BLACKSVILLE – The seventh-ranked Clay-Battelle Cee-Bees welcomed Mason Dixon Conference opponent Tygarts Valley into Statler-Wilson Gymnasium on Monday evening, winning 70-66.
C-B Junior Colby Barr scored 24 points to lead all scorers and had multiple blocks on the defensive end. The forward shot 11 for 13 from the field and scored no basket bigger than the two he did with 90 seconds remaining to extend the lead to four points late in the game for C-B (9-6).
“We knew they were a tough team coming in, they do a great job over there,” C-B head coach Josh Kisner said. “Conference matchups are always great, we knew we would have our hands full. Once we broke their press, that’s where Colby made his living tonight.”
The Bulldogs (8-5) applied the pressure Kisner mentioned late in the second quarter and stayed with it throughout the rest of the game as it gave the Cee-Bees fits. Multiple passes were deflected, stolen, or intercepted and converted into layups, which kept TVHS within striking distance.
Every C-B run seemed to be matched by its opponent during the game and it started early in the first quarter as the score was 8-0 for the home team after four minutes.
The Bulldogs were able to score 17 points in the final four minutes of the first to only trail by one going into the second.
The next eight minutes set the tone for the second half as the lead was traded for a couple of minutes until C-B established a two-possession advantage. However, turnovers plagued the Cee-Bees and allowed the Bulldogs to keep the game close.
Going into the fourth, C-B would only lead by 3, 50-47.
The visitors would win the opening 4 minutes of the final frame, holding C-B to just one basket through the first 2:30 and tying the game at 52 each with five minutes to play.
C-B senior guard Carson Shriver, who left the game with an ankle injury and then returned, split a pair of free throws which was followed by a huge triple by Kohlton St. Clair, just the second for C-B for the entire game. The senior gave his team a 56-52 lead with three minutes to go.
After traded baskets, and holding a 60-58 lead, C-B junior Preston Luzader converted a huge and-one that extended the lead to 63-58 with two to play.
Going just 2 for 12 from 3-point range on the night, the Cee Bees really won the game in the paint on offense where they we able to get the ball all night.
“We have to take advantage of our size,” Kisner said. “We want to try to score from there. But at the same time we have some shooters and if they get hot then it can only help us.”
The two buckets by Barr and two Luzader free throws sealed the game 70-66 for C-B.
Four different players scored in double figures for Clay Battelle, led by Barr’s 24. Luzader scored 13, St. Clair finished with 12 and Srhiver had 11.
Clay-Battelle will enjoy some time off before a game against East Hardy on Saturday. That game will be held at South Harrison High School.
Clay Battelle 70, Tygarts Valley 66
C-B 18 14 18 20 – 70
TVHS 17 14 16 19 – 66
C-B – Shriver 7 5-9 11; St. Clair 10 2-4 12; Gadd 5 0-0 6; Luzader 7 5-6 13; Barr 13 2-3 24; Spears 5 0-0 4
TVHS – Phillips 5 0-0 6; McGee 7 1-3 8; Patterson 12 2-4 20; Moore 8 0-0 6; Scott 7 0-0 8; Workman 6 0-0 11; Somers 7 0-0 7
3pt. goals – TVHS 7 (Patterson 2, Scott 2, Somers 1, Workman 1, McGee 1); C-B 2 (St. Clair 2)
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