Parkersburg falls to Wheeling Park
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PARKERSBURG -- Composure is sure to be atop the list of instruction as the Parkersburg boys basketball team prepares for the holiday portion of its season.
Thursday night inside Memorial Fieldhouse, PHS trailed 38-35 with less than three minutes remaining in the third quarter before two separate incidents occurred where the Big Reds were whistled for technical fouls.
In the matter of minutes, Wheeling Park turned the three-point gap into a 50-37 lead and added on in the fourth quarter for a 65-49 victory.
With two games upcoming on consecutive days next Thursday and Friday at the River City Classic on the campus of Marietta College, PHS slips to 1-5.
"For the first 3 1/2 quarters, my guys did everything I asked -- then we get in our way," PHS coach Bryan Crislip said. "The kids have to grow up. I am very disappointed in their actions today. I hold kids to a high standard and I have to hold the kids accountable.
"We get back-to-back technicals because we can't control our emotions. They are 16, 17 and 18-year old men now. Their 5-year old actions they are doing now has to change."
Three PHS players scored in double figures, including Austin Fleming with a team-high 14 points and Quayvon Cyrus added 11 points. Teammate Nate Rodriguez knocked down his only pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter as the Big Reds took a 16-15 lead into the second quarter. The sophomore point guard ended the night with 10 points.
"I wanted to give the kids a break, so I told them to spend December 23rd through the 26th and enjoy the time with friends and family and have a Merry Christmas -- but when we get back at it on the 27th let's just say life for one day is not going to be much fun," Crislip said. "We have to change some things up and get after it."
Wheeling Park, which returns a load of players from last year's team which qualified for the Class AAAA state tournament, remained unbeaten at 5-0. The Patriots were led by sophomore point guard Aiden Davis, who connected for three 3-pointers and scored 16 of his game-high 23 points in the third quarter. Davis shouldered the load when backcourt mate Mykel Davis picked up his third foul 36 seconds into the second half.
Mykel Davis, who scored Wheeling Park's first seven points, did not see any court time the remainder of the third quarter then returned for the fourth quarter to complete his 13-point performance. Teammate Brett Phillips worked the post for another 14 points.
"We have really good guard play, obviously," said Wheeling Park coach Michael Jebbia, who was without the services of 6-foot-5 senior Cole Wilkinson due to an ankle injury. "Aiden Davis is one of the top guards in the state. He really got it going there in the third quarter
"And other guys stepped up. Jacob Huffman and Khalil Demko came off the bench, so it was a team effort."
PHS' Quayvon Cyrus shot a 3-pointer just as the buzzer sounded at the end of the third quarter to cut the deficit to 50-40, but three different Patriots contributed a field goal during a 6-0 surge to open the final period.
Wheeling Park then went into a semi-delay mode the remainder of the game and the Big Reds never got any closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
"You got to realize what may be a good shot in the first quarter may not be a great shot in the fourth quarter," Jebbia said in reference to way his offense handled clock management in the final eight minutes. "Are guys are pretty disciplined and many of them played last year. They have been through these tough games and were ready for that."
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com