By BOB REDD
for the Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD — Four Bluefield starters scored in double digits, and two strong first half runs propelled the No. 1 Bluefield Beavers to a 79-44 win over the James Monroe Mavericks, Tuesday night at Ned Shott Gymnasium.
“We got to play everybody and everyone played very unselfishly,” said Bluefield head coach Buster Large. “Ryan Shorter and D.J. Edwards stepped up in place of Harley Trimble and did a good job.
Trimble, normally a starting forward for the Beavers, injured his knee in practice this week and did not play, but is expected to be back on the court Friday night for the Bluefield’s next contest.
After a tie at two the Beavers used a full court press and transition offense to go on a 15-7 run and take a 17-9 lead after the first eight minutes of play.
In the second period Bluefield expanded its lead thanks again to its press and transition baskets. The Beaver lead grew as high as 25 and the home team carried a 37-19 advantage into the intermission.
The pace slowed a bit in the third quarter as Bluefield scored only 12 points. However, James Monroe did not get on the scoreboard in the second half for the first five-and-a-half minutes of the third stanza.
Anthony Eades led Bluefield with a game-high 21 points. K.J. Manns added 14, Michael Yost 12 and Lykel Collier 10. Mark Dixon topped the James Monroe scoring column with 17.
The Beavers with the win improved to 7-0 on the season and return to action Friday night as Wyoming East visits Ned Shott Gymnasium.
“No. 1 vs. No. 2, it’s going to be tough,” Large said. “They (Wyoming East) have been there, to Charleston, in championship games and they’ve got a lot of experience under their belts. We’re going to have to play the best game we’ve played all year.”
The junior varsity action begins at 5:30 with the varsity game following.

At Ned Shott Gymnasium
JAMES MONROE (6-5)
Bishop 0 0-0 0, C. Wickline 2 1-4 6, Hatfield 2 2-2 7, Dixon 4 8-8 17, Jackson 2 0-0 4, Deskins 0 2-2 2, Jones 0 0-0 0, Carr 0 0-0 0, Weiss 1 0-2 2, Carter 0 0-0 0, Mann 1 0-0 2, R. Wickline 0 0-0 0, Settle 1 2-2 4, Gannoe 0 0-0 0, Totals 13 15-18 44.
BLUEFIELD (8-0)
Bluefield – Ponder 0 0-0 0, Amaker 4 0-1 9, Manns 5 4-6 14, Eades 10 1-3 21, Collier 3 2-2 10, Yost 5 0-0 12, Woodrum 0 0-0 0, Edwards 2 3-5 7, Shorter 3 0-1 6, Totals 32 10-18 79.
James Monroe........9 6 5 24 — 44
Bluefield..............17 20 12 30 — 79
Three point baskets – James Monroe – C. Wickline, Hatfield, Dixon; Bluefield – Amaker, Collier (2), Yost (2)