Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports
WAYNE Brooke Adkins hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:31 left, lifting the Class AAA No. 5 Wayne Lady Pioneers over the Class AA co-No.7 Chapmanville Lady Tigers 64-61 Tuesday night at Wayne High School.
The Lady Tigers led a one-point lead, 56-55, with 1:39 remaining before Jayden Mahon’s 3-pointer rimmed out as Adkins came down with the rebound and dribbled around a screen to hit the decisive 3 with 1:31 putting Wayne ahead for good.
Chapmanville coach Kristina Gore said Chapmanville could have milked some clock, but Mahon’s 3 went down in the rim and came out setting the stage for Adkins’ heroics.
“If Jaiden makes that shot, it’s a dagger and we most likely win the game,” Gore said. “Right after she missed it, Adkins pushes the ball up the floor, dribbles off a screen and swishes a 3. It was a really tough shot in a big moment for them.”
Chapmanville had an opportunity to tie but was whistled for a traveling violation turning the ball over to Wayne with 1:14 to play.
Adkins was fouled with 0:41 remaining, but missed the front end of an one-and-one, however her sister Addison Adkins pulled down the rebound and quickly got it back to Brooke, who was fouled with 0:35 remaining.
Adkins sank both free throws giving the Lady Pioneers a four-point lead, 60-56.
Alaira Evans scored on a putback of a missed 3 to bring Chapmanville within two, 60-58, with 0:23 to play.
Chapmanville would get no closer as Adkins hit four free throws over the next 0:15 to put Wayne up six, 64-58, before Chloe Thompson’s 3 with 0:01 remaining set the final margin.
Chapmanville trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half, but the Lady Tigers kept chipping and chipping at the Wayne led and trailed by seven after three quarters.
The Lady Tigers went on a 9-0 run to start the fourth and took their first lead, 49-47, on Evans old fashioned 3-point play with 5:46 remaining.
Evans’ basket with 2:55 remaining put Chapmanville in front 56-52, but the Lady Pioneers closed the game on a 12-5 run.
Wayne improved to 5-0 with the win, but unlike the previous four games, which the Lady Pioneers won by an average of 17 points, this one was still in doubt in the final minutes.
“I doubt anyone in the state of West Virginia, other than us, expected this to be a ballgame,” Gore said. “They definitely didn’t think that after getting us down 20-5 that we would have the lead in the fourth with a minute and a half to go.”
Wayne had three players score 18 points or more led by Brooke Adkins with 23 points. Laneigh Brooks hit four 3’s and finished with 20 points while Addison Adkins knocked down 6 3’s to finish with 18 points.
Wayne and Chapmanville combined for 22 3-pointers with the Lady Pioneers hitting 12 in the win including an Addison Adkins banked 3 that gave the Lady Pioneers a 47-40 lead after three quarters.
“While we did give them more open makes from 3 than we would’ve liked, but they have a few flat-out playmakers that are cold blooded, (Addison) Adkins hit one from the volleyball line with a hand there to contest the shot,” Gore said. “At some point you’ve just got to tip your cap to them. They were able to make one more big shot then we were and that proved to be the difference.”
Evans led Chapmanville with 24 points while Farley hit five 3’s and finished with 17 points.
Chapmanville fell to 6-2 with the loss and will return to action Dec. 30 at home against Class AA No. 5 Summers County, who the Lady Tigers beat last week to capture the Rogers Oil Tournament at Summers County High School.
“While technically there are no moral victories, I don’t feel like a loser and my girls shouldn’t either,” Gore said. “We fought back from an early 20-5 deficit and almost won against arguably a top three team in the state regardless of class at their place.”
Wayne will take part the KVI Tournament at Doddridge County High School where the Lady Pioneers will face Lincoln on Dec. 29 and face either Class A No. 3 Doddridge County or Williamstown on Dec. 30.
“Prior to tonight their (Wayne) closest win was by 14 points against (AAA) No. 1 North Marion. Wayne is an excellent team, and our girls knew that going in,” Gore said. “What they need to believe about themselves, if they don’t already, is what we are starting to prove. When you execute game plans, stay the course, and continue to share the rock the way we do, we can play with anybody.”
Wayne 64, Chapmanville 61
Chapmanville (6-2)
Mahon 3 0-0 8, Evans 9 5-7 24, Farley 6 0-0 17, Fleming 3 2-2 9, Thompson 1 0-0 3. Totals: 20 7-9 61.
Wayne (5-0)
Adkins, B. 7 8-9 23, Adkins, A. 6 0-0 18, Brooks 7 0-2 20, Stacy 2 0-2 5, Williams 0 0-2 0, Brown 0 0-2 0.
Totals: 22 8-17 64.
Chapmanville 5 14 21 21- 61
Wayne 17 13 17 17- 64
3-point field goals- Chapmanville 10 (Mahon 2, Adkins, Farley 5, Fleming, Thompson), Wayne 12 (Adkins, B., Adkins, A. 6, Brooks 4, Stacy).