The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

High School Sports

Related Photos

  • Webster County’s Drew Green, left, guards Liberty’s Tre McDowell, right, during Wednesday’s game at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. F. Brian Ferguson

    020713 liberty
February 6, 2013

Liberty downs No. 8 Webster County

By J. Daniel Rollins Register-Herald Sports Writer

BECKLEY — The Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center has hosted many battles over the years, from pro wrestling to boxing. Wednesday night’s battle between Liberty and Webster County may have left just as many people black and blue.

Liberty (10-5) and No. 8 Webster County (11-3) did battle in a physical contest, but in the end it was the Raiders who were victorious, 75-58.

“That’s what we need. That’s what we’re going to see when we get into the sectionals. We’re going to see teams like this and physical like this,” Liberty coach Aaron Pauley said.

“It was a physical game, the refs let us play, and I like that way better than just calling ticky-tacky fouls,” Liberty’s 6-foot-10 Levi Cook said. Cook had 19 points and 14 rebounds on the night.

“I didn’t really score a lot tonight, they triple-teamed me. I played a quarterback role and helped direct passes. When someone’s hot, you’ve got to get them the ball,” Cook said.

One of those hot players was Matt Klucarich, who came off the bench with 16 points.

“That was big, coming off the bench, playing like that. He was hittin’, and whenever Levi is getting pushed around we’ve got to have our guards step up,” Pauley said.

“We just did a good job finding the open man, I got good open looks. Some nights I’m feeling it and some nights not so much. I was feeling it tonight,” Klucarich said.

Klucarich knocked down a pair of 3-pointers that helped the Raiders open up the score, and hit four big free throws down the stretch to help protect the lead and ultimately lead the Raiders to the victory.

Webster County’s Brett Morris led the Highlanders with 28 points.

Pauley feels his team is in the right place with the sectional tournament starting up soon and felt playing at the BRCCC helped his team prepare.

“We want to get a game here every year,” Pauley said. “Unfortunately we don’t play in the Big Atlantic Classic or any other game at the Armory, so we wanted to come in here and play.  You don’t want to come in here and play a team you’re going to beat by 30, but play a good team. That’s exactly what Webster County is.”

The Raiders won’t have too much time to heal their bruises. They’ll travel to Summers County tonight and will play at Webster County on Saturday.

“It’s going to be a rough one, man,” Pauley said.



Webster County (11-3)

Guy Cowger 0 0-0 0, Robbie Cogar 0 0-0 0, Dalton Davis 7 0-0 14, Jake Thayer 1 0-0 2, Drew Green 0 0-0 0, Brett Morris 10 6-8 28, Hunter Given 3 0-0 8, Tyler Anderson 0 0-0 0, Logan Taylor 0 0-0 0, Ricky Holcomb 0 0-0 0, Stephan Cogar 0 0-0 6. Totals: 24 6-8 58.

Liberty (10-5)

Austin Lyons 5 0-0 13, Michael Prater 2 4-7 10, Levi Cook 7 5-10 19, Trevor Maghee 7 0-3 14, Tre McDowell 0 0-0 0, Matt Klucarich 5 4-4 16, Devin Acord 0 0-0 0, Jaylen McDowell 0 0-0 0, Chris Kincaid 0 0-0 0, Jacob Stump 0 0-0 0, Timmy Drafton 0 0-0 0, Zack Eplin 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27 13-24 75.

W    11    11    21    15    —    58

L    19    15    16    25    —    75

3-point goals — W: 4 (Morris 2, Given 2); L: 8 (Lyons 3, Prater 2, Klucraich 2, Acord). Fouled out — W: Cogar L: McDowell.



E-mail: jrollins

@register-herald.com and

follow on Twitter

@JDanielRollins.

For team coverag

e check us out online at

www.register-herald.com and look for the "In The Paint" link. ⠢

Text Only
High School Sports
  • rakes Eagles get 2nd shot at Tigers

    The road to the Class AAA state championship for Princeton last year went through Beckley. A repeat would require the same stop, but Woodrow Wilson is looking to put up more resistance this time around.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • clifton Clifton wins prestigious Ohio tournament

    From now on, maybe Cody Clifton should pay absolutely zero attention to who’s who in West Virginia high school wrestling.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • edwards Same result, different meanings for rivals

    Second place had entirely different meanings for two local track and field standouts Saturday in Charleston.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • 051913 EmilySmith.jpg First the title, then the prom

    The prom could wait.

    May 19, 2013 3 Photos

  • Coleman's bunt lifts Valley

    Limited offensively this season because of a hand injury, Todd Coleman took advantage of an opportunity Saturday afternoon.

    May 19, 2013

  • syvertson Houstin? No problem

    Houstin Syvertson is a man of many names.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • princeton Princeton win marred by controversy

    Locked in a 1-1 tie with Greenbrier East in the Class Region 3, Section 2 baseball final Friday night at Spartan Ballpark, Princeton was looking for a spark to overcome the Spartans’ home field advantage.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • State track meet

    May 18, 2013

  • 051713 Woodrow.jpg After early scare, Woodrow advances

    Give first year Red Devils coach Chad Quesenberry a lot of credit. After opening up the sectional series with a loss to Shady Spring over a week ago, his Oak Hill squad would have to win three straight in order to advance to next week’s regional semifinals.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Wickline fires one-hitter; Mavericks move on to states

    Putting their nervousness behind them, the James Monroe Lady Mavericks earned their first state playoff berth in softball in 16 years with a 6-2 victory over Westside Thursday evening in the Class AA, Region 3 title game in Lindside.

    May 17, 2013