By JONATHAN GREENE
For the Daily Telegraph
GARDNER — There are few rivalries that are as intense on the court as the PikeView Lady Panthers and Summers County Lady Bobcats.
The match-up lived up to the hype as the game was a physical, back-and-forth tussle which saw the Lady Panthers hold off Summers County 46-43 on Thursday night at PikeView High School.
“Summers County has a great program,” PikeView head coach Karen Miller said. “Anytime you can get a win against such an excellent program, it’s a good win.”
PikeView (7-6) handed the Lady Bobcats (11-4) their second straight defeat. The Lady Panthers ended Summers County’s run of 26 straight sectional titles last season. The two teams meet again in Hinton on Feb. 8.
“Well, our leading scorer didn’t play, our point guard was in foul trouble and there were a lot of questionable calls. So I like our chances next time around,” Summers County head coach Wayne Ryan said after the game.
Junior Brandy Morrison missed the game for Summers County and PikeView took advantage as sophomore forward Lyndsay Hatfield scored 18 points – 13 coming in the first half.
The Bobcats held the lead early as Avery Pivont hit two three pointers. After a Tyra Wynes putback, Summers County led 8-2 midway through the first quarter.
The Panthers clawed their way back as Courtney White connected on a putback and Lauryn Hatfield added a lay-up. They tied the game on a drive by Lyndsay Hatfield. Waynes would answer though with a putback and free throw.
With the first quarter winding down, the Hatfield sisters helped PikeView regain the lead. Lyndsay hit a jumper then Lauryn found Hope Nester on a fastbreak for a three-point play.
The second quarter saw several lead changes as neither team could get the upper hand. There were nine lead changes and the game was tied on five different occasions.
PikeView converted on several fastbreak opportunities thanks to Nester. The junior point guard hit Lyndsay Hatfield twice on long inbound throws which turned into easy scores. The second gave the Lady Panthers a 24-22 advantage.
Summers County regained the lead on basket by Brittany Bonds then looked as if they were going to extend it when Wynes was fouled on a fastbreak. However, Wynes was called for a technical foul after pushing a PikeView player. Wynes only made one of her two free throw attempts while Nester made both technical foul free throws to tie the game at 28.
The Lady Panthers were able to take a slim 30-28 lead into the locker room after Nester converted a jumper while falling down.
PikeView came out ready in the third quarter and limited Summers County to just four points as they built up their lead to 11, 43-32.
“I think we got a couple easy lay-ups which helped a whole lot,” Miller said. “We took care of the ball and took the shots we wanted.”
Nester hit Lyndsay Hatfield and Laura Hill for two fastbreak scores. She followed those with a drive and free throw to give the Panthers a 39-30 lead.
Pivont stopped the run with a free throw, but Madison May hit a jumper to push the margin to 10. After a free throw by Taylor, Wynes picked up her fourth foul and went to the bench.
Summers County wasn’t about to give in though and battled back one last time in the fourth quarter.
Brennah Davis hit a lay-up to start an 8-0 which brought the Bobcats within three.
“I told the girls in the fourth quarter about the game I saw where Summers County was behind and came back to win,” Miller said. “A team like that, they’re coming after you. We just had to make sure we secured the ball and took shots we needed to take.
“I’m proud of the girls. We’ve had a tough schedule and to get this win, it lifts the spirits of the girls. It was a good team win”
Two free throws by Lyndsay Hatfield with 3:07 left in the game were PikeView’s first points of the quarter.
Wynes made it a three-point margin once again with a drive, but it was all the closer Summers County would get.
Lyndsay Hatfield made one of two free throws then Taylor could only convert one of her two attempts as the Bobcats could not get a good look in the final seconds of the game.
Pivont led Summers County with 16 points. Wynes had 12 and Taylor finished with nine.
Nester paced Lyndsay Hatfield’s performance with 15 points before sitting out the end of the fourth quarter after her knee brace broke.
PikeView hosts Nicholas County on Tuesday while Summers County welcomes Westside to Hinton on Saturday.

At PikeView High School
SUMMERS COUNTY (11-4)
Avery Pivont 16, Abby Taylor 9, Emily Smith 2, Tyra Wynes 12, Brittany Bonds 2, Breenah Davis 2. Totals- 16 8-19 43.
PIKEVIEW (7-6)
Laura Hill 2, Hope Nester 15, Madison May 4, Lauryn Hatfield 2, Alexis May 2, Lyndsay Hatfield 18, Courtney White 2. Totals- 18 10-19 46.
Summers County...........13 13 4 9 – 43
PikeView.......................13 17 13 3 – 46
3 pt field goals: SC 3 (Pivont 3); PV none. Fouled out- Wynes.