4A State Championship Game
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4A State Championship Game The Clarksburg Coyotes put their undefeated record on the line against the Western Doves who only dressed 7 players. Ny’Ceara Pryor Ny’Ceara Pryor 5'2" | PG Western | 2022 State MD (Sacred Heart) who has torched…
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Continue Reading4A State Championship Game
The Clarksburg Coyotes put their undefeated record on the line against the Western Doves who only dressed 7 players. Ny’Ceara Pryor Ny’Ceara Pryor 5'2" | PG Western | 2022 State MD (Sacred Heart) who has torched everyone she has up against Maryland commit Riley Nelson Riley Nelson 6'1" | SF Clarksburg | 2023 State MD who had her future college head coach on the sidelines. The Doves who typically play a fast pace style will play at the Xfinity Center are playing on a longer court than usual may have to watch the fatigue factor they, however, were off to a 5-0 lead to start the game. The three wasn’t falling for Nelson and she picked up her second foul in the opening quarter as the Doves went into the first break with a 19-12 lead.
It was apparent that Clarksburg hasn’t witnessed this much speed and defensive pressure in their 24 wins and if they didn’t make an adjustment Pryor would foul the entire team out. With six minutes to play in the half Western was in the double bonus, however, center Breasia Coit Breasia Coit 6'3" | C Western | 2024 State MD who is the primary post presence was visably winded. With the Doves up 28-15 senior Mia Smith Mia Smith 5'9" | SF Clarksburg | 2022 State MD (uncommitteed) scored five and assisted on two more cutting the game to 28-22 forcing a momentum timeout with 4:00 minutes to play. Pryor who was causing havoc for the Doves picked up her third foul with three minutes to play in the half and then her fourth foul with 1:24 to play. At the half it was Western up 34-32, however, the momentum swing was all Clarksburg.
The third quarter was all Western as they used a 22-5 run to take a 54-39 lead into the fourth quarter. To add insult to injury Nelson picked up her fourth foul in the quarter. The fouls didn’t become a factor as the players adjusted and Western kept the offense in gear. Mia Smith Mia Smith 5'9" | SF Clarksburg | 2022 State MD did all she could to keep the game close but in the end Western who led from wire to wire came away with the 81-68 victory.
Key Players:
Ny’Ceara Pryor Ny’Ceara Pryor 5'2" | PG Western | 2022 State MD – PG – Western
Pryor did what Pryor does drove and created contact and got out on the break. She controlled the game until fouls controlled her picking up her 4th foul in the second quarter. She had to try and manage a second half without fouling which she did. Ny’Ceara played the entire second half brilliantly finishing with 40 points and a state championship.
Mia Smith Mia Smith 5'9" | SF Clarksburg | 2022 State MD – Wing – Clarksburg
Mia carried Clarksburg as it was an off night offensively for Nelson. She ran the point drove from the wing, hit the three and rebounded in the post. The senior still uncommitted finshed with 28 points and launched two comeback spurts by herself that nearly changed the outcome.
Gabrielle Johnson Gabrielle Johnson 5'7" | PG Western | 2022 State MD – SG – Western
Gabby finished with 29 points and made it really hard for Clarksburg to lock in on one player. She hit a couple of three’s but her relentless attack at the rim had the Doves in the bonus early in the game. The Morgan State commit made a statement in her final high school game.
Riley Nelson Riley Nelson 6'1" | SF Clarksburg | 2023 State MDRiley, the Maryland commit finished with 16 points. Eight of her points including a couple of three-pointers, however, came very late in the game after the outcome was decided. She had an off night, but showed her skill level even with the misses. This was probably the biggest game on the biggest stage of her carrer with her future college coach on the sidelines in her future home arena. The experience will make her a better player and she will return hungry next season.
Breasia Coit Breasia Coit 6'3" | C Western | 2024 State MDBreasia was the sole post presence for Western and when she went out of the game for breathers she was missed. The Coyotes had a height advantage at every position and Coit balanced out the floor some for the Doves with her size.