By TOM BONE
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BRUSHFORK — It took four overtimes, but the Summers County Lady Bobcats remained unbeaten with an exhausting 79-73 win over the Bluefield Beavers on Tuesday night at the Brushfork Armory in Mercer County.
“It was a real gut check for our kids,” said Summers County (9-0) head coach Wayne Ryan. “Both teams are worn out. They both competed very hard.”
“It showed a lot of competitive juice to find a way. It was a battle of wills, and I’m very happy for our kids.”
Neither side led by more than five points until 1:01 remained in the final overtime period.
The Beavers (4-3) fed the ball underneath the basket to Dazia Edwards and Deja Taxley, who caused matchup problems for the No. 3 team in this week’s Class AA poll.
Edwards slashed to the hoop with 12 seconds left in the first half to cut Summers County’s lead to 24-21 at the break. The Lady Bobcats were 8 for 17 from the floor, and connected on 9 of 21 free throw tries. Bluefield was 8 for 28 from the field.
The seesaw continued in the second half, with the score tied 40-40 after three quarters. Bluefield gained a 52-48 lead as its fans screamed with 2:59 left in regulation, but that would be their final points until overtime.
Summers County’s Brennah Davis sank one of two foul shots, and Avery Pivont nailed a 3-pointer from in front of her bench with 2 seconds left to tie the game 52-52 and force extra periods.
Bluefield got back-to-back baskets from Destiney Sims and Edwards in the second overtime to take a 58-54 lead, but freshman Brittney Justice scored the last four points of that frame — and then pulled off a steal with 23.6 seconds left to keep the score tied 58-58.
Bluefield battled back in the third overtime from a 66-62 hole, with Sims hitting a 3-pointer with 12 seconds on the clock and driving to the hoop for a buzzer-beater to finish her personal 5-1 run and tie the battle again, 67-67.
Pivont tied the contest for the last time 69-69 with a jumper. Brandi Morrison pulled off a steal, and was fouled with 2:53 left, sinking one free throw for a 70-69 lead. Justice was 6 for 6 at the free throw line after that, and added a bucket from the baseline as the Lady Bobcats pulled away.
Taxley scored four more points for Bluefield and Jesslyn Fullerton’s layup with three seconds left ended the scoring.
Justice was subbing for her sister Whitney Justice, who fouled out.
Ryan said, “We lost our point man early in the fourth quarter. Plus, she’d been on the bench the whole time, in foul trouble.”
“Brittney Justice did a tremendous job. We had to move her to (point guard). She’s a freshman. She doesn’t get the reps there (and she was playing) against a very athletic team like Bluefield.
“So I’m really proud. I think that was a great learning experience for her.”
Brittney Justice said, “It was a lot of pressure, but it was fun. It should have been over, two overtimes ago, but we did what we had to do to win. As long as we get the win, I’ll be all right.”
Justice said, “It was tough, but we pulled it out. ... We got the win, and everything else will follow after that.”
Summers County took 54 free throws and made 33, while Bluefield was 12 for 24 at the line. Brittney Justice was 17 for 18 at the charity stripe and finished with 25 points.
Bluefield got 16 points each from Edwards, Sims and Taxley.
The Beavers host James Monroe on Friday evening and Mount View on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Summers County plays six of its next seven games at home, beginning with a visit from Wyoming East on Thursday.
— Contact Tom Bone at
tbone@bdtonline.com

At Brushfork Armory
SUMMERS COUNTY
Avery Pivont 2 2-4 7, Abby Taylor 3 4-8 10, Brennah Davis 4 3-6 11, Audrey Holley 1 0-0 3, Brittney Justice 4 17-18 25, Whittney Justice 3 2-6 8, Brandi Morrison 5 5-12 15. Totals 22 33-54 79.
BLUEFIELD
Tyra Jackson 2 1-2 5, Jesslyn Fullerton 3 0-2 6, Essence Brown 2 4-4 8, Dazia Edwards 5 6-10 16, Abby Atwell 3 0-0 6, Destiney Sims 7 1-6 16, Deja Taxley 8 0-1 16. Totals 30 12-24 73
Summers... 13 11 16 12 2 4 9 12 — 79
Bluefield....15 6 19 12 2 4 9 6 — 73
3-point goals: SC 2 (Pivont 1, Holley 1). B 1 (Sims). Fouled out: SC W. Justice. B Brown, Edwards, Sims.