Indians,Wave win in Greenwave Classic

The 10th annual Greenwave Classic began with the happy ending of a losing streak for Clintwood on Wednesday.

The Greenwave (1-6) won their first game, cruising by Northwood 67-46 at Howard Deel Gymnasium. It was also the first home game for Clintwood, which needed time to get accustomed to to the hardwood with seven of their players (four starters) having just finished a run to the Group A, Division 1 football championship game in football.

"It feels pretty sweet to get this win," Clintwood coach David Vanover said. "We've had the football boys back for two weeks. We're trying to be more up-tempo this year, I thought our legs were good for the first half but we got a little lazy on the defensive end in the second half. Our main goal is to get better each week and be ready by [district] tournament time."

The coach's son, Evan Vanover, played a big part in the win.

"Evan set the tone early," said coach Vanover. "This year he played football and he's just now starting to get his basketball legs. He came out in the first half and really played well."

It was back and forth early in the contest. Northwood had an 11-8 lead with less than four minutes to play in the first quarter. Evan Vanover hit a 3-pointer to ignite a 12-2 run as Clintwood took a 10-point lead 23-13 at the end of the quarter.

The Panthers came back with a 7-0 run to start the second quarter but the Greenwave answered with a 9-0 run. Evan Vanover was in the middle of each Clintwood run, totaling 19 points in the first half and finishing with a game-high 26 points.

"It's about time we got a win," he said. "It's been a big transition [from football]. I haven't played well the first few games, tonight was the first game that I've played well."

Clintwood led 42-27 at the half and held the Panthers (3-5) to only six points in the third quarter as they rolled to the win.

"Turning the ball over really hurt us," Northwood coach Chad Bailey said. "We weren't running our offense and setting good screens. It got physical and Clintwood just out scrapped us. They were more physical."

Evan Vanover received plenty of support. Nick Robinson finished with 10 points. Payton Kendrick and Heath Counts each added nine points. Chris Robinson led Northwood with 14 points. The Greenwave held a 33-23 rebounding edge in the game.

Opening round play will resume tonight with J.I. Burton facing Haysi at 6 o'clock and in the nightcap the Grundy Golden Wave will battle Pound.

NORTHWOOD (46)

Delp 2 0-0 5, Roberts 4 0-1 8, Frye 0 0-2 0, Spence 1 1-5 3, Robinson 4 6-8 14, Thompson1 2-2 4, Combs 4 1-2 9, O'Bier 0 0-0 0, Jordan 1 1-5 3. Totals 17 11-25 46.

CLINTWOOD (67)

Robinson 4 2-3 10, Mullins 3 1-2 7, Counts 2 5-6 9, Kendrick 3 2-4 9, E. Vanover 11 1-3 26, T. Meade 0 1-2 1, C. Meade 0 0-0 0, C. Vanover 2 1-1 5. Totals 25 12-20 67

Northwood 13 14 6 13"?46

Clintwood 23 19 16 9"?67

3-point goals"?Northwood 1 (Delp 1), Clintwood 4 (E. Vanover 3, Kendrick 1). Total fouls"?Northwood 16, Clintwood 17. Fouled out"?none. Technicals"?Clintwood bench.

J.J. Kelly 62, Ervinton 42

The Indians broke open a tight game with a huge third quarter to take the win in the opening game. J.J. Kelly received a big night from junior Justin Wilson who a missed a couple of games with an injury. Wilson poured in 19 points to lead the Indian offense.

"Maybe we can get everyone healthy," J.J. Kelly coach T.J. McAmis said. "Wilson is hard to match up with he can play inside or out. He makes a big difference. We played without our starting point guard [Blake Roberts] tonight, if we can get him healthy maybe we can start merging together as a team."

A rebuilding Ervinton team that only returned one starter from last year stayed with J.J. Kelly early. The Rebels tied the game at 19-19 on a 3-pointer by Logan McCowan with five minutes to play in the first half. It was close at the half with the Indians holding a 26-21 advantage. But Kelly took control of the game when they ended the third quarter on an 11-0 run to take a commanding lead.

"Kelly came out in a half court trap and we've been working on that a couple weeks now," first-year Ervinton coach Shaun Tiller said. "But it looked like the first time we had seen it. It was almost like we didn't show up in the third quarter. We came out flat and stayed flat on both ends of the floor."

After starting the season with a win it was the sixth loss in a row for Ervinton (1-6). The Rebels only had nine turnovers in the first half but finished the game with 23 and were out rebounded 29-20.

Luke Rasnick the only starter back for the Rebels led the way with 13 points, six rebounds and McCowan chipped in with 11 points.

"We're making some progress but its baby steps," Tiller said. "We still do a lot of the little things wrong, but we are making slow progress."

J.J. KELLY (62)

Dotson 5 3-4 13, Sproles 3 2-2 8, Wilson 8 1-5 19, Miller 2 0-0 4, Rasnake 2 1-2 5, Clark 2 0-0 4, Strouth 0 2-4 2, Teasley 1 0-0 2, Collins 1 1-2 3, Maine 1 0-1 2. Totals 25 10-20 62.

ERVINTON (42)

Asbury 3 1-2 8, McCowan 4 1-2 11, Rasnick 5 2-3 13, S. Austin 2 0-2 6, J. Austin 1 0-1 2, Turner 0 0-0 0, Mullins 1 0-0 2, Lothery 0 0-0 0, Rose 0 0-0 0. 16 4-10 42.

J.J. Kelly 16 10 23 13"?62

Ervinton 13 8 8 13"?42

3-point goals"?J.J. Kelly 2 (Wilson 2), Ervinton 6 (Asbury 1, McCowan 2, Rasnick 1, S. Austin 2). Total fouls"?J.J. Kelly 15, Ervinton 22. Fouled out"?none. Technicals"?none.