CLARKSBURG -- With one full week behind them, Robert C. Byrd heads into this week with a 4-0 record and perhaps it's toughest challenge of the season.
The Eagles, who claimed victories over Parkersburg, Buckhannon-Upshur and Bridgeport last week, face defending Class AAA champion Parkersburg South (3-1) Wednesday night at Robert C. Byrd High School.
Four different players scored double digits for Robert C. Byrd in the three games, led by point guard Migel Lockett. The 5-foot-9 junior averaged 25.3 points during the run, including a 29-point effort in the Eagles' 77-74 road victory at Parkersburg South. For the season, Lockett leads the Big 10 Conference with a 25.8 ppg. average in four games.
Senior Matt Bealko is Robert C. Byrd's second leading scorer at 13.8 ppg., followed by junior Matt Godfrey (11.5 ppg.) and senior Nick Alex (6.5 ppg.).
"That's what makes them so difficult to defend," Bridgeport coach Gene Randolph said. "On any given night someone can step up for them. (Friday) it was Alex (16 points.) who came up for them against B-U. They've got a lot of weapons."
Wednesday, the Eagles will take on a Parkersburg South team with plenty of offensive balance.
The Patriots are led by junior Ryan Dawson, who is averaging 16.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Ade Baruwa is the team's leading rebounder at 10.8 rpg. and is second in scoring (10.8 ppg.). Trent McCallister (10.0 ppg.) is Parkersburg South's third double-digit scorer and leads the team with 7.0 assists per game.
n LINCOLN'S LONG RANGE THREAT: While most teams are already aware of Adam Southern and are quickly taking notice of 6-7 Travis Sinclair, guard Justin Bryant is keeping opponents from the perimeter.
Of Bryant's 17 made field goals for the 5-0 Cougars, 15 have come from behind the 3-point line.
"I don't think it's really fair to call him a streak shooter," Lincoln coach Rob Hawkins said. "He's just a great shooter, period.
"I think you see him get on rolls and then kind of go quiet because teams realize they really have to tighten up on him, so he's not getting as good of looks (at the basket). He can flat out shoot the basketball."
n AND ONE: Twice last week Lockett converted four-point plays for Robert C. Byrd.
He converted one in the fourth quarter of Saturday's victory over Bridgeport, but had another even bigger earlier in the week against Parkersburg with less than two minutes to play that gave the Eagles the lead for good.
n REGIONAL REMATCH?: Lewis County (3-1) visits Bridgeport (1-2) Tuesday night in the two schools' first meeting since last year's Class AA Region III championship won by the Indians, 40-38 in overtime.
That's about all the two games have in common. The Minutemen's Corey Smailes is the only player from either team who started in last year's game. Only one other player (Bridgeport's Matt Davis) scored.
Sports writer Michael Nutter can be reached at 626-1444 or by e-mail at mnutter@exponent-telegram.com
