In a much-anticipated matchup between in-state rivals Herd That and Best Virginia, it was the West Virginia University alumni squad who was able to hold on late, beating the Marshall University alumni squad 89-79 to advance to the West Virginia regional final of The Basketball Tournament.
Normally when a team is ahead by 19 points with under four minutes to play, the game is just about over. In TBT however, nothing is guaranteed and Herd That tried to compile a late comeback, but it was just too little too late in their loss to Best Virginia.
Best Virginia and Herd That both got off to slow starts. Both teams struggled in the first quarter, shooting a combined 4-for-18 from beyond the arc, while they were tied after the first nine minutes of play. Neither team could find their stroke early, and a loud crowd at the Charleston Coliseum quickly became anxious.
In the second quarter though, things quickly changed. Out of the break, Best Virginia was on the offensive. Kevin Jones got things going with a layup, before John Flowers found the feel to the three-point shot. Flowers would hit a three-pointer on back-to-back possessions, fueling Best Virginia to a 13-0 run to open the second quarter.
Leading 28-17, Jamel Morris joined the party with a three-pointer of his own, before Flowers would later hit another three-pointer to put Best Virginia ahead 36-17. Flowers would end the night scoring 17 points, while going 5-for-6 from three-point range.
Trailing by 19 with 4:59 to play in the second quarter, Herd That would respond with a run of their own. Led by James Kelly who scored eight of Herd That’s 19 points in the quarter, Herd That would quietly go on a 15-3 run to end the quarter, sending Best Virginia into the half ahead 41-34.
Starting the third quarter, Herd That would pick up where they left off, with Cameron Young hitting a three-pointer and then made the free throw after getting fouled to cut the Best Virginia lead to just three. That is as close as they would get though, with Jones scoring five of Best Virginia’s next 10 points, giving Best Virginia a 51-43 lead. Over the final 2:35 of the third quarter though, Best Virginia would go on a 12-6 run, putting them ahead 70-54 heading into the final quarter of play.
In the fourth quarter, Best Virginia would stay in their groove, turning their 16-point lead into a 21-point lead with 4:42 to play. Then with 3:59 to play, Best Virginia called a timeout, ahead 80-61, needing to reach the 88 point threshold to advance. Herd That would start the final session on a 9-1 run, putting them down 81-66. Jermaine Haley would then hit a three-pointer for Best Virginia, before Herd That would then go on another run, scoring seven straight points and putting the pressure on Best Virginia who led just 84-73.
Jones would hit a jumper to put Best Virginia just two points away, before he stepped to the line and nailed a free throw to cut the target score to just one point away. Morris would then put the finishing touches on things, hitting a contested jumper from the elbow, and putting Best Virginia in the regional final.
Strong Shooting Performance
Best Virginia shot 48.5% from the field and 47.8% from beyond the arc on Tuesday night. Best Virginia had four scorers reach at least 15 points, and 10 players record a made basket.
Moving On
Bucketneers defeated War Ready 83-80 on Tuesday, and will face Best Virginia in the regional final on Wednesday evening.
Photo by Ben Solomon, TBT
