PARKERSBURG - Expanding on a 12-point halftime lead, host Parkersburg High scored the first eight points of the second half to up the spread to 20 and the Big Red girls went on to post a 57-42 MSAC basketball win over Riverside Tuesday night at Memorial Fieldhouse.
The victory, upping PHS' record on the season to 2-0, was paced by Imani Ward in the middle with 25 points while freshman Haley Ackerman contributed 10 points off the bench.
The Warriors, dropping to 0-2, were led in scoring by Brittany Wood with 25 points and Rachel Mills with eight.
The Big Reds jumped ahead 12-2 in the first 3:33 of the game. Ward tallied twice on breaks, on an end-to-end dribble and then off a Megan Morrison steal. Treys by Morrison and Kennedy Walker and a basket by Rachel Slone followed for the 10-point gap at the 4:37 mark of the first period.
But Wood brought the Warriors back within two, 13-11, at 1:58 with nine straight points for her team. Ward, though, hooked in a field goal from the lane, scored on a rebound bucket and then took a long pass from Morrison a layup at the quarter buzzer to lift PHS into a 19-13 advantage.
The second stanza saw the Big Reds start strong again with 11 straight points, Ackerman with eight and freshman starter Nicole Dent with three, to surge ahead 30-13 at 5:10. But Wood again came to the rescue for Riverside with her team's final eight points of the half to make it just 35-23 at intermission.
In the third quarter, PHS reeled off eight of the first 10 points, six by Ward, to go ahead by 20 at 43-23 midway through the period, only to see Wood get two hoops in the last 48 seconds to make it just a 14-point deficit at 45-31.
But the Warriors got no closer than 14 in the fourth quarter.
''It was a good team win,'' said PHS head coach Kenny DeMoss, who thought the third quarter ''was the difference. They didn't score until 3:39 and by that time, we had gotten the lead up to 20.''
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wheeling Central 70, Magnolia 54
NEW MARTINSVILLE - Colleen McCormick went off for 28 points and visiting Wheeling Central (1-0) posted a 70-54 road win here Tuesday versus Magnolia.
The 1-1 Blue Eagles, who got 15 points from Mallory Chapman and 14 markers by Grace Berisford, hit 20 of 24 foul shots, but trailed 45-21 at intermission.
Magnolia, which welcomes Monroe Central to town on Thursday, also got 11 points from Kiera Standiford. Emily Bucon chipped in 16 points and Madison Basinger 11 for the victors.
Gilmer County 45, Doddridge County 25
GLENVILLE -A balanced scoring effort enabled Gilmer County to defeat Doddridge County, 45-25 on Tuesday night.
Jamie Conrad and Julie Bishop each scored 10 points to lead the Titans (2-1), while teammates Morgan Allen and Tiffany Young both pitched in seven points.
D'Andra Swiger led Doddridge County (0-1) with 15 points.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Ritchie County 70, Calhoun County 41
ELLENBORO - Justin Sage and Andrew Davis bucketed 18 points apiece to help lead Ritchie County to a 70-41 win here Tuesday night against visiting Calhoun County in the season opener for both teams.
Ryan Slider finished with a double-double of 10 points and as many boards for the Red Devils, who also got nine points apiece from Tyler Gerwig and Ricky Hall.
The Rebels also got double figure scoring efforts from D.J. Burgess (15) and Johnny Hogue (11).
Tyler Consolidated 69, Valley 26
KIDWELL - Tyler Consolidated opened the season in strong fashion here Tuesday night, rolling to a 69-26 win over visiting Valley (0-1).
Dylan Romine led the Silver Knights with 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Alex Doak added 11 for Tyler.
Valley was led by Hayden Lancaster with seven points.
Both teams will participate in the Bob and Sharon Burton Christmas Classic at Paden City on Friday and Saturday. Tyler will meet Hundred at 6 p.m. Friday with Paden City and Valley squaring off in the nightcap.
Warren 56, Fort Frye 37
VINCENT, Ohio Evan French scored 21 points and Reece Patton added 19 here Tuesday night as Warren rolled to a 56-37 win over Washington County rival Fort Frye.
The Warriors (2-0), trailed 16-15 at halftime before a 21-4 third quarter iced the victory.
Fort Frye (1-1) was led by Shon Smith wiht 11 points.
Waterford 52, South Gallia 40
WATERFORD, Ohio -Waterford used a 14-2 second quarter to pull away from South Gallia and win its season opener here Tuesday night, 52-40.
Austin Shriver led three Wildcats in double figures with 19 points while Wyatt Porter added 11 and Tanner Pottmeyer 10. South Gallia (1-1) got 17 points from Brayden Greer.
Waterford will travel to Southern on Tuesday.
Claymont 66, Marietta 39
UHRICHSVILLE, Ohio - After going 0-13 on 3-point attempts in its opener, Claymont found the range Tuesday night.
The Mustangs hit 11 long-distance shots in routing Marietta in the East Central Ohio League.
Kohltin Miles made six 3-pointers, one off the school record, and finished with 20 points to lead Claymont.
Tyler Peterson scored 12 points and Blake Albaugh 11.
The Mustangs were up 11-10 after one quarter and outscored Marietta 19-6 in the second quarter and 25-11 in the third.
Adam McKnight led the Tigers with 11 points.
Paden City 69, Hundred 41
HUNDRED - Kennedy Cain had 14 points, 10 rebounds and four assists while teammate Zach Heasley chipped in 14 markers as Paden City upended host Hundred, 69-41, here Tuesday in the season opener for both programs.
Hundred got a game-high 17 points from Kirk Shriver and Levi Simpson tossed in 10.
