If not for inclement weather, the Bridgeport High School girls’ basketball regular season would be in the books. However, in his long coaching career at many different venues, Indians Coach Dennis Hutson has yet to find a way to beat Mother Nature.

 

Thanks to the aforementioned weather,  the Indians will close the regular season campaign tonight against the last team they played – Elkins. Tonight’s game will tip at 7:30 p.m. in Randolph County.

 

It was a week ago from today that Bridgeport upped its mark to 13-8 on the year. Bridgeport used a strong finish to roll past Elkins by a 56-27 score at BHS.

 

Despite the final score, the game was anything but a blowout in the early going. In fact, the Tribe came out sluggish and were leading by just an 8-6 score after one period of play. While Bridgeport looked better in the second period the game was far from decided as the Tribe took a 21-13 lead into the lockerroom at the half.

 

“We told the kids that they were flat and told them Elkins was being patient so we had to change it by picking it up on the defenfse ive end,” said Hutson. “We needed to get in transtiion and speed things up.”   That was satisfying to make the adjustmment and be a poitn of emphahsis and kids are able to do that.

 

What Hutson said at the half worked. The Indians scored more points in the third quarter than  they did in the first two  periods. The 23-point period helped the Indians take a commanding  lead of  44-20 going into the final period.

 

“That was satisfying to make the adjustment with certain points of emphahsis and see the kids go out and not only be able to do it,  but get the results from it that you expect,” said Hutson.

 

Once again, Quinn Stalnaker led the way with 21 points. Emily Riggs also got into double figures with 10 points and Rory Marple contributed nine points and a game-high eight rebounds.

 

BHS played the game without starting point guard Gianina Renzelli due to illness. Hutson said that was part of the reason for the stagnnant offense. While Renzelli is healthy and willl play tonight, Hutson said the turning point came from Marple in the third period.

 

“I thought Rory  Marple was instrumental in that third perio run occuring. She just made some phenomenal passes to Quinn in the post area,” said Hutson.  “She’s like a point forward and (last Friday)  she showed a whole lot of her skill set and it turned the game around.”

 

BHS hopes to close out the season with a win against the 4-17 Tigers tonight. And Hutson said he’s going to make sure no one gets overlooked with the sectional tournament starting next week.

 

“I’ve told the kids it’s not about Elkins. We need to do what we’re supposed to do offensively,  defensively and with rebounding and then things will take care of itself. This teams knows not to take anyone for granted because we’ve lost a few games that they know they could have won. We don’t want to add to that total.”

 

Regardless of a win or loss, Bridgeport will face off against Robert C. Byrd in the opening round of the Class AA Region II, Section 1 tournament Wednesday.

 

Game time at BHS is set for 7 p.m. as opposed to 7:30 p.m.

 

“Everyone is back to 0-0. We know Bryd has weapons that can cause us problems and the one thing we know for certain is that they’re going to play hard,” said Hutson. “They know, like we know, that if you lose the season is over. Our goal is to get to the sectional final because that guarantees you a regional game.”

 

The winner will advance to the sectional championship. The winner of the sectional championship will host the loser of Section 2 for a right to go to the state tournament. The loser of this sectional will travel to the winner of the Section for a right to go to Charleston.

 

Click HERE for a breakdown of the brackets for the girls sectional tournament.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Coach Dennis Hutson driving home a point to his bench, while Rory Marple is shown going strong to the hoop below. Photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.