Buckhannon-Upshur’s Brooklyn Maxwell hit a late corner 3-pointer to help her team edge Bridgeport, 54-51, in a back-and-forth contest between two schools who will be sectional rivals next year in the Class AAAA format.

 

The loss evens up the Indians’ record at 9-9, while B-U improved to 11-6.

 

“It’s disappointing to lose one like that because we battled back and for the most part played pretty well against a very good Buckhannon team,” Bridgeport coach Herman Pierson said. “We missed a couple of bunnies late.”

 

B-U led for most of the first half, its biggest lead being six points. Late in the second quarter, the Indians closed the gap on layups from Hannah Bartlett and Paige Humble along with a 3-pointer from Maddie Wilson that made it 28-27.

 

The BHS girls took a two-point lead thanks to a three-point play by Gabby Reep on the first possession of the third.

 

B-U tied it at 30 on a pair of free throws from Shelby McDaniels. Humble responded with a layup and the Indians kept the lead until Maxwell’s 3 that put B-U up 50-49.

 

McDaniels hit another clutch mid-range jumper to extend the Bucs’ lead to 52-49.

 

Wilson nailed a long two-pointer with 1:46 to go to make it a one-point game at 52-51. The Indians had a handful of opportunities to get a bucket to take the lead back but nothing would fall.

 

Maxwell then iced the game with a pair of free throws with 2.6 seconds left to make the final score 54-51.

 

Humble had 21 points to lead the Indians. The contest also featured a nice showdown between two of the better young guards in the Big 10 Conference in McDaniels — a sophomore and Reep — a freshman.

 

McDaniels had a game-high 28 points, while Reep had another strong overall outing with 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

 

“I think there are going to be a lot of battles between them two over the next few seasons,” B-U coach Rob Kittle said. “It’s certainly going to make our sectional a lot tougher next year.”

 

Prior to the B-U loss, the Indians were coming off a loss to East Fairmont and a win against Elkins last week.

 

The Bees outlasted the Tribe in a low-scoring affair, 38-34. It was the first victory for East Fairmont against Bridgeport in more than a decade.

 

Humble and Reep led the Tribe in scoring against East Fairmont with 11 and nine points, respectively.

 

The Indians bounced back with another strong defensive effort against Elkins and a 42-29 victory. Wilson and Reep each had 10 points against the Tigers.

 

“We are starting to execute a little better and we are a very gritty team,” Pierson said. “I still think we are going to be where we want to be by the time sectionals start.”

 

The Indians return to action next week with a pair of home games. First up is Lincoln on Tuesday and then Robert C. Byrd visits on Thursday.

 

Editor's Note: Bottom photo of Gabby Reep by Joe Signorelli for www.benqueenphotography.com