CHARMCO – Greenbrier West ran its winning streak over the Richwood Lumberjacks to sixteen games with a resounding 82-49 win Friday night in John C. Estep Gymnasium. The Cavaliers improved to 4-3 on the season with a healthy dose of pressure defense and transition buckets.
West senior guard Braydon McClung led the way early with eight first quarter points and two rebounds. McClung was able to free himself up despite a heavy dose of pressure from Richwood senior standout Tyler Barnhouse. Isaac Agee used takeaways to create transition baskets for himself in scoring four first quarter points, and the Cavaliers got two buckets from Tanner Hagy and three points and three rebounds from sophomore forward Colton Dunbar. Levi Ramsey came off the bench to add three points as Greenbrier West built a 24-8 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Greenbrier West’s advantage continued to grow in the second quarter with six points from McClung and four more from Dunbar. Meanwhile, the Lumberjacks struggled to even get in a half-court set offensively as West smothered the Richwood ballhandlers. Richwood was dealt a devastating blow with approximately five minutes remaining in the first half. Senior forward Trae Trivolette was inadvertently poked in the left eye while battling for a rebound and hit the floor writhing in pain for about 90 seconds. Trivolette was assisted to his feet and walked on his own power to the Richwood sideline to receive medical attention. With the 6’3” rebounder and shot blocker out of the Richwood lineup, West pounded the ball in the lane and attacked the basket.
Increasingly frustrated by the perception of missed calls, Richwood’s bench was assessed a technical foul after a Lumberjack defender fouled Hagy. What followed was yet another technical foul, setting the Cavaliers up with approximately 16 seconds left in the first half. With West already leading 41-18, Hagy methodically knocked down free throw after free throw to increase the Cavalier lead. When the smoke cleared, Hagy had sank six consecutive foul shots for a 47-18 lead. Greenbrier West head coach Jared Robertson inserted five fresh reserves into the game to finish off the first half. The finish was grand as junior Aiden Crane spotted up on the left wing and drilled a three-pointer that sent the Cavalier crowd into a frenzy. Richwood headed to the locker room dejected, down 50-18 to their longtime rivals.
The sledding got no easier in the second half when the energetic Barnhouse came down awkwardly after a breakaway layup attempt and injured his left ankle. Barnhouse had been doing his best to contain the Cavaliers’ scoring leader McClung with tight man-to-man pressure. McClung took advantage of Barnhouse’s absence and added eight more points to his game-high total of 22. Despite increasing their points total each quarter, the Lumberjacks were outscored 15-12 in the third quarter. The West lead grew to thirty-five points as the third quarter ended with the Cavaliers up comfortably 65-30.
Trivolette, who returned to the game following halftime, began to heat up in the fourth quarter. As it turns out, it was too little too late. Trivolette knocked down five shots at the basket and got help from senior Dalton Spencer with seven fourth-quarter points, but the Cavaliers were flexing their muscles with bench depth. Damian Dixon knocked down a two-pointer and West got four points each from Chris Davis and Randy Keener. Ramsey added a bucket to give himself seven points in the win. Reserves Landon McClung and Logan Berry each added baskets that were crowd pleasers as the final minutes wound off the clock.
Hagy scored 19 points, collected 3 rebounds, and had 2 blocks in a performance that earned him Rock 95’s McDonald’s of Rainelle Player of the Game honors. Dunbar had a solid outing with nine points and six rebounds. Ramsey had seven points and four rebounds, Davis six points and five rebounds, and Agee six points and 3 rebounds.
Trivolette led Richwood with 18 points while Spencer added ten. Both Barnhouse and Christian Griffith had 8 points each for the Lumberjacks. Grant Russell chipped in with four points.
Greenbrier West hosts Independence on Tuesday, January 16 at 7:30. Richwood, who dropped to 1-9 with the loss, hosts Bath County, VA on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at 7:30.
