The Logan High School Wildcats boys' basketball team (13-9) reigns undefeated in the teams three games against the Wayne High School Pioneers (6-16) after defeating them Tuesday in the first round of the sectional tournament.
The Wildcats will face off against the Scott High School Skyhawks (14-9) on Friday in the Sectional Championship. This will also be the third time these two teams have met this season.
WILDCATS VS PIONEERS SECTIONAL GAME RECAP
The Wildcats pulled off the season sweep against the Pioneers after defeating them for the third time in the 2022-2023 season. Going into it, the game was a must-win for both teams because to advance to the regional championship; the team must win the first round to advance and win the sectional title to get the home game in regionals.
The Pioneers managed to keep the game close throughout the first quarter ending 11-6 in favor of the Wildcats. The Wildcats quickly took off with the lead during the second quarter, increasing the team’s lead to 31-17 by halftime.
As fans have seen in the past two meetings this season, the Wildcats applied pressure and continued to hold the lead for the remainder of the contest, ultimately winning the game 67-46.
The game was intense physically and emotionally, with both teams having a player foul out: Wayne’s sophomore guard Isaac Meddings and Logan’s freshman forward/center Ivan Miller, the Wildcats junior guard Cole Blankenship was called for a technical foul for touching the ball as a defender on an inbounds play, and the Pioneer's head coach Sean Meddings receiving two technicals late in the fourth and being tossed from the game.
The Pioneers had two players break double digits in scoring: Isaac Meddings with 15 points and senior guard Dillon May with 11.
The Wildcats moved the ball well, involving multiple teammates offensively, with eight players scoring; Four of those players reached double-digit points: sophomore guard McCormick Ilderton with 10, junior guard Julius Clancy and senior forward Jarron Glick with 12 each, and senior guard Scotty Browning leading all scorers with 18.
WILDCAT'S UPCOMING SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
After advancing through round one of the sectional tournament, the Wildcats are set to take on the Scott Skyhawks on Friday in the Championship game. In their first-round sectional game, the Skyhawks defeated the Lincoln County High School Panthers on Tuesday 61-43.
The Wildcats and Skyhawks have slowly developed into a rivalry over the past few years, and each game between the two teams this season has ended up being a close battle until the final buzzer sounds.
Both teams met four times last season, with Logan winning twice in the regular season and the sectional championship by double digits, but losing to Scott by two points in round one of the West Virginia State Basketball Tournament. They have split the regular season thus far, both beating each other in their home gym.
The Skyhawks will host the championship game Friday at 7 p.m. in the Hawk’s Nest at Scott High School.
Scott High School staff began selling tickets for the championship Wednesday at the school and refused to sell tickets to Wildcat fans, which has many of them highly upset. The Wildcats were originally only going to be given 100 tickets to sell to fans at Logan High, and many people are saying the Skyhawks refused to sell to Logan fans to increase the population of the team's home crowd.
However, the SSAC forced the Skyhawks to give Logan High the appropriate amount of tickets. There was a written agreement that stated Logan would receive 25% of the total number of tickets.
With the game just one day away, emotions up high, and expectations for the game being even higher, fans can expect the championship to be another knockdown drag-out with the potential for a photo shoot finish.
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