EDITOR'S NOTE: Bridgeport High School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Matt DeMotto has confirmed that tonight's Class II Region II, Section 1 game between Bridgeport and Liberty will tip at approximately 8 p.m. at the McDonnell Center on  the campus of Davis & Elkins College. The game will not be played at BHS due to the work stoppage. Robert C. Byrd and Elkins will play at 6 p.m., at the same location.

 

Bridgeport’s boys’ basketball team is hoping for a return trip to Charleston for the Class AA state tournament. In order to do that, the Indians will have to beat a Liberty team that is playing its best basketball of the season.

 

The semifinal game between the top-seeded Indians and the fifth-seeded Mountaineers is set for 8 p.m. tonight at the McDonnell Center on the campus of Davis & Elkins College. In the event the work stoppage in Harrison County Schools would come to an end and there is time, the game could be reverted back to Bridgeport. In the event the status changes, it will be posted on Connect-Bridgeport.

 

BHS comes in at 14-7, while the Mountaineers are 7-15. The winner of tonight's game will play the winner of tonight's 6 p.m. between No. 3 Elkins and No. 2 Robert C. Byrd on Saturday at 7 p.m. with that game also tentatively set for the campus of D&E.

 

Teams that lose this evening will see their season come to an end.

 

The Tribe won the only regular season game against LHS, but it was close. The Tribe toppled the Mountaineers by a 73-67 score in Clarksburg, but that game was played nearly two and a half months ago on Dec. 20.

 

The Mountaineers come into the game winners of three straight games after having a five-game losing skid. One of those wins came Wednesday when Liberty knocked out No. 4 seed Lincoln by a 54-46 score.

 

Bridgeport’s standard starting lineup consists of point guard Blake Bowers and guard Adam Bentz. Brayden Lesher is the swing man and team’s leading scorer, while Jake Bowen is the Tribe’s power forward. Tanner Bifano usually gets the start at center.

 

In the event the stoppage is still in play, the team will be coached by BHS Principal Mark DeFazio and Assistant Principal Renee Mathews. If the stoppage is over, Coach Mike Robey and Assistant Zak Bart will coach.

 

The game will be broadcast on 103.3 WAJR FM.

 

Editor's Note: Photo by Joey Signorelli of www.benqueenphotography.com.