https://wvmetronews.com/2025/02/23/williamstown-pulls-away-from-doddridge-county-to-win-lkc-66-49/

 

GLENVILLE, W.Va. — Williamstown struggled to generate rhythm offensively throughout much of the first half of Saturday’s Little Kanawha Conference Championship against Doddridge County at the Waco Center on the campus of Glenville State.

Still, thanks to a strong start and some solid defense, the Yellowjackets were in front by four points at halftime.

Although the Bulldogs battled back to take the lead a few minutes into the second half, Williamstown made five three-pointers over the final 4:30 of the third quarter, which it ended on a 9-0 run to create separation in what amounted to a 66-49 victory.

“We told our guys at halftime that we played that bad in the first half, but we shot the ball atrocious and not just from three, but inside the line as well,” Williamstown head coach Scott Sauro said. “You have to credit Doddridge for a lot of that. They’re big and athletic and it took us a half to adjust to their size and athleticism, but to our kids’ credit, they came out in the second half and really played with a lot of confidence.”

The result gives the Yellowjackets (16-3) a 12th straight victory in what was their first matchup this season against the Bulldogs (18-3).

“Our kids are playing with a lot of confidence,” Sauro said.

The Bulldogs got the game’s first basket from Will Adams to lead 2-0, but then encountered a lengthy drought for much of what remained of the first quarter.

During that time, WHS ran off 13 consecutive points, a stretch that included three-pointers from Parker Schramm and Wyatt Powell and a conventional three-point play from Schramm.

After limiting the Bulldogs to 3-of-11 shooting and forcing five turnovers in the opening frame, Williamstown led, 17-6.

But DCHS came out recharged to start the second quarter, and center Jaden Solomon accounted for consecutive second-chance buckets early in the period, and he scored on another follow-up 3:10 before halftime to trim the Williamstown advantage to 21-16.

Solomon scored in the paint again late in the half to bring Doddridge to within 25-21 at halftime.

Through two quarters, Solomon had eight points and 10 rebounds to pace Doddridge, which held Williamstown to 8-for-26 shooting through 16 minutes.

“Great effort, good positioning and he made quick moves and quick decisions with the basketball,” Bulldogs’ head coach Paul Burnside said of Solomon. 

The Bulldogs’ solid second quarter translated to the start of the third as they ran off six straight points to the start the second half, utilizing consecutive baskets from Joshua DeHaven and a Jerod Trent bucket to gain a 27-25 lead for its first advantage since 2-0.

Unfortunately for Burnside’s team, that proved to be the last lead.

Cruz Isaly countered with a layup to tie it, before teammate Jayden Bryant drilled his first of four threes in the second half.

The Yellowjacket lead was 35-33 late in the third before Bryant accounted for separate triples in a 30-second stretch. Just before the third-quarter buzzer sounded, Isaly canned a deep trey from off the wing just in front of his team’s bench, allowing Williamstown to enter the fourth in front, 44-33.

“We have a senior-laden team. They’ve been in a lot of big games,” Sauro said. “They’ve been behind in a lot of big games and come back to win, so for us to be in a four-point game at halftime is kind of old hat to these guys. Credit to our guys for not panicking and trusting each other, trusting what we do and we knew eventually some shots would fall for us.”

Doddridge got to within nine on three occasions in the fourth, but no closer.

Bryant’s fourth and final three came with 5:45 remaining and allowed his tam to lead 53-39.

“In the second half, we took the lead and then they started hitting some threes that swung the momentum back in their favor,” Burnside said. “Even in the fourth quarter, about midway through it was still a single-digit game and they pulled away. I’m proud of the effort. We just didn’t execute well enough tonight.”

Lynken Joy, who scored 10 of his 11 points after halftime, accounted for eight in the fourth to help the Yellowjackets maintain their distance.

Williamstown made 14-of-22 shots after halftime, outscored DCHS 27-3 from long range and was plus-11 in points on free throws while attempting 18 to the Bulldogs’ four.

Bryant scored 16 of his game-high 18 points after halftime and made 6-of-11 shots to go with six rebounds in the victory.

Isaly added 17 points and made half of his 10 field-goal attempts, while contributing five rebounds and five assists. He was especially effective operating in high post against the Bulldogs’ zone defense throughout the second half, and often found teammates for high-percentage looks, as evidenced by Joy shooting 5 for 5 in his strong showing.

Schramm added 12 points in the win to make it four double-figure scorers.

“They’re tough and when you come up and pressure to keep them from shooting the three, they’re good at putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim and finding guys behind the defense,” Burnside said. “It’s tough to prepare for and tough to defend.”

Solomon had a standout showing in defeat, making 8-of-12 shots to score 16 points. He also led all players with 13 rebounds, helping Doddridge win the rebounding battle, 32-27.

The Bulldogs’ Heston Hayes scored 10 off the bench.