CHARLESTON, Tenn. — Renewing a competition against a former district foe, Walker Valley split a pair of battles with Cumberland County, in "The Stable" Thursday evening.
Coach Will Campbell's seventh-ranked Mustangs continued their hot start with a 79-51 grounding of the Jets, while the girls from Crossville prevailed 62-49.
Walker Valley will take a few days off to celebrate the holiday before traveling to Dalton (Ga.) for the Christian Heritage Christmas Tournament, Dec. 27-30.
The Mustangs (11-1) will open against Seckinger (Ga.) at 7:30 on opening night, while the Lady Mustangs (2-10) will face Lumpkin County (Ga.) that afternoon at 3.
MUSTANGS 79
JETS 51
In a start reminiscent of matchups of old, the teams combined for 42 points in the opening eight minutes with senior Landon Shirk drilling five 3-pointers to help Walker Valley to a 23-19 edge.
The Herd took command in the second period with an 18-4 edge with the defense copping five steals and holding the visitors to just 2-of-11 shooting from the field.
Looking for its first win of the season, Cumberland County (0-9) came out strong in the second half going toe-to-toe with the hosts to win the third quarter 16-14.
Walker Valley squashed any hopes of a comeback quickly with an 11-2 run to start the final frame on its way to doubling up the guests 24-12 in the last eight minutes.
Hitting 7-of-10 shots from the field, Shirk led the victors with 19 points, plus handed out a couple of assists and cleared a trio of rebounds.
Junior Turner Clayton was 6-for-9 from the field, including a pair of 3-balls, for 16 points, plus he snagged a half dozen boards, handed out a couple of "dimes" and c opped two thefts.
Junior Isaac Sausville came off the bench to drained a couple of treys on his way to 11 points, hitting 2-of-3 field goal, plus his only free throw He also pulled down four caroms.
With older brother Ashton unavailable, sophomore Zach Davis took of the starting point guard duties, dishing four helps, swiping four steals while netting 11 markers.
As a team, Walker Valley made 16-of-29 (55%) from in front of the arc, plus went 13-for-28 (46.4%) from beyond it.
The Mustnags held the Jets to just 45% (9-for-20) from close range, plus 26% (7-of-27) from distance.
The Herd held a slim 30-26 rebounding edge, but only turned the ball over five times, while forcing 14 miscues by the visitors.
Triston Futrell led Cumberland County with 18 points, including five 3-pointers as well.
LADY JETS 62
LADY MUSTANGS 49
Cumberland County (3-5) dominated the opening half soaring out to a 39-16 halftime advantage, but Walker Valley didn't give up but came back to win the final 16 minutes, but the deficit was too great to overcome.
Despite trailing by 23 at the intermission, Coach Paul Sausville's Herd galloped out of the locker room for a 19-11 third quarter advantage, trimming the difference to 11 at one point before the guests put in the final five markers to push it back to 16 at the break.
Although an old-fashioned three-point play put the Lady Jet lead back to 19 to start the fourth quarter, Walker Valley answered with a 10-0 run, featuring a long-range bomb and back-to-back steals that turned into fast break baskets by sophomore Madi McDonald, to close the gap to single digits.
Despite a Cumberland County timeout to try to stem the tide, plus a 3-pointer to push the difference back to double digits, McDonald once again rallied the Lady Mustangs with a dish to senior Maliyah Woods for a lane basket, before she pulled down a defensive rebound and went coast-to-coast for another fast break, closing the gap to just eight points.
Unfortunately five WV turnovers in the final three minutes allowed the Lady Jets to drop in the game's final five points for the victory.
Junior Kyela Trew led the Herd effort sinking a pair of long-range bombs on her way to 10 points, including seven in the second half.
McDonald and Woods both finished with nine markers, with the latter copping seven thefts, clearing four rebounds and dishing a trio of helps.
Sophomore Mia Lindsey dialed long distance twice in the third-quarter run, while junior Izzy Arguaer also netted a half dozen, plus cleared six ricochets, handed out a couple of "dimes" and blocked a shot.
Both teams shot 50% from beyond the arc — Lady Mustangs 6-of-12, Lady Jets 7-for-14 — plus the guests hit 54.5% (12-of-22) from inside the 19-foot line, while the host made 43.5% (10-of-23).
Game Summaries
Thursday, Dec.
19
at "The Stable"
Girls Game
Cumberland County 20 19 11 12 — 62
Walker Valley 8 8 19 14 — 49
LADY JETS (62) — Sydney Wilhite 23, Aliyah Hawkins 12, Natalie Dowlen 8, Madison Wagoner 7, Kaedinse Wilson 6, Killeen 3, Carrol 2, Welch 1, Keen 1, Beal, Hale.
LADY MUSTANGS (49) — Kyela Trew 10, Madi McDonald 9, Maliyah Woods 9, Mia Lindsey 6, Izzy Argauer 6, K. McDonald 4, Sims 4, Young 1.
3-POINTERS: CC 7 (Wilhite 4, Wagoner 2, Hawkins); WV 6 (Lindsey 2, Trew 2, Sims, M. McDonald).
FREE THROWS: CC 18-of-26; WV 11-of-21.
RECORDS: Cumberland County 3-5; Walker Valley 2-10.
Boys Game
Cumberland County 19 4 16 12 — 51
Walker Valley 23 18 14 24 — 79
JETS (51) — Triston Futrell 18, Sol Sitton 9, Andrew Dennis 9, Jake Christopher 7, Boon Buckner 5, Barnwell 3, Davenport, Stone, Mifflin, Scarbrough.
MUSTANGS (79) — Landon Shirk 19, Turner Clayton 16, Zach Davis 11, Isaac Sausville 11, Graham Campbell 5, Tucker Campbell 5, Cael Coates 5, Keeton 4, Green 3, Wood, Bain.
3-POINTERS: CC 7 (Futrell 5, Sitton, Dennis); WV 8 (Shirk 5, Sausville 2, Clayton 2, G. Campbell, Z. Davis, Green, Coates).
FREE THROWS: CC 12-of-17; WV 8-of-12.
RECORDS: Cumberland County 0-9; No. 7 Walker Valley 11-1.