Chapmanville won its second consecutive Class AA Region 3 Section 2 championship defeating Mingo Central 59-38 Friday night (Photo courtesy of CKG Graphics).
Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports
CHAPMANVILLE Class AA No. 8 Chapmanville got a career night from junior Haley Fleming to capture its second consecutive Class AA Region 3 Section 2 championship and defeat No. 7 Mingo Central 59-38 Friday night at the Danny Godby Gymnasium.
Fleming scored 17 of her game-high 24 points in the first half and senior Alaira Evans added 19 points for Chapmanville, who will host fourth-ranked Summers County in one of two Class AAA Region 3 championship games on Wednesday night.
Fleming scored 12 points in the second quarter as the Lady Tigers opened the quarter on a 15-0 run to turn a five-point first quarter lead into a 20-point advantage midway through the second quarter.
Mingo Central closed the gap to 16 points, 30-14, when Addie Smith drained 3 just before the halftime buzzer, and trimmed the deficit to 14, 30-16, with a basket to start the third quarter, however, it was as close as the Lady Miners would get as Chapmanville stretched its lead out to as many as 22 before settling for a 45-25 lead after three quarters.
The Lady Miners could only draw to within 19 points the rest of the way as the Lady Tigers led by as many 27 points in the fourth quarter.
Smith, who surpassed the 1,500-career point mark in the third quarter when she knocked down one of her five 3-pointers on the night, led Mingo Central with 23 points.
Turnovers plagued the Lady Miners in the first half as they committed 14 of their 20 turnovers and dug themselves a hole they couldn't climb out of.
Mingo Central fell to 14-9 with the loss and will travel to No. 1 Wyoming East Wednesday night. The Lady Warriors, who have defeated the Lady Miners twice during the regular season, will be looking to get back to defend its state championship from last season.
Chapmanville improved to 14-9 and will look to secure its first state tournament berth since 2011 with a win over Summers County Wednesday night.
Chapmanville 59, Mingo Central 38
Mingo Central Lady Miners (14-9)
Grimmett 2 2-4 6, Bradford 0 1-1 1, Akers 2 0-0 4, Bailey 1 2-2 4, Smith 9 0-0 23.
Totals: 14 5-7 38.
Chapmanville Lady Tigers (14-9)
Fleming 10 1-1 24, Miller 1 0-0 2, Farley 2 0-0 4, Mahon 4 0-0 8, Evans 6 6-9 19, Blair 1 0-0 2.
Totals: 24 7-10 59.
Mingo Central 6 8 11 13- 38
Chapmanville 11 19 15 14- 59
3-point field goals_Mingo Central 5 (Smith 5), Chapmanville 4 (Fleming 3, Evans).