By BOB REDD

BRUSHFORK — The Bluefield Beaver Classic came to a conclusion Monday night with the Bluefield Lady Beavers claiming a 68-44 win over the Tazewell Lady Bulldogs in the fifth and final game of the day at the Brushfork Armory.

Bluefield scored the first 14 points of the game, utilizing its press and forcing Lady Bulldog turnovers. Tazewell’s first points came with 4:45 to play in the opening quarter, after which the visitors went on a 10-2 run to end the quarter with the Lady Beavers on top 16-10.

Bluefield managed to get more transition points in the second period and was four-of-four from the charity stripe, while Tazewell managed only four points in the stanza, enabling Bluefield to take a 32-14 halftime lead.

Offensively Tazewell came alive in the third as Ally Lee drilled a pair of threes, but Bluefield, behind four baskets from freshman Dani Janutolo managed to increase its lead and was on top 53-30 heading into the fourth and final frame.

Freshman Alyssa Lester scored eight points in the fourth to pace Bluefield and the Lady Beavers notched their fifth win in seven outings.

“We got a quick start on the press and we turned them over, but we were really sloppy,” said Bluefield head coach Tony Mallamaci. “Offensively we were sloppy. I didn’t think we played well at all. They’ve got a young team that’s scrappy, we turned them over and got some transition points and we were fortunate to do that.”

Janutolo led Bluefield with 14 points and Lester came off the bench to add 12.

Lee led Tazewell with 16 and Gracie Cline tossed in 10.

Lady Bulldogs head coach Jason Southworth said, “We played with a lot more effort tonight. With the youth that we have, I just don’t know if mentally we are there, showing up to play, but come the end of the year I think we’ll be ready to play.”

Tazewell fell to 1-7 on the year and plays next on Jan. 3, hosting Bland County. Bluefield returns to action Jan. 8 at Graham.

At Brushfork Armory

TAZEWELL (1-7)

Webb 0 1-2 1, Crouse 1 1-4 5, Ray 1 3-4 5, Gracie Cline 4 2-4 10, Ally Lee 4 6-8 16, Sheets 0 1-2 1, White 0 0-0 0, Moore 3 0-0 6, Totals 13 14-24 44.

BLUEFIELD (5-2)

Gallinger 2 0-0 5, Coppola 1 6-8 8, Browning 0 2-2 2, Brown 4 0-0 8, Hayden 4 0-0 9, Alyssa Lester 6 0-0 12, Atwell 3 0-0 6, Void 1 0-0 2, Dani Janutolo 7 0-0 14, T. Auville 0 0-0 0, C. Auville 1 0-0 2, Kennedy 0 0-0 0, Helton 0 0-0 0, Totals 29 8-10 68.

Tazewell.......................10 4 16 14 — 44

Bluefield.......................16 16 21 15 — 68

Three-point baskets: T 3 (Crouse, Lee 2); B 2 (Gallinger, Hayden)