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Wheeling Park Girls’ Basketball Team Knocks Off No. 2 Buckhannon-Upshur

File Photo by Cody Tomer Wheeling Park’s Josie Daugherty scored a game-high 22 points Saturday in a victory against Buckhannon-Upshur.

WHEELING — To say Wheeling Park’s Josie Daugherty got off to a bad start would be an understatement.

The Patriots senior missed her first eight shots. It looked like it just wasn’t going to be her day. But all great shooters will tell you the same thing — keep shooting.

Saturday, with the game on the line and when her team needed her the most, Daugherty was almost perfect. Against No. 2-ranked Buckhannon-Upshur, she hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and sank the game-winning free throws as the Patriots knocked off the Buccaneers, 45-43, at the Palace on the Hill.

“When I wasn’t making them at first, I was a little worried my shot wasn’t going to be on,” Daugherty said. “Coming into the second half, I knew I had to play present and keep my mind forward and I did that and put my past behind me. My shot got in motion. I was getting in a groove.”

With the game tied at 40-40 with 2:31 left to go, Daugherty hit her third 3-pointer of the fourth quarter — and sixth of the game — to put Wheeling Park in front.

Buckhannon-Upshur responded with a free throw by Audrey Gaudet and a steal and easy layup by Lauren Bennett with a little more than a minute remaining.

Wheeling Park held for the last shot and Coach Ryan Young called timeout with 15 seconds left.

There was no doubt whose hands the ball was going to be in.

Daugherty took the ball and drove to the basket and was fouled with 8.6 seconds showing. Daugherty drained both of them with ease.

“It was an isolation that we drew up for Josie,” Young said. “I thought she could have been a little bit more aggressive but we got the foul called and she buried the free throws so it worked out.

“Our shooters have a ‘move on to the next shot’ mentality because you can’t dwell on missed shots because missed shots aren’t something you can control. In the second half, she got in a rhythm. We are (comfortable with the ball in her hands), as well as a lot of kids.”

Buckhannon-Upshur had one final chance as Bennett got behind the defense on the inbounds pass. Daugherty hustled back on defense as Bennett made a spin move, but her shot rolled off the rim and into the hands of Wheeling Park’s Morgan Glass to seal a victory.

Daugherty led all scorers with 22 points. On Senior Day, where she was honored along with teammates Kirstin Hartman, Emma Kendle and Megan Stanford, she showed why she is one of the Patriots’ leaders with her late-game heroics.

“(Having the ball in my hands) is nerve-wrecking and I don’t like when Coach puts me in that position but I know I am one of the seniors and a big playmaker so I know I have to make those type of plays,” Daugherty said. “I was hoping and praying to God that I made the right play and the right decision when I had to.

“All I could think about was I had to make these (free throws). It was on me and I wanted this win so bad. I really took my time and focused and just blurred everything out. It makes it more special being on Senior Day.”

The Patriots (12-6) took a seven-point lead — their largest of the game — midway through the third quarter, but a 13-0 run put Buckhannon-Upshur up by six and ahead 34-30 entering the final eight minutes.

“For whatever reason we got a little lackadaisical on both ends of the floor,” Young said. “We weren’t taking care of the ball on offense, we quit attacking and we weren’t as aggressive on defense. We called timeout and said ‘we can’t have these stretches.’ I think in the fourth quarter they were a little more focused. We had some turnovers that could have cost us the game, but the effort was there and that is what we were happy about.”

The Patriots outscored the Buccaneers, 21-13, in the fourth. It was a win that Wheeling Park hopes will propel it as the OVAC Tournament begins Monday against Morgantown at Wheeling Park High School.

“They are all big wins honestly but this team is pretty good,” Young said. “They are missing their big kid (Makayla Reynolds, 16 ppg, 11 rebounds) and when they add her to the lineup they are one of the better teams in the state.

“Hopefully this gives us some confidence. Morgantown has been our kryptonite. These kids need to get over the mental hurdle. We are right there with Morgantown. It is just going to come down to who plays better. We hope our kids come to play Monday and I think they will.”

Bennett led the Buccaneers with 12 points.

