CHARLESTON (AP) — Aaron Muncy scored 21 points to lead Tug Valley to a 58-41 win over Charleston Catholic in the Class A championship game Saturday at the Charleston Civic Center.
Austin Brewer added 15 points and Mikey Newsome scored 10 for top-seeded Tug Valley.
It was certain one of the teams would win a second consecutive state crown. Tug Valley took the Class AA title last year before dropping down to Class A. Charleston Catholic won in Class A a year ago.
But there was no repeat of 2012’s scoring drought, when Charleston Catholic beat St. Marys 40-34 in the lowest-ever scoring Class A championship game.
Tug Valley (25-3) took the lead for good midway through the second quarter and pulled away after that.
Nick George had 13 points and Garrett McCarty 10 for third-seeded Charleston Catholic (24-4).
Charleston Catholic had reached the championship game for a record ninth time, including eight trips in the past nine years. Charleston Catholic won Class A titles in 2000, 2006, 2007 and 2012.
Thomas Baisden had 12 rebounds for Tug Valley, which also adds to the Class AA title it won in 1999.
“There’s no three sweeter words right now than back-to-back,” said Tug Valley coach Garland Thompson, who was an assistant coach of Williamson, the last public school to win a Class A banner. “I’m just tickled to death for our community, school, and most importantly our four seniors and that team celebrating on that floor out there.”
Brewer was 7-of-13 shooting from the field for the Panthers, who shot 46 percent overall.
“I just did my thing today. I drove to the basket and dished it out,” said Brewer, who also dished out five assists. “If I had a layup then I would take what they gave me.”
Counting Newsome’s 10 points, Tug Valley’s three guards racked up 46 of the Panthers’ 58 points.
“It was just like pick your poison with them,” Charleston Catholic coach Bill McClanahan said. “We’ve seen many great guards throughout the years, but never three like that together. I thought we came out and played at our highest level the first eight to 10 minutes. Then we leveled off and Tug Valley took advantage of that.”
A year ago Tug Valley led Bluefield 15-2 in the first quarter en route to the Class AA crown.
Saturday’s game got off to a similar frantic start. Tug Valley led 19-18 after the first quarter.
The Panthers led 32-26 at halftime and 43-31 entering the fourth.
During the regular season, Tug Valley beat Charleston Catholic 61-38.
Class A state championship
Tug Valley 58,
Charleston Catholic 41
CHARLESTON CATHOLIC (24-4)
Godwin 3-8 0-1 7, McCarty 3-5 3-3 10, George 5-13 2-3 13, Casto 0-1 2-2 2, Hovorka 3-5 0-0 9, Hoyer 0-1 0-0 0, Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Tupta 0-0 0-0 0, McKown 0-0 0-0 0, Herlihy 0-1 0-0 0, Persily 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 14-34 7-9 41.
TUG VALLEY (25-3)
Muncy 8-13 1-1 21, M.Newsome 2-9 4-4 10, Brewer 7-13 0-2 15, T.Baisden 4-7 0-3 8, Dillon 2-4 0-0 4, K.Newsome 0-0 0-0 0, S.Marcum 0-0 0-0 0, Kitchen 0-1 0-0 0, Hager 0-1 0-0 0, Sturgell 0-2 0-0 0, Copley 0-0 0-0 0, A.Baisden 0-0 0-0 0, Blankenship 0-0 0-0 0, Oliver 0-0 0-0 0, D.Marcum 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-50 5-10 58.
Charleston Catholic 18 8 5 10—41
Tug Valley 19 13 11 15—58
3-Point Goals—Charleston Catholic 6-11 (Hovorka 3-4, Godwin 1-2, McCarty 1-2, George 1-3), Tug Valley 7-19 (Muncy 4-7, M.Newsome 2-8, Brewer 1-2, Kitchen 0-1, Sturgell 0-1). Fouled Out—none. Rebounds—Charleston Catholic 41 (George 5), Tug Valley 32 (Baisden 12). Assists—Charleston Catholic 8 (McCarty 3), Tug Valley 12 (Brewer 5). Total Fouls—Charleston Catholic 13, Tug Valley 12. Technical—Charleston Catholic bench. A—na.
Class AA state championship
Bluefield 63,
Fairmont Senior 43
CHARLESTON (AP) — Anthony Eades scored 27 points and Bluefield beat Fairmont Senior 63-43 in the Class AA championship game on Saturday at the Charleston Civic Center.
Top-seeded Bluefield made up for the disappointment of losing to Tug Valley in last year’s championship game.
Bluefield (25-3) went ahead to stay midway through the first quarter and used a 17-7 run, including nine points by Eades, to finish the first half and lead 36-23 at halftime.
Bluefield won the third championship in school history, adding to titles in 1995 and 1996.
Corey Coppola and Lykel Collier each added 12 points for Bluefield, which shot 50 percent (24 of 48) from the floor.
Jarin Hilson scored 11 points and Austin Norman had 10 for second-seeded Fairmont Senior (21-7).
Fairmont Senior was held to its lowest point total of the season.
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