Parkersburg South’s Emilee Owens (10) swipes the ball away from Buckhannon-Upshur’s Taylor Feather during Tuesday’s game at Rod Oldham Athletic Center. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

PARKERSBURG – The message Parkersburg South girls basketball coach Ed Davis discussed in a meeting with his two seniors during the preseason is still in play as the end of the regular season draws ever closer.

Tuesday against Buckhannon-Upshur on Senior Night in a prepared speech honoring Emilee Owens and Tae Richards, coach Davis stated, “We are not done, yet. We are going to keep this going to Charleston.”

In the manner South went about business in the third quarter against BU, a trip to the state tournament is getting closer in the rear view mirror. The Patriots outscored the Buccaneers 24-6 after halftime, including a 13-0 run toward the tail end of the period while pulling away for a 73-45 victory.

“We were where we were supposed to be in that third quarter,” Davis said after his club improved to 15-3. “We were giving help and beating them to spots. We got them on ball pressure and we were able to create offense.

“In the halfcourt, we were able to get in the lane a little more in the third quarter and make the extra pass a little better.”

Parkersburg South’s Lindsey Logston (33) tries to get offensive position against Buckhannon-Upshur’s Allie Key during Tuesday’s game at Rod Oldham Athletic Center. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

South freshman Lindsey Logston provided the offensive spark with a pair of 3-pointers in the first few minutes of the third quarter as BU fell behind 42-27. Logston and fellow point guard Quinn Bolyard both finished with 21 points.

Bolyard’s offensive damage occurred in the first half – scoring 13 points as South forged a 34-25 lead at intermission.

BU seemed to have the edge of getting to loose balls and hustling on the boards – something which hasn’t been much of an issue for the Patriots thus far.

“At halftime, we realized we weren’t playing our best,” said Bolyard, who also dished out a team-high five assists. “We do that sometimes, but just being able to recover and knowing what we did wrong and reflecting on it – we do that really well.”

BU gave South fits throughout the first half and trailed 12-11 when the Patriots were finally able to create separation. Following a timeout, BU turned the ball on four consecutive possessions, which put South on good footing – scoring 10 of the final 12 points of the opening period.

Parkersburg South’s Tae Richards, one of two players recognized as part of Senior Night, receives a hug from head coach Ed Davis, Tuesday at Rod Oldham Athletic Center. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Olivia Conaway’s putback as part of her seven points off the bench followed by Bolyard’s downcourt pass to Owens for the two-pointer just before the buzzer gave the Patriots a 22-13 lead.

However, BU did not go away and kept the margin at five points (26-21) midway through the second quarter behind a pair of buckets from reserve Halle Moody.

A pair of buckets from Bolyard just before halftime extended the gap back to nine (34-25) in time for the break.

During the 13-0 run late in the third period, Conaway knocked down a three and Kenna Mace added three points the old-fashioned way. The Patriots also took care of business from the free-throw line -making 9-of-11 in the period and 19-of-21 for the game.

Capped by a 3-pointer from Owens, South opened the final period with a seven-point spurt. The Patriots led 65-33 and the rout was on.

Parkersburg South’s Olivia Conaway (35) applies tight defensive pressure on a Buckhannon-Upshur ballhandler during Tuesday’s game at Rod Oldham Athletic Center. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Emma Pingley led BU (3-16) with 16 points, while Allie Key and Adelyn Anderson each pitched in nine points.

“First of all, I have to give Buckhannon-Upshur credit,” Davis said. “They have been playing better lately. Tonight they played hard.”

On her special night as a South senior, Owens got going in the second half by scoring nine of her 11 points.

Owens and Richards have seen the highs and lows throughout their career with the program. They were willing to sacrifice their roles for the good of the team, and their impact this season has been substantial.

“Their dedication and their work ethic, along with their perseverance, I can’t thank them enough,” Davis said. There have been a lot of ups and downs. This year, they have been great leaders with the younger girls and fulfilled whatever role the coaching staff or teams needs.

Parkersburg South girls basketball players Emilee Owens (second from left) and Tae Richards (second from right) were honored during Senior Night, Tuesday at Rod Oldham Athletic Center. Also pictured are Owens’ parents (Rhonda and Owen Owens) and Richards’ parent (Penny Hill). (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“They have been right there to provide for us.”

Their presence has done wonders for a freshman class thrown into the fire from the very beginning. Currently, South starts three players who were playing middle school basketball a year ago.

“You can prepare for what happens on the basketball court, but you really can’t prepare for the atmosphere as much,” Bolyard said. “So they kind of talked us through it and helped us stay calm, cool and collected. They are just really fun to be around.

“As a team, we are just having a lot of fun. It’s always fun when you are winning basketball games. I thought we would be pretty good, but I didn’t think we would be this good. We have just really meshed well together.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com