NEW RICHMOND — In a battle of Class AA heavyweight titans, Bluefield’s Lykel Collier had a couple more punches than Wyoming East.

The sophomore had two clutch 3-point plays as No. 1 Bluefield overcame a 5-point deficit with 42 seconds left to down the No. 2 Warriors 90-89 Tuesday night at the War Zone.

The Warriors had Bluefield (21-1) on the ropes after Taylor Smith converted a 3-point play of his own and Luke Campbell, who had been huge in bringing the Warriors back from their own deficit, made two free throws to give East an 87-82 lead with 42.4 seconds left.

That’s when Collier, a sophomore, responded.

The lightning-quick guard drove by the Warriors’ defense to get the basket and free throw.

After a pair of missed free throws by East, Collier did it again, this time giving the Beavers the lead with 21.1 seconds left.

K.J. Manns blocked Marcus Schofield’s shot inside and Michael Yost made two free throws with 6.7 left.

A 3-pointer for the tie missed and Brett Bowling had no choice but to lay it in, as Bluefield escaped with the win.

“Tremendous comeback,” a relieved Bluefield coach Buster Large said. “When you come into this place, with all the tradition, with the place packed and the fans all over you, and you get a win, it’s huge. This is probably our biggest win here in the four years I’ve been (at Bluefield).”

It was Wyoming East’s first loss at home to a Class AA squad since February 2007.

“It’s disappointing because we could have won this game,” Wyoming East coach Rory Chapman said. “In the fourth quarter, you’ve got to make free throws. We played well. Our guys made big plays, Luke, Taylor and Scho (Schofield). But you have to give Bluefield credit. They went after the game at the end and they got it.”

Namely Collier, who had 30 points.

“He put us on his back at the end,” Large said. “He responded all night long. I thought all our kids responded. Down five with 42 seconds, we just told them we needed a basket and then let things happen. We needed a missed free throw and we got it. You just never know.”

Collier had 17 points in the fourth quarter.

“That’s his game and we knew that,” Chapman said. “He can drive to the basket. He’s cat-quick and he’s a great little player.”

Wyoming East was down eight early in the fourth but mounted its own comeback.

Luke Campbell had back-to-back 3s from the baseline, from nearly the same spot, to give East its first lead since early in the second quarter. Campbell had 14 of his career-high 27 in the fourth.

But Anthony Eades, who had 28, hit a 30-foot 3 to give Bluefield back the lead moments later.

Bluefield tied the score at 82-82 on a drive by Collier, but that’s when Smith and Campbell gave East the 5-point lead.

Wyoming East shot out of the gate early, going up 14-6, and led 23-21 after one.

But Bluefield ran off 15 straight points to start the second and led 36-23.

Wyoming East chipped away at that lead and cut it to 48-43 at the half.

“I’m proud of our kids,” Large said. “When we got down five late we could have quit but we kept fighting.”

D.J. Edwards had 14 for Bluefield and Michael Yost 10.

Wyoming East (15-5) got 17 from sophomore Josh Tunstalle, 16 from Smith and 10 each from Austin Canada and Schofield.

Wyoming East had little time to get over the loss, with Class AAA No. 2 South Charleston coming to town tonight for a 7:30 p.m. game.



Bluefield 90, Wyoming East 89

Bluefield (21-1)

K. J. Manns 2 1-1 5, Harley Trimble 1 1-2 3, Lykel Collier 9 11-12 30, Michael Yost 3 2-2 10, Anthony Eades 12 0-0 28, D.J. Edwards 5 4-6 14. Totals: 32 19-23 90.

Wyoming East (15-5)

Austin Canada 3 2-2 10, Luke Campbell 8 5-6 27, Marcus Schofield 5 0-2 10, Travis McKinney 1 0-0 3, Josh Tunstalle 5 4-5 17, Kyle Smith 2 0-1 4, Brett Bowling 1 0-0 2, Taylor Smith 7 2-5 16. Totals: 32 13-21 89.

B    21    27    19    23    —    90

WE    23    20    17    29    —    89

Three-point goals — B: 7 (Collier, Yost 2, Eades 4); WE: 12 (Canada 2, Campbell 6, McKinney, Tunstalle 3); Fouled out — B: Trimble, Edwards; WE: Canada, Tunstalle.