The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • Shady Spring’s Chase Connor, left, attempts to drive past Westside’s Levi Lambert during their game Tuesday night in Shady Spring. Westside prevailed despite a 25-point effort from all-stater Connor. Rick Barbero

    021313 Shady
February 13, 2013

Red-hot Renegades defeat Shady 88-59

By J. Daniel Rollins Register-Herald Sports Writer

SHADY SPRING — Are the Westside Renegades better than the No. 6 team in the state?

“I think so. Yeah,” Westside coach Nick Cook said. “I’m going to be honest with you. Yeah. The way we’re playing right now I’m not sure there are five teams out there better than us.”

While Cook was making his case in the locker room, his team made their case on the court, defeating AAA Shady Spring 88-59 on Tuesday night. It was their sixth straight victory and their fifth in the last seven days.

“I’m feeling good about this team right now,” Cook said. “They’re starting to feel good about themselves. There’s a difference between arrogant and confident. I want them to be confident, not arrogant.”

Westside held Shady Spring’s all-time leading scorer Chase Connor to 25 points, allowing him only 3 points from beyond the arc.

“They’re a very quality team. They played well,” Shady Spring coach Steve Clark said. “Hats off to Westside.”

The Renegades led the game from the very first tip, going on an 8-0 run behind a pair of Levi Lambert 3-pointers to help set the momentum for the game.

“I don’t know, it was a weird game. A lot of runs,” Cook said. “Our defense stepped up in the 2nd half and forced them out of the high scree and roll with Connor. We got the ball out in transition and got a lot of baskets.”

Westside was led in scoring by the junior guard Corey Bowles who had 31 points. Justin Cogar had a 12 point, 18 rebound double-double.

“Corey Bowles is starting to show up on a lot of teams radar,” Cook said. “It’s something I’ve known for a long time. The reason he is, is because everyone is doing their job.”

Westside is playing its best basketball of the season at the best possible time, coming back from an 6-5 record to win 9 over their last 10 games.

Chemistry is at an all-time high with this team,” Cook said. “There’s such balance. Any given night anyone can come out and get ya. Levi does his thing. Corey (Bowles) does his thing. Cogar does his thing. (Justin) Kenneda does his thing. Will Fox is getting better and better. My whole entire team is coming together.”

Fox, who recently returned from injury, helped ignite the Renegades with 16 points off the bench.

The Renegades will wrap up their regular season next Monday when they welcome Liberty for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

“We’ve got a week to prepare for them,” Cook said. “I’m going to give them the day off tomorrow. They deserve it.”

Shady Spring will play at Oak Hill on Thursday.

— E-mail: jrollins@register-herald.com, and follow on Twitter @JDanielRollins



Westside (15-6)

Larry Cook 0 0-0 0, Will Fox 7 0-0 16, Jordan Browning 1 0-0 2, Corey Bowles 11 4-6 31, Hunter Walker 1 1-2 3, Scott Jenkins 0 0-0 0, Bryce Robinson 0 0-0 0, Justin Kenneda 2 0-0 4, Levi Lambert 6 0-0 14, Jason Scarlett 2 0-2 4, Justin Cogar 3 6-7 12, Chance Gilley 0 0-0 0, Matt Harless 1 0-0 2. Totals: 34 11-17 88.

Shady Spring (10-8)

Chase Connor 8 6-6 25, Drew Green 0 0-0 0, Steven Chhabra 2 0-0 4, Jordan Meadows 1 0-0 2, Josh Snyder 0 0-0 0, Tyler Bonds 3 1-2 7, Justin Harper 0 0-0 0, Corey Snyder 2 0-0 4, Nate Williams 1 0-0 3, Landon Perry 0 0-0 0, Jacob Buckland 3 0-0 6, Juwan Rowe 2 2-2 6, Matt Plumley 1 0-2. Totals: 23 9-11 59.

W    19    27    22    20    —    88

SS    14    18    14    8    —    59

3-point goals — W: 9 (Bowles 5, Fox 2, Lambert 2); SS: 4 (Connor 3, Williams). Fouled out — None.

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