The Pocahontas County Lady Warriors are headed to states for the third straight year and for the sixth time in the school's history. A full house of PCHS cheering fans and students arrived very early for the March 3 regional game, and Region 3 Section 2 runner-up Meadow Bridge did not arrive until after the 7 p.m. starting time.

Junior Chloe Bland, who is team high scorer and averages a double-double of 17.2 points and 10.4 rebounds, wasted no time entertaining the fans with 12 points in the first quarter. Just as Richwood improved in their third try against the Lady Warriors, the Wildcats also hung around for one quarter and hit three treys to start the game. By quarter's end PCHS was ahead 18-11 over a team they beat most recently by 55 points at Meadow Bridge. The lead changed hands four times and was tied twice early in the game. Wildcat sophomore Chandra Harrah with 19 game points started hitting threes immediately to pace Meadow Bridge, who was also at states last year.

Junior Sara Jonese came off the bench in the second quarter and scored 11 of her 13 game points fighting for four field goals in a crowd and then hitting the only Warrior three of the first half. Five other PCHS girls would score, and the PCHS press held "The Bridge" to only four points in the quarter while amassing 26 points on offense. By quarter's end PCHS held a 44-15 lead.

Finally, five Lady Warriors each hit a trey in the third. Senior 1,000-point club member Shelby Snead and Bland each scored five points in the quarter to put the game out of reach. Sophomore Olivia Workman hit a three in the third and ended with five points and five steals. Senior Elizabeth Arbogast would end the game with five points, four assists and seven rebounds off the bench.

All twelve PCHS girls scored in the 81-38 win. Bland led all scorers with a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds. Sara Jonese's 13 points and six rebounds was second, and Shelby Snead was third with 12 points and eight rebounds. Junior Miranda McNabb was fourth with 10 points and 3 blocks. Another Warrior off the bench, senior Karen Wilfong, added six points hitting two threes in the second half. The win was the 21st of the season and breaks the 2008-09 team's school record of 20 wins. PCHS improves to 21-2 on the season, and Meadow Bridge drops to 15-8. The #4 seed Lady Warriors, who were the #5 seed last year, will play Wednesday night, March 9, in Charleston vs #5 seed Wheeling Central at 9 p.m.

The other seven WV Class A teams descending upon Charleston on Wednesday for first round action are: Undefeated #1 seed 24-0 St. Marys, a public school, beat Weirton Madonna 64-47 in Region 1, and #5 seed Wheeling Central nipped Williamstown 55-47. In Region 2 #6 seed Tucker returns with a 67-38 stomp of Clay-Battelle. Trinity Christian of Morgantown nipped another PVC team, East Hardy, by 55-49. The other Region 3 team to head to states is Greater Beckley Christian over Richwood 46-32. In region 4 #3 seed Charleston Catholic beat Gilbert 52-36, and #2 seed Huntington St. Joseph Central, who has not lost to a WV school in the last three years and plays a tough multi-state schedule beat Burch 78-24. The 78 points St. Joseph output was second only to Pocahontas County. The first seven seeds from last year are back with only Greater Beckley Christian replacing Meadow Bridge. St. Marys lost to St. Joseph last year in the championship 44-58.

Let's Go Lady Warriors!

ﾠ

ﾠ

ﾠ