Jacorey Williams dribbles during the game between Herd That and Sikh Warriors at the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Coliseum and Convention Center in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, Friday, July 18, 2025.
Derek Cooke Jr. shoots during the game during the game between Herd That and Sikh Warriors at the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Coliseum and Convention Center in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, Friday, July 18, 2025.
Xavier Munford yells during the game between Herd That and Sikh Warriors at the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Coliseum and Convention Center in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, Friday, July 18, 2025.
Jacorey Williams dribbles during the game between Herd That and Sikh Warriors at the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Coliseum and Convention Center in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, Friday, July 18, 2025.
Herd That won its first-round matchup with the Sikh Warriors in the West Virginia Regional of The Basketball Tournament in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä on Friday in the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Coliseum & Convention Center, 84-71.
Both Herd That and Best Virginia won their games in the TBT Tournament on Friday, July 18.Â
Herd That is without Jon Elmore and Taevion Kinsey until further notice due to their NBA Summer League obligations. If the Toronto Raptors beat the Sacramento Kings, for whom both Elmore and Kinsey are playing, Ot Elmore, coach of Herd That, said Jon could catch a flight and make it in time for Sunday’s second-round game.
Herd That looked good anyway despite its slim numbers. Jacorey Williams imposed his will inside with 29 points and 10 rebounds with three assists. JP Tokoto joined him with 18 points and seven assists, playing a true point guard role for much of the night at 6-foot-7.
“I was trying to get guys set up,†Tokoto said. “I talked to Ot about having me play at the point guard position. I’ve been a ballhandler since I’ve played pro, but it was usually from the 3. Mentally getting into that mode and knowing that I’m not just a point guard, I’m also JP Tokoto, let me put my body in and get to the rim while setting up my guys.â€
The Sikh Warriors had the hot hand in the early moments. AJ Basi started 3 of 4 from deep for nine quick points. A transition 3-pointer gave the Sikh Warriors a 13-7 lead with 5:16 remaining in the first.
The absence of Jon Elmore was certainly felt on the perimeter. Herd That was forced into the paint for most of its sets, trailing 23-21 after the first with only three 3-pointers in the game.
“I think more focusing on the scouting report and what we’re going to do,†Ot Elmore said of improvements to be made for Herd That. “We wanted to trap the guards and make the bigs beat us. We didn’t do a very good job of that in the first quarter; they were 5 of 10 from the 3. We have to pay more attention to what we’re doing and take care of business.â€
Herd That shifted to a 1-3-1 zone and often ran its tallest lineup to combat the Sikh Warriors’ perimeter motions and create mismatches in the paint. The Herd had 18 offensive rebounds despite a 7-foot presence for the Sikh Warriors.
Williams began to find his spots in the second, scoring on a leaning paint jumper for his ninth point and a 32-27 lead. Herd That pulled away and led 36-31 at halftime, led by nine points apiece from Williams and Tokoto.
Derek Cooke Jr. shoots during the game during the game between Herd That and Sikh Warriors at the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Coliseum and Convention Center in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, Friday, July 18, 2025.
LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
Suddenly, things were clicking.
“I think the main thing was that these guys are used to playing with Jon,†Ot Elmore said. “When you have a point guard like Jon, he gets the offense moving. We scored 36 in the first half, and we scored 48 in the second. A lot of that was JP and Jacorey. JP took over ballhandling, and the offense became a lot better once guys settled into those roles.â€
Separation came from the Herd That zone’s containment of Basi. He had 14 points in the first quarter to lead the Sikh Warriors but was held to six after that. The Warriors had just eight points in the second quarter.
Williams pushed mismatches in the third, scoring seven in the quarter with a thunderous slam in front of the current Marshall men’s basketball team in attendance.
“We were trying to play out of JP and let him set up guys and organize everything down the stretch,†Williams said. “We started finding those mismatches, and I was at the 3 a little bit to get the biggest mismatch on the floor. Whoever had the biggest mismatch was who we wanted to find.â€
Xavier Munford yells during the game between Herd That and Sikh Warriors at the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Coliseum and Convention Center in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, Friday, July 18, 2025.
LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
Herd That expanded its lead to nine points after three frames, 64-55, as the game grew sloppy for the Sikh Warriors, who had 16 turnovers. It gave the Herd 19 points off turnovers by the end of the quarter.
Once the Elam Ending hit, Herd That led 76-66 and needed a target score of 84 to win, a rule unique to the TBT – time stops, and it becomes a sudden-death race to the final number.
A thunderous dunk in transition from Williams set the stage for a game-winning free throw from Tokoto to advance Herd That to the regional semifinals.
“It’s big for the city,†Ot Elmore said. “The ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä visitors board did a good job of getting this thing back here. We probably had 3,500 people here tonight. If we play [Best] Virginia, there will be even more.
“It’s a neat thing to have. You don’t see it during the year. [Marshall and West Virginia] don’t play each other like they used to, so it’s neat to get to do that for the city and give some people a chance to do something fun in the summer.â€
DeAndre Kane was not in attendance for Herd That. The team’s social media account said they do not know where he is.
“Jon and Taevion are great, but I feel good about the eight that we’ve got here with us,†Ot Elmore said. “I feel like we’re going to win no matter what. We’d love to have them, but if they win a Summer League championship and then meet us in the third round, that wouldn’t be too bad either.â€
Does Ot have a jersey ready?
“No sir,†he said, picking up his stuff and walking out of the press room.
