CLASS AAAA BOYS BASKETBALL REGION IV, SECTION II SEMIFINAL: PHS unable to rally from nine-point deficit, falls to ’Skins

PARKERSBURG -- Facing a nine-point deficit at the 2:50 mark in the third quarter against visiting Hurricane, Parkersburg rallied to get within one late in the fourth on a floater by Carson Dennis.

Hurricane answered with a basket by Jaxon Nicely off an assist from Nas'Jaih Jones, and Dennis's game-tying 3 attempt on the other end was off the mark.

Jones hit a free-throw and Preston DeWitt hit two in the final 30 seconds as Hurricane escaped with a 43-37 sectional semifinal win Tuesday.

Jones led Hurricane (8-10) with 14 points, four steals and three assists.

DeWitt added 10 points, Elijah Crompton chipped in seven points and 12 rebounds and Gabriel Crompton finished with six points and seven boards off the bench.

PHS (4-8) watched Bryson Singer produce a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double. Josh Kopec added eight points and eight boards while Dennis tallied seven points and five steals.

It was a tough night for the Big Reds offensively as they finished 15 for 57 (26.3%) from the floor, including just 3 of 25 (12%) from the 3-point line and 4 for 10 (40%) from the free-throw line. Conversely, Hurricane was 18 for 42 (42.9%) from the floor and outrebounded the Big Reds 39-33. PHS won the turnover battle, 15-8.

"We're disappointed we didn't win, but our kids competed hard," said PHS head coach Bryan Crislip. "We just didn't make shots. Hurricane did a good job in their 2-3 zone. Give all the credit to Hurricane."

A pair of 3-pointers by Kopec helped the Big Reds gain a 12-10 lead after the first quarter. PHS led 22-19 in the second quarter when Hurricane scored six unanswered to close the half. Jones had back-to-back drives to make it 25-22 as both teams went to the lockerroom.

Hurricane extended its run to 8-0 with DeWitt's jumper to begin the second half. PHS trailed 30-25 when Jones hit two straight buckets to put the visitors up nine, but PHS received a steal and a layup by Dennis, a drive by Singer and a putback by Kopec to get within three. DeWitt's jumper made it 36-31 going into the fourth.

Hurricane slowed things down in the fourth and made the first basket of the quarter at the 4:50 mark when DeWitt made a bucket. The Big Reds rallied, as Singer's transition layup was followed by baskets from Kevin Hancock and Dennis to make it 38-37 with 2:27 remaining. Those were the last points Parkersburg could score.

"The way they are and the way they win, they want to slow games down," Crislip said of Hurricane. "If you don't make shots, it's hard to get into a press and get the game moving."

Hurricane now will play host to St. Albans, which shocked Parkersburg South 41-40 Tuesday, at 7 p.m. Friday in a sectional final.

"Proud of the kids for plugging along in this crazy year we had," Crislip said. "We lose seniors Carson Dennis and Seth Bryan, but everyone else returns. We're looking forward to building for the future."

Contact Jordan Holland at jholland@newsandsentinel.com.