Being given the second-seed instead of the first-seed in the boys basketball Class AAA Sectional tournament turned out to be unfortunate for Jefferson. Even though it had only one loss to the other five teams in the Sectional, Jefferson was voted by the coaches to be the second-seeded team instead of Martinsburg, which had two losses and still received the tournament’s top seed.

Both Martinsburg and Jefferson received first-round byes in the event, but then the Cougars faced third-seeded Musselman (a winner over sixth-seeded Washington in a first-round game) in the semifinals.

Even though it was playing at home, the Cougars lost a 74-69 overtime decision to the Applemen. Martinsburg defeated visiting Spring Mills (the fourth-seed) in the other semifinal game. The Bulldogs beat Musselman in the Sectional finale played at Martinsburg.

On Tuesday, the Bulldogs bounced Lewis County by 30 points to earn a berth in next week’s eight-team state tournament in Charleston.

The Jefferson girls reached the finals of the Class AAA Sectional tournament where they were stopped by host Martinsburg. In a bid to reach the state tournament, Jefferson went to Tennerton to face Buckhannon, the champion of Section 1 of the two-Section, Region 2 set-up.

The Buccaneers defeated Jefferson to get a berth in the state tournament along with Martinsburg.

Martinsburg is the No. 7 seed in the state tournament and Buckhannon is the No. 8 seed.