MOREHEAD — West Carter accomplished the improbable by holding Bath County�s Zak Metz scoreless in the first half Saturday afternoon.

The second half proved to be a different matter.



Metz, the state's seventh-leading scorer during the regular season, came alive with 16 points and five steals the rest of the way as Bath County rallied to win 50-44 in the opening round of the Boys 16th Region Tournament.

West Carter led 39-33 before Metz put the Wildcats on his broad shoulders. The 6-foot senior scored 11 points in the final 5:19, including a steal and contested layup to give the Wildcats a six-point advantage with 35 seconds to go.

West Carter's Aaron Rayburn answered with a basket, but Metz iced the victory by making two free throws. He went 7-for-8 at the foul line in the fourth quarter.

"In the second half, I was just being aggressive and jumping to the ball," Metz said. "I figured since I couldn't do anything on offense, I would try to make some defensive plays. It turned into offense."

Bath County coach Jim Hicks knew it was only a matter of time until Metz got untracked after shooting 0-for-7 before the intermission.

"I don't know if there's ever been another game in his career when Zak didn't score in the first half," Hicks said. "It speaks volumes about him that he kept working and giving his best for the team.

"I still say Zak is the best player in the 16th Region for what he has done for us night in and night out. He and Taylor (Maze) complement each other so well."

Bath County's M & M combination again paved the way as the Wildcats won their 20th game and advanced to Monday's semifinals against Lewis County, a double-overtime winner against Fairview.

Maze, a junior guard, carried the offensive load most of the way for Bath County. He scored a game-high 23 points and also handed out five assists.

"People think if they shut down Zak, most of the time they will beat us," Maze said. "We try to prove them wrong."

The Wildcats overcame deficits of nine points in the first half and seven points in the third quarter.

"This was definitely one of our toughest wins," Maze said. "West Carter is from a great district. They play tough competition every game. It was a real physical game."

Hicks praised his team's gritty performance.

"We were down at times, but I told our kids to find a way," Hicks said. "There was no special coaching. The kids stepped up and made plays."

West Carter led by six early in the final period before Metz spearheaded a 13-0 run to turn the tide.

"Obviously, Metz is a very tough player," said West Carter coach Jeremy Webb. "We knew we were not going to hold him scoreless the whole game."

Bath County also benefitted from the Comets' 13 second-half turnovers and 3-for-18 shooting from long range for the game.

"We didn't do a good job of attacking their zone in the second half," Webb said.

Taylor Webb scored 11 points and Corey Oney 10 for the Comets in the first meeting between the teams this season.

West Carter, making its first regional tournament in three years, finished

20-8.

"We're not happy," Webb said. "We are not just going to accept this. We want to come over here every single year and compete for the title."

Hicks complimented West Carter's successful season.

"Jeremy has my vote for coach of the year in the region," Hicks said. "They were nowhere to be found in the preseason Top 10 (coaches poll). He's done an unbelievable job in making them one of the top teams in the region."

ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@

dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.