By DAN STILLWELL
for the Daily Telegraph
BECKLEY — By the third quarter's end, the only question remaining in Princeton's game with Woodrow Wilson was whether Tigers center Aaron Ferguson would score his 1,000th career point.
The Flying Eagles' defense and rebounding had long since taken any other suspense out of the game.
Woodrow (12-3) made 15 steals, controlled the offensive boards and frustrated the 6-foot-9 Ferguson most of the night en route to a 79-43 victory Thursday at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.
"We played well in the second half at George Washington (Tuesday), and it carried over. Once we started going after Princeton, we started playing better," coach Ron Kidd said. "I thought we played Ferguson extremely well. He'd been averaging 30 points his last three games."
Ferguson needed 20 points to reach the 1,000-point plateau and struggled hard to get them. Early on, Woodrow pivot Noah Hancock rejected two of his shots. Then Ferguson began forcing things, making poor shot selections. He had just eight points at halftime.
"I was thinking way too much tonight," Ferguson said. " I was forcing shots. I tweaked my back early and it was killing me.
When Ferguson missed, Woodrow got the rebound and was off to the races. Tarek Payne, a 6-1 sophomore forward, made several slicing layups on the transition and also scored twice off steals. He finished with a team high 16 points.
"Payne creates matchup problems," Kidd said. "He can take them off the dribble or he can post up with them. He knows how to use his body."
"I've been working on (layups) all year," Payne said. "I try to get to the basket every time I can."
Woodrow led 36-19 at halftime and pushed it to 56-36 in the third quarter.
Ferguson scored three quick baskets for Princeton (6-10) to start the half, but went cold again. He scored his 18th point with 1:37 left in the third, and was taken out midway through the fourth.
His night looked over, perhaps saving the 1,000th point for a home crowd, but he reentered the game and quickly scored from inside midway through the fourth.
"I was surprised too, but I was glad to get it over with," he said.
Woodrow didn't make it easy for him.
"Coach told us we had to guard him hard," Payne said. "Give him nothing easy."
"He scored 20 points and he earned them," Kidd said.
Ferguson finished with 20 points and eight rebounds. Colton Fix added 10 points, and Jacob Whittington had eight.
Osborne netted 16 points and grabbed six rebounds for Woodrow. Hancock had 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while reserve Dylan Ray contributed six points and 11 rebounds.
"Princeton is a rival game, and anytime you play well you feel good," Kidd said. "Give Princeton's kids a lot of credit. They played the whole 32 minutes."
Woodrow will host Class AAA No. 1 Saturday for Hall of Fame Night at the BRCCC.

PRINCETON (6-10)
Colton Fix 4 1-2 10, Jacob Whittington 3 0-2 8, Aaron McCabe 0 0-0 0, Ashton O'Dell 0 1-3 1, Logan McKinney 0 0-0 0, Aaron Ferguson 9 2-5 20, Garrison Hartwell 0 2-2 2, Cole Cochran 1 0-0 2, Tyler Boyd 0 0-0 0, L. J. Reed 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 6-14 43.
WOODROW WILSON (12-3)
Corey Acord 0 2-4 2, Malyk Fowlkes 1 0-0 2, Jahmar Parker 2 0-0 4, JaQuarius Harris 2 2-2 6, Tarek Payne 7 2-2 6, Noah Hancock 4 4-6 12, Brent Osborne 6 0-0 16, Dylan Ray 3 0-0 6, Michael Penn 2 3-4 7, Breland Walton 2 0-0 4, Chris Blankenship 2 0-2 4, Michael Penn 2 3-4 7. Totals: 31 13-22 79.
Princeton.........................7 12 17 7 — 43
Woodrow Wilson............14 22 20 23 — 79
3-point goals: P: 3 (Fox, Whittington 2); WW: 4 (Osborne 4). Fouled out: None.