alexis Feick, Edison; Rhoebe Hays, Shay-lee Kirby, Hamilton
7th-8th Grade
Blennerhassett 46, Williamstown 39
Williamstown 14 10 10 3 - 39
Blennerhassett 13 8 10 15 - 46
WILLIAMSTOWN (13-2)
Courtney Dotson 1 1-1 3, Ashley Morris 3 2-2 8, Samantha Dedrick 4 3-3 12, Victoria Clark 1 0-2 2, Bethany Wager 2 0-0 4, Brooke Stewart 0 2-2 2, BreeAnn Reynolds 3 0-0 8, TOTALS: 14 8-10 39. 3-point goals: Dedrick 1, Reynolds 2
BLENNERHASSETT (13-1)
Jordan Johnson 4 4-4 12, Maddison Williams 2 2-2 6, Lexi Moore 3 4-6 10, Kaileigh Husk 1 0-0 2, Allie Taylor 4 6-12 14, Lauren Hannah 1 0-0 2, TOTALS: 15 16-24 46,
All-Tournament Team: Devin Hefner, Taylor Hefner, Hamilton; Allie Taylor, Jordan Johnson, Lexi Moore, Blennerhassett; Ashley Morris, BreeAnn Reynolds, Samantha Dedrick, Williamstown; Hannah Carroll, Jackson; Alexis Saunders, Catholic; Allie Bunner, VanDevender; Cassie Whitlatch, Edison
After all, they tied for first place in the regular season at 11-1, with the Bobcats awarded the No. 1 tourney seed by a coin flip.
Thursday's matchup was close all the way.
The first half saw Williamstown lead the majority of the time. The 'Jackets (13-2) were up 14-13 after a quarter, and parlayed that into a three-point lead, 24-21, at the half.
Then after a 10-10 standoff in the third quarter, Blennerhassett regained the lead for keeps at 40-39 with 1:21 to play on a Jordan Johnson baseline jumper. She added four free throws in a 24-second span for a 44-39 advantage with 25.5 seconds left, and Allie Taylor's pair of charity tosses with just 8.6 seconds to go ended any suspense.
Taylor's 14 points paced Blennerhassett, while Johnson netted 12 and Lexi Moore 10.
For Williamstown, Samantha Dedrick scored 12, with Ashley Morris and BreeAnn Reynolds tallying eight each.
