Photo by Jay W. Bennett Parkersburg Catholic’s Leslie Huffman, who was named the 24th annual Mary “O” Crusaderette Classic MVP, drives past Pocahontas County’s Alexa Taylor during Saturday’s 75-42 championship game victory against the Warriors.

PARKERSBURG — The three-headed monster of Leslie Huffman, Aaliyah Brunny and Madeline Huffman combined for 60 points during Parkersburg Catholic’s 75-42 win here Saturday afternoon versus Pocahontas County in the title game of the 24th annual Mary “O” Crusaderette Classic.

MVP Leslie Huffman finished with 19 points, four assists and a game-high six steals for the second-ranked 6-0 Crusaderettes of head man Marty Vierheller. Brunny added a game-high 21 points and had seven boards, four dimes and as many thefts en route to earning all-tournament honors along with Madeline Huffman (20 points, game-high five assists, three steals).

The ninth-ranked Warriors of head coach Mike Kane never led, but had it tied at four apiece. Charity Warder (11 points, game-high eight rebounds, three steals, two blocks) made two foul shots and then Laila Calhoun (15 points, seven boards, three dimes) converted a lay-in from an Alexa Taylor assist. However, Madeline Huffman’s deep 3 at 5:26 of the first put the hosts ahead for good.

“We just tried to keep the defensive pressure up,” Vierheller said as his squad forced 11 Warrior turnovers in each of the first two quarters to help forge a 46-19 halftime advantage.

“I think we did a good job of running several different presses and did a good job in our halfcourt defense as well.”

Calhoun, who was joined on the all-tournament team by Warder as well as Herbert Hoover’s Allison Dunbar and Liberty’s Emma Kyle, made it an 11-10 game following a foul shot, but Jenna Boice canned a 3 and it was never a one-possession tilt again.

“I know this sounds like an odd thing to say as good as Leslie Huffman is, she was second team all-state last year, but she is so improved,” Vierheller added of the MVP. “I think she’s playing with a ton of confidence and a lot of that confidence is from her sister Madeline and how she sets her up.

“Leslie is a great defensive player. I said last year she may be as good a freshman defender as I ever coached. She just has the full package. This was an excellent team effort.”

Taylor, who finished with eight points while Kira Bircher had six, opened the third with a trifecta, but the Warriors never got closer than two dozen points the rest of the way.

Boice added six points and fellow PCHS teammates Paige Stotts and Madison Ross tallied five and four markers, respectively.

“(Parkersburg Catholic assistant) coach (Tom) Carr called me,” admitted coach Kane of how his team ended up in the Mary “O” after he was having a hard time filling out his schedule. “I coached against him when he was at Tucker County in middle school, both of us.

“He called me and we set this up. It (the loss) won’t hurt us much. We need to improve a few things. Our passing is a little bit week and stuff like that. Parkersburg Catholic is very quick, well coached, disciplined and a very good ballclub.”

Herbert Hoover upped its record to 5-3 following a 42-26 consolation victory versus Liberty (Harrison).

The Mountaineers (2-5) trailed 12-5 after one, 21-9 at intermission and 33-16 entering the final eight minutes. Gracie Dodd led the ‘Eers with eight points.

Taylor Ray had a game-high 18 for the Huskies, who also received nine points from Dunbar and eight more from Caroline Woody.

Parkersburg Catholic will eye a 7-0 start on Friday with a road trip to Williamstown.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com