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Senior guards Carl Shaffer (30 points and 10 rebounds) and Steven McComas (14 points and 11 assists) energized a hustling effort from Kingery’s squad as well as a flock of the Skyhawks’ rowdy fans in Scott’s 72-59 win over perennial power Bluefield.
The Skyhawks entered the game ranked No. 9 in Class AA, six spots below the Beavers.
It is a big win for Scott even if it is only December. The confidence and excitement generated by the Skyhawks’ “execution with emotion” might prove to be even bigger than the win.
Bluefield, an annual state tournament contender, erased an 18-point, second-quarter deficit to claim a narrow edge early in the fourth quarter.
Facing a gut-check dilemma that can boost a seasonal run or force a team into a slide, the Skyhawks finished the game with an impressive 20-5 run to pull away from the Beavers and post a huge home win.
A nip-and-tuck first quarter eventually swerved Scott’s way when Shaffer drilled a three-pointer to shove the Skyhawks into a 12-11 lead with 1:50 remaining in the period.
After a hoop by Bluefield senior Robert Mitchell, the Skyhawks used a two-pointer from Tyler Ramsey and a three-pointer from McComas to take a 17-13 lead into the second stanza.
Shaffer tossed in 10 second-quarter points to help the Skyhawks extend their lead. Shawn Ballard’s three-pointer early in the second quarter handed the Skyhawks a seven-point lead at 22-15.
Shaffer’s offensive rebound and hoop gave Scott an eight-point advantage at 25-17 and his baseline drive to the basket stretched the lead to 31-19 with 3:10 remaining in the first half.
After McComas tickled the twine with a three-pointer a minute later, Chase Woodruff, a 6-foot-5 Scott junior, fired in a short jumper to open up a 38-20 lead.
Bluefield promptly cut into Scott’s largest lead of the contest by concluding the first half with a 7-0 spurt.
Junior guard Craig Ponder paced the Beavers’ third-quarter rally by firing in eight points, including two three-pointers, as Bluefield gradually chipped away at the lead.
Ponder’s three-pointer with one minute left to play in the quarter sliced the deficit to two at 49-47 and Ponder later forced a 49-49 tie with a drive to the hoop as the third quarter ended.
A three-pointer by Bluefield junior James DeWitt with 6:30 left to play gave the Beavers a 54-52 lead and backed the Skyhawks into a do-or-die situation.
Scott junior big man Tyler Thompson grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a putback to force a 54-54 tie.
Shaffer netted back-to-back three-pointers and Woodruff added an inside hoop off an assist from McComas as Scott claimed a 62-56 upper hand with 3:33 remaining.
Shaffer burned the Beavers’ defense with an inside bucket and Ramsey netted two free throws as the Skyhawks took a 10-point lead at 67-57 into the final two minutes. Shaffer then helped the Skyhawks clinch the big win by dropping in four consecutive free throws down the stretch.
“We have some inexperienced players who are still learning to play together, and I was really pleased with the way that we fought back from that deficit to have a lead in the fourth quarter,” Bluefield coach Buster Large said after the game.
“Scott hit some big shots to regain the lead during the last quarter and they also hit their free throws to put the game away. They have a good team and this was a tough place to play tonight.”
Shaffer and McComas powered the Skyhawks’ win. Shaffer tallied 30 points, 15 in each half. He netted a trio of three-point goals and 5-of-6 free throws. He also led Scott in rebounds with 10. McComas scored 14 points, including four three-pointers, and handed out 11 assists while directing the Skyhawks’ offense.
Ramsey contributed nine points and six rebounds. Ballard added eight points and five rebounds. Thompson finished with seven points and seven rebounds. Woodruff added four points and four rebounds.
The Skyhawks netted 17 two-point goals, eight three-pointers and 14-of-20 free throws. Bluefield hit 21 two-pointers, two three-pointers and 5-of-12 free throws.
Ponder topped the Bluefield offense with 25 points while Devon Crawford and Mitchell each scored nine points.
“This is a big win for us,” Kingery said. “We hustled on both ends of the floor and played with a lot of heart. I am very proud of the way that we finished this game after Bluefield came back to take the lead early in the fourth quarter. Obviously, we played really well down the stretch.”
PikeView 78, Scott 69
Scott ran into a hot-shooting, veteran team and dropped its season opener last Tuesday.
The host Panthers led 26-17 after one period, 45-36 at halftime and 61-45 after three periods. Scott battled back with a 24-17 fourth-quarter effort.
“First, PikeView is a very, very good team,” Kingery said. “They return all five starters from a 15-win season last year and they are probably the best team that we have played from the state of West Virginia in the past three years. I expect them to make a run at the Class AA state title this season.
“We played pretty well and we contested 28 of their 32 shots, but they were lights out. This loss hurts, but we know that this game helped make us a better team.”
McComas carried Scott early, tossing in two three-pointers and 14 first-quarter points. Ben Nester (eight) and Jordan Heitzel (seven) combined for 15 points to pace PikeView’s early offensive effort.
Heitzel netted 10 points, including two three-pointers, during the second period and Tommy Symes added seven points as PikeView enjoyed a nine-point halftime lead.
Ballard tossed in a three-pointer and a two-pointer for five of Scott’s nine third-quarter points, but PikeView used two three-pointers from Tanner Ratcliff to stretch the lead to 61-45.
Shaffer paced Scott’s gritty fourth-stanza effort with 12 points, including a trio of three-pointers. Woodruff added seven fourth-quarter points for the Skyhawks.
PikeView connected on 26 two-pointers, six three-pointers and 8-of-10 free throws. Heitzel (19) and Symes (15) combined for 34 points to pace five double-figure scorers for the Panthers.
Scott netted 14 two-pointers, 10 three-pointers and 11-of-25 free throws. McComas paced the Skyhawks with 25 points and five assists. Shaffer added 19 points and nine rebounds. Ballard contributed 12 points and three assists.
Scott will participate in the Snowball Classic in Maryland on Monday and Tuesday (Dec. 29-30) before playing at Bluefield next Friday (Jan. 2).
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