Big Reds defeat top-seeded Redskin’s, 61-55, in sectional final.
HURRICANE — In yet another nail-biter with larger stakes, the Parkersburg Big Reds came to Hurricane and played bend-but-don’t-break basketball, rallying three times from 12-point deficits to win 61-55 in a Class AAAA, Region IV Section 2 boys quarterfinal.
The large Reds (7-16) never gave up and rebounded from the Redskins’ large leads in the second, third, and fourth quarters, using nearly faultless foul shooting to come back and win. They gained their first lead of the game when Isaac Dailey made a three-pointer with 2:45 left in the game. They went 24 for 29 from the foul line to seal the game.
“The first time we played them, he [Carson O’Dell] scored 35 and they won by two. “So the goal today was to not let him beat us again,” said Big Red first-year coach Phil Wilson. “They made us work on the boards and today we just wanted it.”
On his team’s free throw performance, Wilson stated, “We don’t get to the line very often because we don’t attack the rim enough.” However, tonight we attacked the rim. And I implored them, ‘Don’t quit,’ because it won’t be over until the clock reaches four zeroes.”
Nate Rodriguez, the Big Red’s point player, drove the lane to get fouled and finished the night with 14 of 15 free throws. He would end with 18 overall points.
The Big Reds entered the game after defeating Ripley 78-52 on Thursday night, completing a season sweep of the Vikings. However, it was their first win after a five-game Mountain State Athletic Conference losing streak.
“We did what we wanted to do, and it worked reasonably well. “We practiced against that box and one, and we’ve seen it before,” Redskin coach Lance Sutherland stated. “But they are an excellent athletic team. We beat them up there by two points. And they’ve come close in a number of games. They’re better than their record suggests. We played well. “We just did not shoot well.”
Hurricane concluded the season 14-9 and had won five of their last six games. However, they survived a 64-63 scare against the Greenbrier East Spartans (5-17) last Friday night.
Hurricane concluded the season 14-9 and had won five of their last six games. However, they survived a 64-63 scare against the Greenbrier East Spartans (5-17) last Friday night.
FXx or the Redskins, O’Dell scored 15 points, with Jo Jo Green adding 14. Sha’Lik Hampton recorded 14 rebounds and 8 points.
Rodriguez led the Big Reds with 18 points, while Dailey and Matt Stalnaker combined for 24 points (12 each).
Be the first to comment