By LARRY HYPES
Bluefield Daily Telegraph

TAZEWELL, Va. — The suspense ended long before the game did.
Tazewell’s running Bulldogs jumped away to a 15-4 lead and never looked back to take a 90-69 win over outmanned Grundy Tuesday in a non-district clash.
The Golden Wave (0-5) although outscored early and often, still mounted an impressive second half run that sliced the Tazewell (4-3) lead in half at one point.
Colin Hancock delighted the home crowd by lofting in five of his six three-point baskets in the first quarter alone. Noah Walker had a pair of highlight dunks, one in each half, in limited action to help Tazewell win on successive nights and move back above the .500 mark.
Hancock noted, “It always feels good when the first one goes in. All around, we played good defense and helped each other out all night. It’s nice to get a little win streak going – that is the most important thing.”
Tazewell coach Lee Walker, able to substitute his starting lineup in both the second and fourth quarters, said, “This was a good game. We got to play some people who not get a lot of time every night. We still have to pay attention and keep trying to get better.”
Baylen Dillow, who consistently slipped behind the defense in every quarter for the Golden Wave, took game scoring honors with 24 points in a splendid effort. He was aided by Dylan Billiter’s 16 and Charles McCoy chipped in with 10 for the Wave.
Grundy coach Jeremy Ratliff said his youthful team, “We are a work in progress and we played an exceptionally athletic team here tonight. We are not yet on Tazewell’s level but I will say I am very proud of my team. They played hard from the opening tip until the very end and every coach loves an effort like that. We’ll get better.”
Tazewell had four double digit scorers.
Hancock (20), Cody McCann (14), Walker (13), and Jesse Mountain (10) all sparkled for Tazewell. Nathan Cline also had a good night for the Bulldogs.
McCann, in his best varsity effort, said, “I’m a little rusty, getting over football, but it was fun. My teammates gave me the ball, let me get in the open and make some shots. We played good defense and the whole team played well together.”
Grundy entertains Clintwood Friday while Tazewell is on the road the same night at Bland County.

at Tazewell Middle School
GRUNDY (0-5)
Kris Hawkins 9, Charles McCoy 10, Dylan Billiter 16, Jordan McCoy 2, Mickey Viars 2, Lucas Harr 3, Blake Cehajic 3, Baylen Dillow.
TAZEWELL (4-3)
Christian Lews 8, Tanner Catron 8, Nathan Cline 4, Colin Hancock 20, Juwan Jordan 6, Jalen Jordan 7, Cody McCann 14, Jessee Mountain 10, Noah Walker 13.
Grundy.........................12 18 21 18 — 69
Tazewell.......................28 21 26 15 — 90
3-point goals: GR 1 (Harr 1). TZ 8 (Hancock 6, Lewis 1, Catron 1). Fouled out—none.