BLACKSVILLE, W. Va. — High school basketball games run 32 minutes long, 8 minutes per quarter, and normally, the quick, tall, talented, experienced No. 5-ranked Clay-Battelle spins the scoreboard numbers with multiple 3-pointers and numerous lay-ups.
But in the middle of Friday’s Class A Region I Section 2 championship game against Tyler Consolidated, the usually prolific Cee-Bees offense simply could not beg, borrow, buy, or steal a bucket.
And yet, the C-B defense stayed strong for all 32 minutes, preventing upset-minded Tyler Consolidated from pulling off the upset in a 41-38 Cee-Bees win.
From the beginning, it was clear that Tyler Consolidated coach Steven Nutter wanted to spend as many fouls as it took to keep C-B top scorer Morgan Chisler from scoring, but that strategy allowed fellow senior big man Gavin Moore to get free for eight quick paint points and a 16-12 first quarter lead.
That’s when the cellophane suddenly covered both rims, as neither team could score in the first five minutes of the second quarter.
Tyler Consolidated (11-9) finally broke the freeze with a 3-pointer from Haygen Baker at the three minute mark, although Gage Statler answered with a three a minute later. Silver Knights forward Caleb Strode hit a short jumper with 10 seconds left, then blocked a shot at the buzzer, holding the Cee-Bees lead to 20-19 at the half.
Somehow, the lay-up drought continued for Clay-Battelle (14-2), as the second half began, and Tyler Consolidated took advantage, forging a 27-20 lead with 3:09 left in the third quarter.
Chisler then followed with a big 3-pointer, and on the ensuing Tyler Consolidated possession, a crucial offensive foul call wiped a potential three-point play off the board, leading to a 7-2 C-B run to close out the quarter.
Down by 29-27, four more lay-up misses were offset by tenacious defense, and finally a Chase Ammons jumper and lay-up was followed by numerous holding fouls on Chisler to put C-B into the bonus.
With a minute to go, sophomore guard Drew Boczek pulled of a monstrous steal along the sideline and made two free throws for a 39-35 lead with 40 seconds left.
The scrappy Knights wouldn’t quit, as Strode hit a bomb to make it a one-possession game with 19 seconds left, and after a missed C-B foul shot, Tyler Consolidated had a chance to tie at the buzzer, but the contested three missed, and the Cee-Bees survived to grab the title.
After the game, Chisler saw this one as the ultimate team win.
“This goes to show you that it’s never about one guy,” he smiled. “If they decide to double me, it just leaves Gavin or somebody else on the perimeter open, and as long as I was fighting to get open, they had to foul or chase”
C-B coach Josh Kisner was proud of the way his veteran team found a way, and credited an underclassman with being a difference-maker.
“Drew Boczek came up huge for us tonight, along with everyone else,” he said. “For a young player, he’s got a very high basketball IQ. He’s so quick with his hands and feet, and he is able to anticipate passes and moves so well. He really fits with our defensive scheme, and he contributed offensively as well.
“While I was certainly happy with our offensive sets and shot selection, we need to be better at finishing with contact at the rim. But, in the playoffs, nobody shoots as well as they do normally, so it’s important to play tough and contest every shot.”
Clay-Battelle hosts Madonna at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the regional final with a berth in the state tournament on the line.
Box score
TYLER CONSOLIDATED (11-9)
Cooer Bailey 0 2-2 2 Justin Bowman 5 0-1 10 Haygen Baker 2 0-0 5 Caleb Strode 7 0-1 15 Trey Landis 2 2-2 6 Totals 16 4-5 38
CLAY-BATTELLE (14-2)
Gage Statler 1 0-0 3 Chase Ammons 3 0-1 6 Gavin Moore 6 2-2 14 Drew Boczek 2 4-4 8 Morgan Chisler 2 5-6 10 Totals 21 9-15 59
Tyler Consolidated 12 7 10 9–38
Clay-Battelle 16 4 7 14–41
3-pointers – TC 2 (Strode, Baker), CB 2 (Statler, Chisler). Fouled Out – TC 1 (Landis)
