×

Notre Dame sinks Titans

Gilmer County's Noah Aviles, left, and Trey Shuff, right, try to trap Notre Dame's Jaret Mullooly during Wednesday's Class A state quarterfinal at the Charleston Civic Center. Photo by Jordan Holland.

CHARLESTON — Gilmer County trailed Notre Dame 27-26 at the 6:13 mark in the third quarter and seemed ready to strike.

Then, everything fell apart.

The Irish scored 17 of the game’s next 19 points en route to pulling away for a 66-45 win over the Titans in Wednesday’s Class A state quarterfinals at the Charleston Civic Center.

Marshall-bound Jarrod West came close to a triple-double, totaling 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists despite Gilmer County’s best efforts to contain him.

“We came out and threw a variation of a triangle at him to try to stick to him as much we could,” said Gilmer County head coach Steve Shuff. “That was our gamplan all the way through to try and deny him at all costs. Kid’s going to Marshall for a reason.

“It’s emotional for (the players) because we’re all hurting right now. We didn’t come here just to play one. We came here to win the thing.”

Gilmer finished the game just 12 for 45 (26.7 percent) from the floor compared to Notre Dame’s 25 for 50 (50 percent) performance.

Carter Springer paced the Titans (21-5) with 15 points while Trey Shuff added 10 points and six boards. Noah Aviles chipped in seven points and a team-high five assists.

During Notre Dame’s 17-2 run, West tallied eight points while Jared Fagan, who finished with 14, contributed five. Jaret Mullooly and Todd Griffith netted nine points apiece for the Irish (21-5), who will square off with Wheeling Central in the semifinals at 1 p.m. Friday.

The first half was thrilling and went back and forth until Noah Bohanna’s jumper with 3:35 left in the second quarter put Notre Dame up by 11. The Titans answered with eight straight points, fueled by consecutive 3-pointers from Springer and Gunnar Haley, to get right back in the game. They trailed just 26-23 at halftime.

Something changed after the break, though.

“We felt good about where we were and felt we needed to come out in the second half and get some buckets,” coach Shuff said. “We kept it close for a second but … listen, that’s a talented, talented outfit in that other lockerroom. We just couldn’t get the key stops and they had some kids step up and hit some shots.”

Shuff, after 19 years at the helm for the Gilmer boys, announced this would be his last season. He leaves the same year his son, Trey, and daughter, Kylie, conclude their prep careers.

“It’s been a good ride,” said an emotional Trey Shuff.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today