B-UMS Lady Bucs leave it all on the floor in a heartbreaking Mid Mountain Conference Championship defeat

Sarah Fox
February 23, 2025

The Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School Lady Bucs showcased resilience and determination in their quest for the Mid Mountain Conference Championship, but despite a valiant effort, they fell just short against the top-ranked Taylor County Lady Knights, 34-27, in Saturday night’s title game at Lincoln High School.

Their journey to the championship was nothing short of impressive. On Friday, the Lady Bucs took down the sixth-ranked Lincoln Middle School in the semifinal matchup at Taylor County, securing a spot in the highly anticipated final.

In the title match, both teams opened the game with a defensive battle, allowing only one basket each in the entire first quarter. As the game progressed, Taylor County found their rhythm and pulled ahead in the second quarter, sending the Lady Bucs into halftime facing a 17-4 deficit.

Refusing to go down without a fight, B-UMS came out strong in the third quarter. Emma Pingley led the charge, scoring four baskets, while Zoey Burr and Adelynn Anderson added crucial buckets to cut the gap to just six points, 24-18, heading into the final period.

With the championship on the line, the Lady Bucs left everything on the court in the fourth quarter. Halle Moody and Bristol Zirkle each added two points, and Pingley drained a three-pointer to bring her game total to 14 points.

Despite a determined push from B-UMS, the Lady Knights’ defense held firm, ultimately securing the victory and conference title with the 34-27 win.

Though the loss was a tough one, the Lady Bucs have plenty to be proud of after an outstanding season. The team will gather Sunday for their end-of-year banquet, celebrating their achievements and hard-fought journey.