Paden City’s Wildcats placed second overall in the Sectional tournament held last week at Magnolia High School. The ‘Cats will begin Regional play on Wednesday at Wheeling Central.

The Paden City Wildcats remain one of two teams still standing after the Section II tournaments held last week in Paden City and New Martinsville. The ‘Cats and the Cee-Bee’s of Clay-Battelle will head to Regionals this week, each hoping to get at least one win, which will send their team to the state tournament.

Seeded second overall in the tournament, Paden City began their post-season play on March 4 on the court at Magnolia High School going up against the Warriors of Morgantown Trinity.

As soon as the game began, it was all Paden City, all the time with the hot hands of junior Zach Heasley leading the way. Holding the surprised Warriors to only 16 points in the first half while chalking up 32 on the Green and White side of the scoreboard, the ‘Cats had the game well in hand by the time Trinity mounted their own scoring tangent in the fourth period. Paden City easily coasted to the win, 69-52 and moved on to the Sectional championships against the winner of the St. Marys Clay-Battelle game.

Heasley had a very nice game with 24 points, seven rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block. Junior Kennedy Cain double/doubled on the night with 18 points and 14 rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot. Sophomore Luke Cooper also double/doubled in the contest scoring 15 points and bringing down 11 rebounds as well as being credited with one assist, three steals, and a blocked shot. Junior Craig Allen contributed eight points, had three rebounds and three assists; freshman Hayden Hizer put up three points, had four rebounds, seven assists; Sophomore Deven Price scored one point; and freshman Aaron Heasley brought down a rebound.

On March 7 at Magnolia against Clay-Battelle, the Wildcats could not have had a more different game, or more unsettling outcome.

Fresh from their nail biting overtime win over St. Marys, Clay-Battelle (19-5) was determined to bring their “A” game as they faced off with the ‘Cats for the Section II title.

Shooting with surety, the Cee-Bee’s quickly took control of the game, holding the ‘Cats to two lone points in the first period and 11 in the second to take the 40-13 lead at the half. Though Paden City battled valiantly in the second half, they were unable to overcome the deficit, taking second place in the tournament behind the Cee-Bee’s, 79-48.

Cain led all Paden City scorers in the game with 25 points, four rebounds, one assist, and three steals. Hizer contributed 10 points, pulled down six rebounds, had three assists and three steals; Cooper, six points, one rebound, one steal, and a block; Heasley, three points, four rebounds, five assists; Allen, two points, two rebounds, three assists, one steal; Price, two points, one rebound, one assist; and Aaron Heasley, one rebound, one assist.

The Wildcats will continue their post-season play this week as they strive to take their game to Charleston by getting at win at the Regional game. The Wildcats will take on the Maroon Knights of Wheeling Central, at Central on March 12 at 7 p.m.

The winner of that game and the winner of the game between Clay-Battelle and Bishop Donahue will go on to the state tournament in Charleston to be held next week.