Justus Lee, Cougar girls take aim at state tournament

The Cougars girls basketball team celebrate winning the WVSSAC 2022 AAAA Girls Basketball Sectional Championship at Jefferson High School on Feb. 24. David Pennock
SHENANDOAH JUNCTION — Justus Lee and the Jefferson girls basketball team needed to beat Hedgesville a third time the other night to earn a berth in the state tournament, which begins for the Class AAAA teams on March 10.
Jefferson faced a Hedgesville team in one of the two Regional games where each winner earned the right to move on to the eight-team State tournament.
After toppling Washington, 58-43, in the Sectional finale in Shenandoah Junction, Jefferson had a 15-5 overall record — quite a turnaround from the 0-3 beginning to the season after opening in 2021-22 with consecutive losses to Cabell Midland, Morgantown and James Wood.
Jefferson owned 57-28 and 49-40 wins over Hedgesville during the regular season.
After being seeded No. 1 in the Sectional tournament, Jefferson watched as Washington defeated Musselman in the opening round and then stopped the Patriots, 58-43, in the title round, using a clinging defense even in the half court to cause turnovers and block shots. Justus Lee, a 5-foot-6 junior, made a meaningful number of three-point shots to keep Washington in a chasing mode. It was Jefferson’s third win of the season over the Patriots.

The Jefferson High School girls basketball team pose with the plaque naming them the WVSSAC 2022 AAAA Basketball Girls Sectional Champion on Feb. 24. David Pennock
The resurgence after the inauspicious beginning to the season has been made behind an effective group of underclassmen. Only 5-foot-6 Heaven Murray is a senior.
Joining Lee from the productive junior class have been McKenzie Brezovec, Olivia Hedrick, Taliyah Lindsey and T’asya Jay from the usual group of the top eight players.
Amaura Washington is only a freshman and Jazmyn Taylor is a sophomore.
Against Washington in the Sectional championship game, Jefferson used some fast break chances and an effective up-beat tempo to beat the Patriots down the floor often enough to establish control of the scoreboard.
A preseason favorite to repeat as the Class AAAA state champion are the Huntington Highlanders, who were the 2021 state champion. Huntington has lost only one game this season.
When the field of eight teams finally qualifies for the state tournament, they will be seeded and No. 8 will play No. 1, No. 7 will face No. 2, No. 6 and No. 3 will see each other and No. 4 and No. 5 will battle in the first round.
The Class AAAA finale is scheduled for March 12.
Jefferson’s boys team completed its regular season on an unbeaten note when it defeated Spring Mills, 65-51, and Broadfording Academy, 92-31, in the final week of the regular season.
The Cougars took a 20-0 record into the three-school Sectional tournament, where they were seeded No. 1 and awaited the winner of the Musselman vs. Washington game in the finale.
In trimming Spring Mills on the road, the fast-paced Cougars moved quickly from a one-point halftime lead and to a 41-34 advantage after three quarters. Jefferson outscored the Cardinals, 24-17, in the fourth quarter.
Jaiden Gladney totaled 18 points, Cam Johnson posted 14 points, and point guard Daion Taylor was a third Cougar in double figures with his 12 points.
Jefferson substituted liberally in trouncing the Lions from Broadfording Academy.
Pressure, quick hands and numerous fast break points enabled the undefeated Cougars to vault to a 32-2 lead after only one period.
Whole units of reserves played in the second and fourth quarters and Jefferson had leads of 45-11 and then 69-24 after the second and third periods respectfully.
The Lions were guilty of 61 turnovers in all.
Reserve Kylan Johnson scored 15 points and reserve Ty Vickers tossed in another 10 points. Starters Taylor (11 points), Jamari Jenkins (11 points) and Gladney (10) points added their double-figure scoring to the final total.
Jefferson’s 20-0 record left it as the only undefeated boys team in the state of West Virginia.
- The Cougars girls basketball team celebrate winning the WVSSAC 2022 AAAA Girls Basketball Sectional Championship at Jefferson High School on Feb. 24. David Pennock
- The Jefferson High School girls basketball team pose with the plaque naming them the WVSSAC 2022 AAAA Basketball Girls Sectional Champion on Feb. 24. David Pennock