Mustangs battle close in district quarterfinal loss

Going on the road to play in their Division VI SE District Quarterfinal game, the No. 12 seeded Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs played close with the Portsmouth West Senators for all four quarters, but came up just short on the scoreboard, falling by a 52-48 score Friday at PWHS. 

Portsmouth West (12-11), the No. 5 seed, led 21-20 after the first quarter as the Mustangs — who were without leading scorer Denver Clinton — began the game with a 3-pointer by Elam Faust, who finished with a game- and career-high 29 points. Faust totaled five 3-pointers for the game, while he also had six two-point buckets and he was 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. 

After a basket by the Senators, Cody Bell sank a 3-pointer for LCHS for a 6-2 Mustangs lead. PWHS came back with four straight points, tying the score at 6-6, and after they took the lead, LCHS answered with a basket by Faust for an 8-8 score. 

With 4:07 left in the first, Faust drained a 3-pointer for an 11-8 Mustangs advantage. Later, the score was tied at 11-11, then LCHS tied the score at 13-13 with a basket in the paint by Quinn Wells with 1:50 left in the quarter. 

The two teams continued to battle as Faust put LCHS back in front, but PWHS scored five consecutive points to regain the lead at 18-15. 

With 37 seconds left in the first, Trevor Niehaus — who totaled 10 points — sank a 3-pointer for the Mustangs, tying the score at 18. Two free throws made by Faust pushed the Mustangs in front at 20-18. At the buzzer to end the first, PWHS made a 3-pointer for the one-point lead at 21-20. 

Lynchburg-Clay trailed by two points at halftime by a 32-30 score as the Senators led the frame at 11-10. 

The Mustangs in the second had two points from Braedon West, three points from Niehaus and five points scored by Faust. 

The third frame was tough offensively for LCHS, as they were outscored 10-5, trailing 42-35 after three quarters. The five-point third frame saw Faust score all five points with a 3-pointer and two-point basket. 

LCHS won the final frame at 13-10. The 13 points were scored by Faust with seven, Niehaus with four and West with two. 

“I’m incredibly proud of this group. They’ve battled adversity all year long and continued to answer the bell,” LCHS head coach Kyle Pertuset said. “That includes tonight, even though it wasn’t the result we were hoping for. 

“It’s time to take a collective breath, hold your head high, walk with your chest out. For our underclassmen, it is time put in the work this offseason to reach higher. 

“Our seniors, their hard work and perseverance is appreciated. The approach they brought will lead to winning in ‘the real world.’ We can’t thank them enough for what they brought the program.” 

Other final scoring totals for LCHS included West (4), Bell (3) and Wells (2). Team totals for LCHS were 12 two-pointers, seven 3-pointers, and they went 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. 

The Mustangs also totaled 20 rebounds, 11 assists and three steals. Bell, Asher Faust, Elam Faust and Niehaus each led with four rebounds. West led LCHS with six assists. Asher Faust, Niehaus and West each finished with one steal. 

Will Kegley led PWHS with 17 points. The Senators finished with 14 two-point baskets, five 3-pointers and were 9-of-14 from the free-throw line. 

The Mustangs end the 2024-25 season at 9-14 overall. 

PWHS will play next in the district semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25 vs. No. 4 seeded Valley at 8:30 p.m. at Jackson High School. 

BOX SCORE
LCHS        20 10 05 13 — 48
PWHS    21 11 10 10 — 52 

PORTSMOUTH WEST (52) — M.Parker 1 (1) 2-4 7, W.Kegley 6 (0) 5-6 17, H.Richards 0 (1) 0-0 3, C.Quirasco 4 (0) 0-0 8, B.Adkins 1 (2) 0-0 8, O.Richards 2 (0) 2-4 6, B.Kammer 0 (1) 0-0 3. TOTALS: 14 (5) 9-14 52. 

LYNCHBURG-CLAY (48) — Q.Wells 1 (0) 0-0 2, C.Bell 0 (1) 0-0 3, B.West 2 (0) 0-0 4, T.Niehaus 3 (1) 1-2 10, E.Faust 6 (5) 2-2 29. TOTALS: 12 (7) 3-4 48.