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Big Reds top Patriots

PHS wins on Senior Night

Photo by Josh Hughes Parkersburg's Maggie Richards looks for a teammate to pass to, while being guarded by Parkersburg South's Makenna Winans in PHS's 62-45 win over the Patriots on Wednesday's Senior Night at Memorial Fieldhouse.

PARKERSBURG –Emily Kupfner, Aleea Crites, Bre Wilson, Maggie Richards and Maddi Leggett required an assist for a 62-45 win on senior night.

Their friend was a familiar one.

Overwhelming defense in the third quarter once again aided the Big Reds in their sixteenth win of the season.

“I feel like we regroup in the locker room and we are all just ready to go. We are excited to get back into it because we already know what we did wrong to fix it,” said Crites, who led all Big Red scorers with 16 points in addition to her seven rebounds, two steals and one block.

Thanks to eight turnovers from rival Parkersburg South in the period out of the locker room, PHS built on to a three-point halftime lead.

By the time the third quarter was finished, PHS led by 10 points.

“I feel like they did turn it up a little bit. And we started making some mental mistakes, we were hot and we got worn down a little bit and we couldn’t stop it,” said Parkersburg South coach Rick Dobson.

The Patriots leader did his best to try. Using his timeouts as a weapon, Dobson kept the Big Reds from all but one big run. It was this 10-3 run started by a Crites’ three-point play unraveling the entire plan.

“I kind of wanted to see if we could reel things back in a little bit. And we just got out of our game,” said Dobson.

It was a tough finish for a sharp Patriot team in the first half.

“They sat back in a zone which is not what we anticipated so it took us a minute to get acclimated because we practiced something totally different. Once we got acclimated to it, then we knew where the spots were and if we could get past halftime down by one we would be in good shape,” said temporary head coach Phil Wilson.

South’s pressure caused multiple problems in the first 16 minutes. At one point in the opening quarter, PHS missing nine straight shots provided the Patriots an opportunity.

Erin Williams took advantage. She scored eight of her game-high 22 points. Her convertered triple with 4:15 left gave their first of just two leads in the game.

Leggett’s jumper snagging the lead back with 2:21 left gave PHS the advantage the rest of the period.

Both teams then battled to a 13 all quarter in the second eight minute period. Williams’ triple with 2:15 left tied the score for the last time, but the Big Reds regained the lead on Hayley McCale’s triple off a Brilynn Florence assist moments later.

Wilson noted his group never panicked as South presented an early challenge.

“They don’t feel the pressure. They just go out and play the game. It is why we went to Myrtle Beach and Tennessee to be in those type of situations. So they could learn to fight through adversity and fight back if they ever get down.”

Every final-year player contributed to the cause. Richards scored 14 points and five rebounds. Leggett’s contribution read five points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Wilson tailled five points. And Kupfner converted a free throw.

Makenna Winans finished as the only other double-digit scorer with 13 markers.

Her coach shared he wasn’t scared of the setback.

“We played hard and they played hard. We had some opportunities and couldn’t convert,” said Dobson. “Like I told the girls that the only I know to do is do something a little different next time. We tried to play with them both times, but no we have to figure out what to mix in there to get them off kilter a little bit.”

If there is a third meeting, it would come next Friday in the Class AAA Region IV, Section 1 championship game. However, South celebrates senior night this evening against a red-Morgantown team at 7:30 p.m. inside the Rod Oldham Athletic Center. Then, the Patriots face Ripley in the sectional semifinal at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

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