Wolverines dominate inside for region title
NORFOLK — Woodside used its size and quickness to pull away from Maury in the second half Friday night as the Wolverines beat the Commodores 53-37 at Norfolk State’s Echols Hall to win the Class 5 Region B title.
It was the Wolverines’ second consecutive title as they also beat Maury in the final last season.
Woodside (25-1) got it started early with 6-foot-9 junior center Silas Barksdale, who scored 10 of his game-high 14 points in the first quarter to help give the Wolverines a 16-11 lead.
“I feel like I can take over the paint,” said Barksdale, who also had 12 rebounds. “Coming into the game, I had a lot of energy.”
Maury kept it close in the second quarter thanks to Tyler Bell, who scored six of his nine points in the period, including a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to cut the deficit to 24-21 at halftime.
Maury (20-5) got the deficit down to one with 7:02 left in the third quarter, but then the Wolverines pulled away.
They used a 14-4 run to build an 11-point lead. Then they went on an 11-0 run at the end of the third and carried it into the fourth quarter to put the game away.
Guards Travis Hamilton and Masiah Wells-Stevens helped with that as they finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
In all, Woodside outscored the Commodores 32-18 in the paint.
“That was the key,” Wells-Stevens said. “Just drive to the basket and kick it.”
The Wolverines will host Kempsville in the state quarterfinals Tuesday.
Maury, which was led by Jayvion Green’s 10 points, will travel to Green Run, which beat Kempsville 59-43 to win its second consecutive region title and fourth in five seasons.
Woodside is focused on another state title.
“We just have to keep working hard,” Wells-Stevens said.
Added Barksdale: “It feels good, it’s a great experience and we’re making history.”