Van Tassell Powers Cameron With 29 Points, 25 Rebounds
Top-seeded Dragons Eliminate Pocahontas County By 64-27 Margin
Bill Ferguson Trending
CHARLESTON - Cameron's road to a three-peat started off smooth Wednesday afternoon as the top-seeded Dragons (21-5) used a dominant effort from Youngstown State University recruit Ashley Van Tassell in a 64-27 triumph over No. 8 Pocahontas County (13-13) in a W.Va. Class A state tournament quarterfinal inside the Coliseum and Convention Center.
The 6-3 Van Tassell ruled the paint with game highs of 29 points and 25 rebounds. She also charted eight steals and a pair of blocked shots. She scored 14 in the first quarter and also recorded a double-double in the quarter with 12 boards.
"I think she came out with a vengeance tonight," Cameron head coach Holly Pettit said in a telephone interview. "The first quarter though, to me, was the most impressive part."
Cameron led 19-3 after the first quarter as the Warriors could only manage a trio of free throws while going 0-for-11 from the floor. In fact, Pocahontas County didn't sink a field goal until early in the second quarter and trailed 30-16 at the half.
Ashlee Dobbs reached double digits with 11 points. The senior also pulled down nine rebounds. Kenzie Clutter had eight boards and four assists. Emilee Dobbs handed out five of Cameron's 17 assists.
The Dragons amassed 57 rebounds and committed 12 turnovers.
"We've never really played very well in our first game of the (state) tournament," Pettit noted. "We knew that Pocahontas County was going to play us rough and physical. I am proud of the way my girls reacted to it."
Cameron shot just over 33 percent (25-74) from the field, including an ice-cold 3-for-19 from deep.
"We never shoot the ball well in the first game. We just wanted to get the nerves out and take some of the pressure off of us."
The Dragons, who have now won seven consecutive state tournament games and 11 straight this season, advanced to Friday's 11:15 a.m. semifinal against the winner of Huntington St. Joseph's/James Monroe.
Tucker County 64,
Tyler Consolidated 31
CHARLESTON -- The Mountain Lions had a decisive size advantage Wednesday in its W.Va. Class A state quarterfinal against the Silver Knights.
No. 3 Tucker County made the most of it by smothering No. 6 Tyler Consolidated and consistently forced turnovers or contested shots in a lop-sided victory at the Coliseum and Convention Center.
While Tyler Consolidated (13-13) hung tough early and trailed 14-10 after a Braeden Wall three-pointer with 2:15 left in the opening quarter, the Silver Knights then went 8-plus minutes without a point and saw their chances at pulling off an upset all but vanish.
During that stretch, Tucker County (20-5) turned a four-point lead into a 25-10 advantage.
"They've been here and know what it's about," Tyler Consolidated head coach Shane Highley said. "We're new to it. We enjoyed this couple of days and this ride."
Raven Matthews led all players with 13 points and 13 rebounds in what marked the Mountain Lions' 20th consecutive appearance at the state tournament. On the flip side, it was just Tyler Consolidated's second in 21 years.
Wall led Tyler Consolidated with 10 points and Jules Lattea had a game-high 14 rebounds in defeat.
The Silver Knights made 10-of-49 shots and had 32 turnovers.
Despite the lopsided loss, the Silver Knights took solace in ending their season in Charleston after starting it 0-6 and having a 4-9 and 7-12 record at one time.