Tolson to Ritchie at horn to propel Wolves over Tigers 65-63
CAMPTON – December 13, 2021 – Brendon D. Miller
“Just two great teams shooting the lights out”, that his how I described this one in the fourth quarter to a fan at courtside, and what a showcase of Mountain High School Basketball it was in Rose Gymnasium on Monday Night. Paintsville grabbed an early advantage and led throughout the first three quarters, but Wolfe battled back to eventually take the lead in a back and forth fourth quarter to set up the dramatic ending. With the score tied at 63 with :05 on the clock, Wilgus Tolson took the inbounds and drove the length of the court, and dished to a cutting Skylar Ritchie who laid it in at the buzzer for the win as the Wolves and their fans celebrated on the court.
The Game was streamed LIVE on BSN:
This was a quick return game as the two regional powers opened the season on December 1st, with Paintsville handling the Wolves 72-47 defeat in Paintsville. The Tigers are defending 15th Region Champions, and are again favorites to repeat, while Wolfe will again vie for the 14th Region crown.
Wolfe County’s Sawyer Thompson knocked down jumper after jumper down the stretch to lead all scorers with 26, while the oustanding duo of Connor and Colby Fugate slashed and knocked down jumpers for 20 and 19. The entire game had a regional final feel with intensity from the jump.
1st QUARTER
Connor Fugate led the Tigers with six on the quarter while Jase Kinner added four. Wilgus Tolson was the offense for the Wolves with a 3-pointer and all seven of his points for the game. End of the first, Paintsville led 14-11.
2nd QUARTER
The Tigers scored 25 in the quarter with Colby Fugate scoring bucket after bucket with 10. Connor Fugate hit his 2nd 3-pointers of the game and had eight. The Wolves scored almost exclusively from behind the arc hitting five 3-pointers for 15 of their 21 in the period with Elijah Tolson hitting three and totalling 11. Thompson hit his first two bombs of the night. At the half, Paintsville was in front by seven, 39-32.
3rd QUARTER
The teams played to a 14-14 stalemate in the period. Baron Ratliff hit a 3-pointer and had five for the Tigers. Thompson hit his third 3-pointer and had seven for the Wolves. Headed to the fourth, Paintsville again led by seven, 53-46.
4th QUARTER
Paintsville was held to two field goals in the quarter, as Colby Fugate hit a 3-pointer and had five. The Tigers were five of seven at the line. Thompson hit his fourth, fifth and sixth 3-pointers on the night to add eleven for his game-high 26, and set up Tolson and Ritchie for the game-winning heroics.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
| WOLFE COUNTY | 11 | 21 | 14 | 19 | 65 |
| PAINTSVILLE | 14 | 25 | 14 | 10 | 63 |
Individual Scoring:
WOLFE COUNTY: Sawyer Thompson 26; Elijah Tolson 16; Skylar Ritchie 10; Wilgus Tolson 7; Andrew Mayabb 6.
PAINTSVILLE: Connor Fugate 20; Colby Fugate 19; Braxton Tharp 10; Baron Ratliff 8; Jase Kinner 4; A.J. James 2.
Next:
Wolfe County hosts Jackson City in a 55th District matchup on Wednesday Night.