By DAVE MORRISON
for the Daily Telegraph
OAK HILL — Anthony Eades was flat-out unconscious in the second quarter.
In a game featuring standout sophomores, Bluefield’s shooter and leading scorer was at the top of his game.
He had 19 points in the second — 21 at the half — as No. 1 Bluefield looked like it was running away from the No. 6 Red Devils.
But Oak Hill’s own sophomore — and leading scorer — Rondale Watson had other ideas.
He shut Eades down — Eades attempted just two shots and had one point — in the second half.
However ...
Bluefield isn’t No. 1 by fluke.
By taking Oak Hill’s tallest player out of the post, Bluefield was able to get its inside game cranking. And the result was a 69-62 Bluefield win.
The Beavers continually made big shot after big shot in the second half — most of those around the basket, to hold off the resurgent Red Devils, who overcame a 14-point deficit and had a chance to tie the game with 1:11 remaining.
“I was feeling it in the (second quarter),” Eades said. “My teammates were getting me the ball and I had a lot of open looks. Rondale did a real good job in the second half, but our bigs really got going.”
K.J. Manns had all eight of his points in the second half. Harley Trimble had eight of his 14, And Michael Yost had four of his six. That was 20 of the Beavers’ 30 second-half points.
“We had to do something,” Oak Hill coach Fred Ferri said. “When a shooter like that gets in a rhythm, he’s going to be tough to handle. Rondale asked (to guard him) in the second half. And their aren’t going to be many rebounds when the ball is going through the net. Rondale did a good job.”
Down 14, Oak Hill fought back, cutting the lead to four on several occasions in the fourth. But the Beavers had an answer almost every time.
And those points were all in the paint.
“We have a lot of experienced guys,” Bluefield coach Buster Large said. “I thought K.J, Manns and Harley Trimble stepped up. They’re our two senior leaders and they played like it tonight.”
Oak Hill finally got the break it needed when Rondale Watson got a strip steal under the Bluefield basket and went the other way, laying it in to make it 64-62 with 1:35 left.
On the ensuing possession, it looked like Trimble had another easy lay-in but the ball bounced off his leg.
Oak Hill hurried the ball down the court but a shot by freshman Joey Re missed the mark.
“I tell our kids to shoot the ball,” Ferri said. “I want them to play and not be robots. But sometimes you have to know the time and game situation. I’m not going to fault the kid because he was trying to make a play.”
Manns scored on a short jumper to restore the lead and Bluefield (18-1) closed out the game at the free throw line.
“It was a great high school game,” Large said. “We needed that, to play in front of a crowd like that and have a tough game. You know Fred is always going to have his team right there. I have a lot of respect for him and his program. He does a great job.”
Ferri, who is retiring at the end of the season, was honored before the game, along with seniors leaven Elam and Caleb Kees.
“I had no idea,” Ferri said. “I was surprised. But it was nice. I’ve been here a long time, 11 years as the head coach, and we always had great players, great fan support and they administration is great. It was nice. But we aren’t done yet.”
Watson led Oak Hill with 21 while Jalen Jones — saddled with foul trouble in the first half — and Elam had 12 each.
Caleb Kees got his first start on Senior Night and had two points and three rebounds before going out with an ankle injury late in the first quarter.
“I told the kids not to be satisfied with a loss,” Ferri said. “Sure, they don’t play many close games. And they are good. But we have stuff to work on before the tournaments.”
It was only Oak Hill’s third loss at home in three years.
The Red Devils (13-6) are at Winfield Saturday.
— E-mail: demorrison@
register-herald.com

At Oak Hill
BLUEFIELD (18-1)
K. J. Manns 4 0-0 8, Harley Trimble 5 4-4 14, Lykel Collier 5 7-8 18, Michael Yost 3 0-0 6, Anthony Eades 9 1-1 22, Que Amaker 0 0-0 0, D.J. Edwards 0 1-2 1. Totals 26 13-15 69.
OAK HILL (13-6)
Le-Von Elam 5 1-1 12, Jalen Jones 5 2-3 12, Rondale Watson 6 6-6 21, Joey Re 3 1-2 7, Kadrin Goodman 2 0-0 4, Ervin Fruit 1 0-0 2, Marc Logan 0 2-2 2, Deon MArion 0 0-0 0, Michael Nibert 0 0-0 0, Caleb Kees 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 12-14 62.
Bluefield........................................13 26 15 15 — 69
Oak Hill.........................................11 16 21 14 — 62
Three-point goals: B 4 (Collier, Eades 3); OH 4 (Elam, Watson 3); Fouled out: None.