Gallery by Heather Belcher
It is no secret that PikeView head girls basketball coach Tracy Raban’s teams will not shy away from tough competition.
Friday afternoon in the New River CTC Tournament inside the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center, the AAA No. 10 ranked Panthers once again stepped into fire when they battled AAAA No. 6 University.
Although the effort was there, PikeView did not have the answers for the speed and athleticism of the high-flying Hawks.
Powered by a 13-1 run to open the game and a 14-0 burst later in the half, University ran past the Panthers 62-36.
While Raban knew her team faced a monumental task Friday, there is always a method to the madness as they say.
“We knew the press was going to be hard and we will see that tomorrow when we play East Fairmont. I thought it was a good test for us,” Raban said. “I was a little disappointed in the first half how we handled it, but I thought we adjusted as the game went on.”
While PikeView was trying to adjust early, the Hawks were turning defense into offense to explode out of the gate.
Trailing 1-0, Ella Simpson ignited the fire with a 3-pointer before Hannah Stemple converted a turnover into a quick score.
Stemple scored 15 points and Simpson added 14, while Emily Sharkey added nine to pace the visitors from Monongalia County.
“Hannah Stemple, Ella Simpson and Emily Sharkey played really well today. Ella has been battling some sickness,” University head coach Nick Lusk said.
A score from Riley Meadows and a scoop layup from Brook Craft stemmed the tide, but University kept the pedal to the metal.
Leading 17-9, the Hawks scored the last three points of the first quarter and the first 11 of the second stanza for a 31-9 lead.
“I am pleased with how we played. Our depth is one of our strengths and all (10) of them played well today,” Lusk said. “We tell them all the time, it doesn’t matter the opponent, come out the same way and start the same way.”
When the halftime horn sounded, the Hawks owned a 41-17 advantage.
“They were obviously faster than us at all five positions. They are a solid ball club and very tough. I felt like our girls fought and we didn’t quit,” Raban said. “I told them at halftime, we are not looking at the score. Our goal is to go out and hang around in the second half. We almost won the second half.”
The biggest key for Raban in games of this nature has to do with the lessons that her team learns.
“I definitely think we got some good things working against that press. I told them when you are playing good teams, you learn from good teams,” Raban said. “When we switched on the post and guard, they hit the guard on the roll. We see that. A simple jab-step that makes us react on defense is something that we don’t do. We stand with the ball. When we see that from good teams, we learn from playing them.”
The second-half response by the Panthers was not the only positive of the day. Against a team with solid size and speed down low, Riley Meadows was a clear bright spot scoring a game-high 18 points for PikeView.
“Riley and I had a heart-to-heart a couple of days ago,” Raban explained. “I pulled her aside and was able to show her some weaknesses on video. I think it lit a fire under her and she realized she wasn’t bringing to the team what she is capable of bringing. I challenged her tonight.”
PikeView (5-4) plays AAA No. 6 East Fairmont Saturday in the Wildcat Classic at Willie Akers Arena in Logan.
University (7-3) is back in action at the New River CTC Tournament Saturday when it battles AAAA No. 5 Spring Valley at 11:45 a.m.
U: 20 21 9 12 – 62
PV: 9 8 8 11 – 36
University
Ash Weaver 2, Julia Maisel 5, Emily Sharkey 9, Eden Gibson 6, Lyla Byers 5, Aza Bectang 4, Ella Simpson 14, Hannah Stemple 15, Addison Kitzmiller 2. Totals: 23 8-16.
PikeView
Hannah Harden 4, Brooke Craft 2, Jaelynn Shrewsbury 2, Haley Justice 2, Jocelyn Hall 8, Riley Meadows 18. Totals: 11 13-18 36.
3-pointers – U: 4 (Maisel, Gibson, Byers, Simpson); PV: 1 (Meadows)
