McDonough, Childers cap senior seasons at BACF all-star game

“It was a fun experience, just being able to see these athletes play and be a part of it,” Cheeseman said. “It was for a great cause, so, an awesome experience.”

The evening featured a game and two skills contests for both girls and boys. The girls played with 10-minute quarters, the same format as women’s college basketball. McDonough was in West Virginia’s starting lineup and scored her first two points from the free-throw line to give the team a 7-5 lead.

Ohio ended the first quarter on a 10-0 run to lead 17-13, but West Virginia retook the lead in the second with a 6-0 run starring Childers. The RCB top scorer and Class AAA all-state first-teamer assisted McDough on a fast break to cut the deficit to 17-15, then scored the next four points herself to give the Mountain State the lead.

Ohio led 34-31 at halftime. McDonough made two more shots from the stripe to bring West Virginia within 51-48 and scored on a drive to make it 53-50 late in the third quarter. Ohio led by as many as 10 in the quarter, but it was a 53-52 game heading into the fourth.

“Teams didn’t really play man (defense) on us a lot this year, and I knew going into this game they were probably going to play man, and I knew I could drive the ball,” McDonough said.

Childers again gave West Virginia the lead, grabbing two straight offensive rebounds and scoring to make it 54-53. But Ohio once again built a double-digit lead, and West Virginia’s comeback fell short in the three-point defeat.

The result did nothing to dampen the mood on either side. The game featured free-flowing styles of play and frequent wholesale substitutions, allowing players from all over the chance to play together.

“It was fun,” Childers said. “Being able to just run and score however much you wanted and whatever ways we wanted it. It was a good time, and I wouldn’t want to pick anybody else to play with. These girls are really special.”

It was the last chance for Cheeseman to coach McDonough, Doddridge’s No. 2 all-time leading scorer and a Class A all-state first-teamer.

“It’s bittersweet,” Cheeseman said. “I really enjoy coaching her, and I’m not sure it’s really sunk in that this is the last time to see her in a Doddridge uniform. She’s just an incredible athlete and a joy to watch.”

For McDonough, it was an extra opportunity she wasn’t necessarily expecting after the Bulldogs’ season came to an end in the state semifinals.

“I thought it was over at the state tournament,” McDonough said. “To be able to play with (Cheeseman) one last time, it’s just awesome. So many memories.”

Tomi Hinkle of Fairland High School scored 25 points for Ohio and was named the team’s MVP. Zoe Davis of St. Marys was West Virginia’s MVP with 13 points. McDonough scored a team-high 16, and Childers added six.

The girls skills competitions took place at halftime of the boys game. Sydney Baird of Webster County, another Class A first-teamer and a West Virginia Wesleyan commit, won the 3-point contest with 15 makes from beyond the arc in one minute. Ohio’s Alex Frazee of Warren High School won the free-throw shooting contest.

“I have so many friends on other teams, and it was awesome to get to play with them and so much competition on the other team,” McDonough said. “It was just awesome.”