Best Virginia set to battle Zoo Crew in second round of TBT – WV MetroNews

PITTSBURGH — Best Virginia and Zoo Crew’s second-round matchup in The Basketball Tournament from Petersen Events Center at 8 p.m. Monday won’t directly fall under the category of a Backyard Brawl.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the contest between West Virginia and Pitt’s alumni-based teams won’t have a similar feel to it, especially considering the majority of players and coaches from both sides have their fair share of history in the storied rivalry between the nearby schools.

“It’s how they setup the bracket on purpose,” said Best Virginia head coach Chase Harler, a Wheeling Native who played for the Mountaineers from 2017-2020. “I’m from West Virginia, so I take it a little more personal. I played against them in college and I don’t think I ever lost to Pitt. I hope to keep that tradition going.”

Harler’s Best Virginia coaching debut was a successful one Saturday afternoon, with the team racing out to leads of 11-0 and 35-13 and hardly looking back in a 94-69 victory over Brotherly Love.

Best Virginia, a No. 3 seed, put together an impressive showing in its TBT opener, but the challenge will only increase against second-seeded Zoo Crew.

Zoo Crew was put to the test and then some later Saturday, but prevailed 98-95 against Million $ Worth Of Game. 

“A lot of rest and practice Sunday. Get a lot of shots,” Harler said. “Do some scouting as well. Tighten up some things on offense and continue to do what we do and that’s playing defense. Offensively, we got into the paint so much and had wide open shooters. Hoping to do that on Monday as well.”

Eight of Best Virginia’s 10 players former  Mountaineers, though the two that aren’t — guard Marcus Keene and wing Xavier Bledson — are welcomed additions to the team and made their presence felt in their team debut.

Keene hit three three-pointers in the opening quarter to help set the tone in his 12-point performance, while Bledson had four triples and scored 12 points to match Keene’s scoring output. 

“We have some new guys that fit perfectly for us. Since the first practice, they’ve been great for us,” Harler said.

Every BV player scored at least five points and four registered double figures.

Much of Best Virginia’s offense was orchestrated by guard Teyvon Myers, who dished out 13 assists — three more than the opposing team.

“The advantage we have in this tournament every year is the chemistry we have with WVU guys,” Harler said. 

Zoo Crew led by 10 at halftime and seven through three quarters of its TBT opener, before being faced to deliver down the stretch of the Elam Ending after the game was tied at 95. A bucket from Mike Young and one free throw from Jamel Artis allowed ZC to advance on a night it surrendered better than 56 percent shooting from the field, but shot nearly 60 percent and had all five starters in double-figure scoring.

Young, a 6-foot-9 forward, led that contingent with 24 points on 11-for-16 shooting, while 6-4 guard Nike Sibande added 21. 

Zoo Crew displayed no shortage of perimeter shooting in the win as well and knocked down 14-of-32 triples.

Best Virginia hopes to make things tougher on them with a spot in the regional final at stake.

The winning team moves on to face the winner of Monday’s 6 p.m. matchup between No. 1 Stars of Storrs and No. 5 Happy Valley Hoopers. That contest is at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

“They say it’s a Backyard Brawl. They see I fit in,” Keene said. “I’m going to be ready. I live for that. I’ve played against teams in TBT before in their arena, between Wichita and Dayton, so I’ll be ready.”