LINDSIDE WVDN) – For three quarters, the clash of top 6, Class A, Coalfield Conference rivals lived up to its billing. No. 6 Greenbrier West and No. 5 James Monroe zigged and zagged in a wildly entertaining matchup. In the fourth quarter, the Mavericks put some distance on the Cavaliers to scratch out a 53-41 win.
Greenbrier West entered the night with a 12-2 record, their only losses this season coming to the Mavericks and to Class AA No. 3 Summers County. For an up-and-coming program, these are the kind of opportunities a coach wants their team to take advantage of. The Cavaliers had plenty of moments early in the game.
After James Monroe jumped out to an early 4-2 lead, Greenbrier West responded with an 11-0 run. Preslee Treadway tied the game at 4 followed by a basket from Abigail Thomas. Treadway then banged the boards and put up her own miss for an 8-4 West lead. Meagan Poticher added a short bucket followed by a Maddy Fields 3-pointer, and West had built a 13-4 advantage. The Mavericks would connect on two free throws to catch their breath, but Greenbrier West led 13-6 after a quarter of play.
The Mavericks would turn the tide in the second quarter. Taking advantage of Cavaliers miscues and missed shots, James Monroe charged back, going on a 14-4 run to take a 20-17 lead. Greenbrier West salvaged a first half tie with an Ava Barclay free throw and a Treadway basket, knotting the score at 20. Treadway nearly had a double-double at the break with 10 points and nine rebounds.
The two teams would keep things close in the third quarter. The Mavericks sped away from West with a 9-2 run, but Treadway would battle back for the Cavaliers. Defensive boards by Poticher and Barclay led to Treadway buckets and Brilee Redden putting Greenbrier West ahead by 1 after a Treadway steal. With neither squad giving the other much breathing room, the Mavericks jumped back in the lead with a pair of Adyson Hines free throws and a 3 ball from Bryleigh Thomas. Treadway and Redden each hit the front end of two-shot fouls. After a pair of Bryleigh Thomas free throws gave the Mavericks a 3-point lead, Redden knocked down a trey. The Mavericks were up 36-35 heading into the final frame.
Fields had the West faithful fired up, after she knocked down a 3-pointer to begin the fourth quarter. The fervor would gradually die down, though, as James Monroe would go on a costly 15-0 run. The Cavaliers could not buy a basket, while Hines began to find the shots she didn’t have early in the game. Hines poured in 7 points which included a backbreaking 3. To further complicate matters for the Cavaliers, Fields fouled out. Her ability to hit the 3 and her defensive presence were both lost, complicating West’s comeback plans. Redden would hit a late 3-pointer, but it would be far too little to match James Monroe. The Mavericks’ 17-6 run over the final frame tagged West with a 53-41 loss.
Preslee Treadway led all scorers with 17 points. Treadway added 13 rebounds and four steals. Redden added 9 points for the Cavaliers on the strength of two 3-pointers. James Monroe put three players in double figures: Maggie Boroski with 14, Hines with 13 and Haley Hunnicutt with 12.
The Cavaliers will host Pocahontas County Friday night at 7:30. Greenbrier West will honor their senior players before the game. James Monroe travels to Greenbrier East Saturday evening.
GW: 13 7 15 6 – 41
JM: 6 14 16 17 – 53
Greenbrier West- Preslee Treadway 17, Brilee Redden 9, Meagan Poticher 6, Maddie Fields 6, Abigail Thomas 2, Ava Barclay 1. Totals: 17 3-9 41.
James Monroe – Maggie Boroski 14, Adyson Hines 13, Haley Hunnicutt 12, Mary Meadows 4, Chloe Shires 4, Aliyah Clarkson 4, Bryleigh Thomas 2. Totals: 19 12-19 53.
3-pointers – GW: 4 (Fields 2, Redden 2); JM: 3 (Hunnicutt 2, Hines)
