By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
Gossip Time: There is no secret in Baker as East Hardy Girls Basketball senior night was commandeered and dismantled by the Wildcats 69-36.
Despite the bittersweet loss, East Hardy Girls Basketball seniors rose to the occasion in the final stanza catapulting a 14-0 run outscoring the Wildcats 14-9 in the frame.
Cougars senior Chloe Gue poured in a dozen points in the last frame including two perimeter buckets sandwiching two layups coming off a rebound and steal.
East Hardy senior Adyson Crider added a putback during that stretch.
The Cougars fans showed their excitement for the rally cutting the deficit to 60-36, but it was too little, too late and the Wildcats ended the win scoring 9 straight points.
Crider and Gue have proven to be leaders encouraging the underclassmen through a tumultuous season.
“The seniors mean a lot. I have known their families for a while. I’m so proud of them for continuing to play and develop not only as basketball player, but as a person. We have seen a lot of growth in them these last couple months. They have really stepped up at times this season being a leader to the younger ladies,” East Hardy Girls Basketball coach Donny Evans remarked.
“I was very proud of us as a team throughout the season. We didn’t quit and just kept playing and fighting throughout. It was good to see all the work and sacrifice these ladies have put in all season to see some of those fruits in the way we have improved.”
The pregame senior ceremony was a nice tribute to these girls and how much they have meant to the program.
The East Hardy Girls Basketball seniors Adyson Crider and Chloe Gue were given personalized basketballs and a hoop designed gift basket along with hugs from teammates and coaches.
Crider plans to attend James Madison University to study pre-law in pursuit of becoming a lawyer.
Gue plans to study child psychology at Shepherd University.
Both of these girls are members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Future Farmers of America clubs.
The Cougars also recognized senior cheerleader Lilly Melander.
Melander plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in education at Sweet Briar College.
Melander is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Club, FFA and Yearbook.
Melander is a Grow Your Own student and received the Sweet Briar College Davis Scholarship.
Melander competed for the Warren County High School Soccer team.
The rest of the Cougars Cheer seniors will be honored with the boys basketball team on Friday.
Pendleton County jumped out to a 9-0 lead as Tia Heavner scored the first four points and Jameigh Miller hit a triple within the first two minutes.
The Cougars graced the scoreboard at the 4:50 mark as Gue made two free throws.
The Wildcats kept the momentum going with an 11-0 run over the ensuing three minutes as Jessica Parker and Lexi Tingler garnered two field goals, while Heavner and Susan Vincell added two more jumpers.
Gue made a steal and drew a foul to add two markers with a minute left in the first period.
Charlee Hahn corralled a defensive rebound for the Cougars and passed to Gue.
Gue was fouled heading to the hoop and notched two more points on the charity stripe for a 21-6 score with 35 seconds to spare.
Pendleton County’s Lauren Williams was sent to the line adding one point, then Parker stole the ball and netted a buzzer-beating layup for a 24-6 advantage.
Crider got the Cougars faithful screaming with a perimeter dagger just under a minute into the second stanza, 24-9.
Shayne Clutter added a Wildcats score off a turnover.
East Hardy got a steal and two free throws by Gue at 5:55, 26-11.
The Cougars forced another turnover and Gue drew more contact to notch one more marker.
East Hardy’s Baylee Aylor created a free throw point with four minutes remaining in the half.
Parker (2), Vincell and Katie Heavner collected field goals to push the Pendleton County lead up to 36-13.
The final minute of the second period was wild as three treys were made within 40 seconds as Hahn and Gue fired into the hoop for the Cougars sandwiching a long distance one by Miller for the Wildcats.
Pendleton County carried a 43-20 lead into the locker rooms.
The Wildcats boosted the advantage outscoring East Hardy 17-2 in the third frame.
Vincell pitched in 8 points and Miller hammered two perimeter buckets during that period.
Jenna Mongold netted the lone Cougars basket in the third period at 2:04 off an assist from Jaiden Gordon.
East Hardy never gave up and kept battling with a small rally in the fourth period, but the Wildcats emerged victorious 69-36 win.
