ELKINS - Paris entered the 3A Region 1 Tournament in search of a better brand of basketball.
After three games in three days, the Lady Eagles left Elkins with that and more.
Paris (27-6) overcame a slow start in the opening minutes, then capped the program’s first regional championship with a furious push in the second and third quarters in a 47-41 victory over West Fork.
The Lady Eagles earnedthe No. 1 seed from Region 1 and will face Manilla at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the first round of the Class 3A Tournament at Charleston.
“We played very well here at Elkins after I didn’t think we played that well down at Lamar in districts,” Paris Coach Toby Tevebaugh said. “West Fork played multiple defenses against us, and I thought we handled it well.”
After hitting 2 of 12 three-pointers in the firsthalf, the Lady Eagles opened the third quarter by knocking down their first 3 three-point attempts. Morgan Highfield led Paris with a game-high 16.
West Fork (14-11) could never fully recover from poor shooting in the second and third quarters. The Lady Tigers were 1 of 10 from the field in the second quarter, then made just two more field goals in the third as Paris built a 39-21 lead.
Despite trailing by 19, West Fork clawed back to within single digits in the closing minutes behind a late threepoint barrage.
Christa Huber added nine points for Paris, while Oliva Karnes led the Lady Tigers with 13.
BOYS CHARLESTON 55, WEST FORK 45
Patience paid off for Charleston on Saturday night, and the reward was a 3A Region 1 Tournament championship.
West Fork (18-12) built an early 11-point lead, but Charleston used its strength inside to wear down West Fork.
Matthew Ward also finished with 22 for Charleston and Andrew Smith, Charleston’s 6-7 junior center, scored 17 points.
Cody Roebke led West Fork with 13.
Sports, Pages 23 on 03/02/2014