Magnolia 46, Madonna 32

WEIRTON — Kelsi Chapman scored 19 points and Kyndra Pilant added 11 as Magnolia defeated Madonna.

Andrea Alimario netted a game-high 23 points for the Blue Dons.

WVHIT

Valley 61, East Hardy 40

DODDRIDGE — Sophie Palmer compiled 30 points as Valley defeated East Hardy. Caitlyn Underwood also had a solid day for the Lumberjills (14-4) with 11 points.

Tolsia 60, Cameron 50

DODDRIDGE — Courtney Walker tallied 16 points as Cameron lost to Tolsia. Jordan Hughes and Kelsie Meintel both added 11 points for the Dragons (11-6).

Regular Season

Wheeling Park 84, Preston 61

WHEELING — Alex Vargo set the school record for most points in a game by a freshman as he tallied 15 points in a win over Preston.

Keondre’ King led the way for the Patriots (6-10) with 21 points while Donovan Goddard netted 12 and Jack Stakem had 11.  Rhett Schodzinski rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points.

Magnolia 79

Bishop Donahue 65

NEW MARTINSVILLE — Taylor Straughn became the all-time leading scorer in the history of Bishop Donahue, scoring 30 points to bring his total to 1,586. But unfortunately for the Bishops, Magnolia rained on the celebration by pulling off the upset.

Jake Fruner and Tyler Williamson each scored 18 to pace the Blue Eagles, while Brooks Parsons and Leo Herrick each added 17 in a balanced Magnolia attack.

Koltin Kleeh chipped in with 19 for the Bishops.

Hundred 76, Beallsville 58

BEALLSVILLE — Danny Stewart dropped in a career-high 41 points to go with 10 rebounds, five steals and four assists on his way to eclipsing the 1,000-point mark in a Hundred victory.

Dakota Phillips paced the Blue Devils with 23 points. Kolton Rush added 17.

Buckhannon-Upshur 63

John Marshall 43

BUCKHANNON — Gunner Thompson dropped in 22 points to pace John Marshall in a loss to Buckhannon-Upshur.

Buckeye 8 Tournament

Martins Ferry 62, Edison 48

MARTINS FERRY — Martins Ferry captured the Buckeye 8 championship Saturday night defeating Edison. Senior Jack Davis led the winners with 21 points while Zac Selby delivered 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Bryce Piatt poured in 21 points for Edison while Joey Nave added 11 tallies.

Buckeye Local 57

St. Clairsville 46

MARTINS FERRY — Drake Novak poured in 22 points as Buckeye Local topped St. Clairsville to take third place.

Sean Millard added 17 points for the surging Panthers.

Matthew Busby registered 13 points to lead the Red Devils. Michael Scarnecchia added 12 points, while Matt Greenwood had 11.

Beaver Local 72

Union Local 58

MARTINS FERRY — Chase Wilcox scored 23 points and Zach Boni added 16 as Beaver Local raced past Union Local and claimed the fifth-place game.

Nathan Kline drained three 3-pointers en route to 13 points for the Beavers.

Ty Kildow topped the Jets with 15 points. Jeremiah Mott added 13 points, while Cal Kildow had 11.

Harrison Central 59

East Liverpool 43

MARTINS FERRY — Tyler Redish exploded for a game-high 27 points as Harrison Central claimed seventh-place honors with a big victory against East Liverpool.

Caden Dalton added 10 points for Harrison Central.

Tre Jackson’s eight points led the Potters.

Bellaire 55, Indian Creek 54

MARTINS FERRY — Chase Yoho poured in 31 points — his average on the season — Saturday afternoon to help Bellaire edge Indian Creek in the ninth-place game.

Tyson Camsky added 10 points for the Big Reds.

Nick Crawford paced the Redskins with 14 points, while Austin Freshwater added 11.

WVHIT

Paden City 55

Meadow Bridge 53

PADEN CITY — Four Paden City players scored in double figures as it defeated Meadow Bridge. Aaron Heasley tallied 20 points and grabbed 14 boards while Trey Slider had 13 points. Hayden Hizer secured 11 points and dished out eight assists for the Wildcats and Seth Bohrer added 11 points.

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