Through its run of seven Big Atlantic/Coal Classic titles, Wyoming East has always had a big player step up in a big moment.

Add Marcus Schofield to that list.

Saddled with foul trouble and limited to three minutes of playing time in the first half, the senior had big play after big play in the fourth quarter as Class AA No. 4 Wyoming East knocked off No. 2 Tug Valley 53-50 in the BAC Class AA championship game Saturday at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

Schofield, scoreless in the first half, scored the Warriors’ last eight points, including the go-ahead basket on a turnaround basket in the paint with 1:05 left and then nailed two free throws with 21.2 seconds left, forcing Tug to go for a 3 to tie.

The Panthers got a couple of looks, but both rimmed out.

He also took a charge with 1:23 left with the Warriors down one, which set up his go-ahead basket.

Then he grabbed a rebound despite being surrounded by Panthers that set up his game-clinching free throws.

“I’ve been on some of the previous teams here and we had some great players make big plays in this tournament, and I wanted to be remembered like that,” Schofield said.

“He took over the game,” Tug Valley coach Garland Thompson said. “I take the blame for that. I should have fronted the post. He just got the ball down there and took over. I give them a lot of credit. They came to play and they have a great team. Schofield was big for them.”

On both ends.

“We were down one and he takes a charge with four fouls,” Wyoming East coach Rory Chapman said. “That says a lot about him.”

“I was a little hesitant to do it, but I figured I had four fouls and if I was going to go out, I might as well take a chance and try to give my team a chance,” Schofield said.

Tug Valley fought back from an early 23-9 deficit and used a 16-7 run late in the first half to cut the Warriors’ lead to 30-26 at the break.

The Panthers finally caught the Warriors at 41-41 on a basket by Mason Pack.

It was tied at 43 and 45 before Aaron Muncy hit a 3 to give Tug Valley its first lead since early in the game, 48-47.

A basket by Chuckie White extended the lead to 50-47, but Schofield scored on a drive to the basket with 1:18 left to set up the end.

Schofield drew a charge in the lane and, after giving Wyoming East the lead, grabbed the rebound between a host of Panthers with 21.3 seconds left.

“I wasn’t able to get into the flow of the game early,” Schofield said of his foul trouble. “I would just get a sweat going and pick up a foul. It’s nerve-wracking knowing you can’t do anything to help your team from the bench.”

His teammates picked him up, though.

Up four, 13-9, East used a 10-0 run, including back-to-back 3s from Luke Campbell and Austin Canada, to end the first and a basket by Taylor Smith inside, followed by a steal and lay-in from Campbell.

Tug then went on its own run to get the margin back to four at the half.

Both teams shot well in the first half, with the Warriors hitting 12 of 24 shots (50 percent) and Tug Valley hitting on 10 of 18 (55.6 percent).

Schofield, who played just 16 minutes, including all of the fourth quarter with four fouls, led the Warriors with 11. Canada and Taylor Smith had 10 each.

Campbell had nine points and handed out eight assists.

But it was his defensive play on Tug Valley’s Mikey Newsome that was even more key, Chapman said.

“His play on Newsome was huge. The kid came into the game averaging 20 points a game and he had two,” Chapman said.

Muncy had 12 to lead Tug Valley and Pack and Aaron Brewer had 10 each.

“It’s a big win for us,” Chapman said. “If we lose this game, you don’t know what way the season is going to go. We have a lot of big games left. Shady Spring, Westside, South Charleston, Bluefield, Oak Hill. It was big for us to get this win.”

Tug Valley was coming off a physical win over Westside Friday night.

“I’m not going to make excuses,” Thompson said. “I thought Wyoming East came to play and they played well.”

The Warriors (11-4) are at Shady Spring Tuesday.



Wyoming East 53, Tug Valley 50

Tug Valley

Jordan Colegrove 2-2 0-0 4, Mason Pack 2-4 5-6 10, Aaron Muncy 5-7 1-2 12, Mikey Newsome 0-5 2-2 2, Austin Brewer 4-8 2-2 10, Richmond Vance 2-3 0-0 4, Chuckie White 3-8 2-2 8. Totals: 18-37 12-14 50.

Wyoming East (11-4)

Austin Canada 4-9 0-0 10, Luke Campbell 4-12 0-0 9, Marcus Schofield 3-8 5-6 11, Josh Tunstalle 2-3 2-2 6, Taylor Smith 5-7 0-0 10, Travis McKinney 1-2 0-0 3, Christian Hedinger 0-0 0-0 0, Kyle Smith 1-3 0-0 2, Brett Bowling 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 21-45 7-8 53.

TV    9    17    9    15    —    50

WE    19    11    9    14    —    53

Three-pointers — TV: 2-10 (Pack 1-1, Muncy 1-2, Newsome 0-5, White 0-2); WE: 4-11 (Canada 2-3, Campbell 1-4, Tunstalle 0-1, McKinney 1-2, K. Smith 0-1). Rebounds — TV: 23 (Pack 6); WE: 21 (T. Smith 5). Assists — TV: 12 (Muncy 5); WE: 11 (Campbell 8). Fouled out — none.