The Basketball Tournament: Best Virginia holds off Herd That rally for 82-75 win

“They dropped into that zone, and I truly feel like any time I get the ball in the middle of that zone, I can do anything with it,� said Mitchell, who scored 13 points in Best Virginia’s win over DuBois Dream in the first round on Friday.

JD Weatherspoon, who did not play on Friday, scored 10 points against Herd That and led Best Virginia with 14 rebounds. James Reese V followed up Friday’s 21-point performance with 20 points on Sunday and Kedrian Johnson scored 18 points.

Like it did on Friday, Best Virginia struggled to score late. With the target score set at 81 when Elam Ending time began with under four minutes to play, Best Virginia led 73-58.

Herd That, led by Jacorey Williams’ game-high 24 points, stormed back, forcing missed shots by Best Virginia and turnovers. Herd That outrebounded Best Virginia, 45-37.

“They pushed it, we made it close, they didn’t give up,� Herd That coach Ot Elmore said. “They battled and fought. We were playing three centers at one point. We did the best we could.�

Herd That, needing the win to have a chance at getting former Marshall stars Jon Elmore and Taevion Kinsey in action for the region final, overcame offensive struggles in the first half to rally to within 77-70 of Best Virginia.

Elmore and Kinsey were unavailable for the first two rounds of TBT due to their participation in the NBA Summer League. 

Williams and Derek Cooke Jr. found success in the frontcourt on Friday in Herd That's win over Sikh Warriors, combining for 38 points and 21 rebounds. On Sunday, the emergence of Weatherspoon and the play of Mitchell, plus Best Virginia’s hot shooting, helped Best Virginia build a 44-31 lead at halftime.

Best Virginia’s largest lead of the game was 16 points, 55-39, at the 6:01 mark of the third quarter.

“They were shooting the ball well and, you know, that happens,� Ot Elmore said of Best Virginia. “Sometimes they make shots. When they make shots, you’re in trouble because they play hard defensively.�

Herd That also had problems at the free-throw line. After shooting 80.8% from the line on Friday, Herd That shot 50% (10 of 20) against Best Virginia.

On Tuesday, Best Virginia will look to advance one step closer to TBT’s grand prize of $1 million awarded to the champions. Best Virginia coach Jarrod West Sr. said he got a chance to watch the region’s top seed Elite Nation defeat the Ohio University alumni-based Court Street Kings 88-85 earlier Sunday.

“Grown men in the building,� West said of his impression of Elite Nation, a team comprised of former players from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Iona, Arkansas and St. John's, among others. “Grown men in the building. Guard play is good, bigs are good. We got our hands full.�

West said he hoped the pressure applied by Best Virginia’s defense can speed up Elite Nation, coached by Gary Ervin.

That game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Tuesday at the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Coliseum & Convention Center, with the winner advancing to meet the champion from the James Madison Region.