Kyle Lovern

Sports Editor

CHARLESTON – The Tug Valley Panthers remained No. 1 in Class A in the AP Poll released late Monday.

The Panthers went into Tuesday night’s game with Class AAA Huntington with a record of 18-3. They received 10 first place votes.

Tug Valley had been in the top five all season long and slowly climbed up the poll. They went to No. 1 last week and remained there this week.

Coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson’s team beat Class AAA Logan this past Saturday night and Pendleton County on Friday night.

The Panthers routed previous No. 1 ranked Charleston Catholic at the Civic Center. Tucker County is now ranked No. 2, while CCHS is ranked No. 3 this week. They are followed by Magnolia, Parkersburg Catholic and Greater Beckley Christian (GBC).

GBC could end up being an opponent in the sectional tourney against Tug Valley. The Panthers defeated them twice this season. The last game at Beckley went down to the wire.

The Associated Press high school boys’ basketball poll with first-place votes in parentheses and total points:

Class AAA

Team Record Pts. Prev.

1. Martinsburg (9) 19-2 99 1

2. Woodrow Wilson 17-4 86 3

3. South Charleston (1) 18-2 84 2

4. Washington 15-4 59 6

5. Hedgesville 15-4 52 7

6. Parkersburg South 17-4 43 5

6. Greenbrier East 17-2 43 4

8. George Washington 16-4 35 10

9. Huntington 14-5 34 9

10. Morgantown 15-5 8 8

Others receiving votes: Hurricane 4, Preston 1, Princeton 1, University 1.

Class AA

1. Bluefield (10) 17-2 100 1

2. Fairmont Senior 15-5 79 3

3. Robert C. Byrd 14-6 78 4

4. Poca 15-4 68 2

5. Westside 16-6 66 6

6. Tolsia 13-7 51 5

7. Wyoming East 14-7 44 7

8. Webster County 14-3 26 8

9. Bridgeport 14-6 13 10

10. Ritchie County 15-5 9 -

Others receiving votes: Scott 6, Roane County 4, Herbert Hoover 2, North Marion 2, Summers County 2.

Class A

1. Tug Valley (10) 18-3 100 1

2. Tucker County 16-2 81 3

3. Charleston Catholic 17-3 79 2

4. Magnolia 14-4 76 4

5. Parkersburg Catholic 18-3 61 5

6. Greater Beckley Christian 14-3 41 7

7. St. Marys 16-4 39 6

8. Buffalo 17-3 38 8

9. Valley Fayette 14-6 17 10

10. Clay-Battelle 15-6 8 -

Others receiving votes: Tygarts Valley 4, Wheeling Central 3, Trinity 1, Notre Dame 1, Greenbrier West 1.