Parkersburg cruises past Buccaneers
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PARKERSBURG -- If Wednesday's game against Buckhannon-Upshur is any indication, several players off the Parkersburg boys basketball team might have a future in the coaching ranks.
Playing for the first time in eight days, the Big Reds defeated the Buccaneers 73-52 at Memorial Fieldhouse. In preparation for the matchup, PHS coach Bryan Crislip let his players take ownership and prepare a scouting report based on what they watched in film earlier this week.
"The players came up with a good gameplan, almost as well as our coaches put together," Crislip said. "They took pride in the game and executed. Overall, they did a pretty good job, because everything they did was pretty much spot on."
PHS figured the best way to handle B-U was to apply a 1-2-1-1 full-court, trapping defense. The decision worked as intended and gave B-U fits throughout. In addition to forcing 23 turnovers, the pressure resulted into ideal shooting situations on the opposite side of the ball. Post players like Josh Kopec, Bryson Singer and Austin Fleming were the beneficiaries -- each individual scored in double figures and combined for 39 points.
Kopec led PHS with 15 points, including eight in the first quarter when PHS erased an 8-4 deficit with a 24-2 run over a nine-minute span.
Singer scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half as the Big Reds extended the lead to as many as 31 points at 51-20 at the 3 1/2-minute mark of the third quarter.
PHS (2-2) had not faced a live opponent since being blown out by Parkersburg South. Now, the Big Reds turn right around and play at Wheeling Park tonight.
"What we did tonight was fun," Crislip said. "We want to do this again where we go five in, five out. I am so pleased with the effort because you never know after you get beat so bad what the turnaround will be."
PHS managed to build a substantial advantage by keeping one of their top scoring threats in check. Lamar Hurst knocked down a 3-pointer on his first shot attempt of the game as the Buccaneers pulled out to an 8-4 lead. Hurst, however, did not score for two full quarters. His second bucket occurred at the two-minute mark of the third quarter and B-U trailing 51-26.
Harrison Walker made four 3-pointers and led B-U (5-2) with 20 points, while Hurst finished with 15 points.
Elijah Hernandez was one of the unsung heroes for PHS. His 3-pointer with two-tenths remaining in the first half didn't go unnoticed by coach Crislip. B-U was chipping away at the deficit and trailed 30-17 before Hernandez picked up a loose ball and found himself alone on the wing for the clutch 3-point make.
The momentum carried into the first 2 1/2 minutes of the second half as the Big Reds reeled off 12 straight points for a 45-17 cushion.
"I thought our focus was very good the past two days," Crislip said. "I give our guys all the credit. They came up with the gameplan defensively. They said they wanted to press."
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com