The boys Class 4 State semifinal Friday night between Tuscarora and Western Albermarle was tied at 36 heading into the fourth quarter.
With their season on the line, the Huskies put the ball in the hands of their 1st team All-District forward Gavin O’Malley, who scored five consecutive points in the post. O’Malley’s burst would start a 12-3 run that would help the Huskies secure a 55-45 win over the Warriors.
“You saw Gavin (O’Malley) get the basketball, and he was able to stretch it to that five-point difference,” Tuscarora head coach Michael Newkirk said. “At that point we had gotten their bigs in foul trouble, so it was about matchups and we liked our matchups. Gavin is a huge focal point in everything that we do, and he showed up.”
O’Malley praised the Huskies ability to work together as a unit, and also the preparation that the coaches had done leading up to the game.
“It all came together when we started talking and working together,” O’Malley said. “We had a full week of practice to get to know this team inside and out. We were able to execute inside and out. We work together very well. It’s a family.”
The Huskies (24-4) had contributions across the board as they had four players in double digits, but they were led by senior forward TJ Duggan and O’Malley. Duggan posted 15 points and three rebounds, while O’Malley had 14 points and six rebounds.The Warriors were led by junior guard Wesley Gobble, who recorded 16 points and two blocks.
Duggan opened the game with a three-pointer after a dish from junior guard Payton Williams (seven assists). The game was closely contested from the start as both teams had early 6-0 runs, but the Huskies had a slight 16-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
“Offensively we wanted to spread them out, and bring their bigs away from the bucket,” Coach Newkirk said. “That way our guards could attack going downhill, and for the most part I thought we were able to do that. Our guards collapsed and we had wide open threes in one of the best shooters in the area in TJ [Duggan]”
Western Albermarle (23-5) had three players over 6’6″ and the Warriors used their height to stay in the game as they scored most of their points in the second quarter off second chance points. The Huskies led 28-25 heading into the second half.
“Defensively they got some big boys down low so we wanted to double,” Coach Newkirk said. “Second half that’s when it started opening up a bit, so we sent the double from the weak side guard.”
During the third quarter the Warriors made an emphasis to attack the basket at all costs, and their aggression paid off as they were able to tie the game heading into the final quarter. However, O’Malley’s clinic in the post provided a big spark to start the fourth.
Gobble responded with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, but Tuscarora also responded when Duggan dished a pass to senior forward Michael Davis, who dunked the ball and sent the crowd to their feet. Then Williams again connected with Duggan for a corner three-pointer that would ultimately clinch the Huskies win.
Coach Newkirk commended his team’s chemistry and willingness to learn.
“They’re a true brotherhood, they do everything together,” Coach Newkirk said. “They hold each other accountable. They have really embodied the principles of teamwork – they are one unit, they are one heartbeat. Nothing can break them apart. I run them up and down the floor and put them in a lot of different situations and they get tighter and tighter as a unit.”
Tuscarora will play E.C. Glass in the Class 4 semifinals.
–TJ Davis
@TTown316