Defending Class A State Champ Cameron Seeking To Repeat
Dragons Slay Tyler In Region I Championship Contest, 58-32
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CAMERON -- Overcoming a sluggish start, defending W.Va. Class A state champion Cameron did enough in the middle two quarters Thursday night to punch its ticket to the girls state basketball tournament next week in Charleston.
The state-ranked Dragons (19-6) led 14-10 after one quarter in the Region I championship game against a gutsy Tyler Consolidated squad, but outscored the visitors 40-18 in the second and third quarters for a 58-32 victory at Dragons Indoor Stadium.
"It feels good. It definitely feels good," Cameron head coach Holly Pettit said as her team cut down the nets.
She attributed the slow start to anxiousness as Cameron, which has been ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in the state all year after winning the title last winter, was expected to win.
"I think it was a case of the nerves setting in," she explained. "There was a lot of pressure because a lot of people expected we would win. Once the girls settled down and started to play basketball the way they know how, we played pretty well."
The Silver Knights made a game of it for eight minutes, but turnovers caught up with them. They charted nine during a 17-3 Cameron scoring spurt that was sparked by the Dragons defense and the on-target outside shooting of Emilee Dobbs. The junior knocked down a trio of trifectas during the second quarter when the hosts enjoyed a 24-5 advantage on the scoreboard.
Junior pivot Ashlynn Van Tassell recorded a double-double despite not being 100 percent. She netted 12 of her game-high 21 points in the third quarter when the Dragons blew the game wide open. She also collected 11 rebounds.
"She was not totally healthy. She had a little bug, but she's on the mend and that's a good thing," Pettit said of her force in the paint .
"She played well. She's mentally tough and when she plays through stuff like tonight, it only makes her better," Pettit continued.
After its Cinderella run to last year's state crown with a 24-4 record, a lot was expected of the Dragons this year as everyone returned.
"We've been No. 1 or 2 and tied for a No. 2 most of the season and I think people just look at our record and not who we played," she said of a beefed up schedule this season. "I did that to prepare us for the postseason. Hopefully it pays off when we get to Charleston."
Emilee Dobbs finished with 11 points, as did sophomore Maci Neely. Point guard Kenzie Clutter, another junior, turned in a fine floor game with a handful of assists and steals to go along with five rebounds.
Maleah Weber led Tyler Consolidated with 11 points and seven rebounds. Katie Grimm had nine points. The Silver Knights finished with 27 turnovers and 21 rebounds.
With the win, Cameron joins Wheeling Central (Class AA) and Wheeling Park (Class AAAA) next week in Charleston.