CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Huntington High got big contributions from its trio of standouts, and the Highlanders opened the fourth quarter on a 12-2 run to turn a close contest into a 56-43 victory over Martinsburg in its Class AAA first round matchup Thursday during the West Virginia Girls State Basketball Championships at the Charleston Civic Center.

Leah Ching led the offense with 19 points and helped the Highlanders to a halftime lead, but the difference in the second half was the emergence of Talequia Hamilton.

Hamilton scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half while grabbing 14 rebounds to lead the Highlanders’ surge.

Huntington High led just 33-29 with 3:13 left in the third quarter, but Hamilton scored 10 points during an 18-4 run that pushed the lead to 51-33 after Ching’s layup with 3:23 left in the fourth.

The lead grew to 21 before Martinsburg chipped away against Huntington High’s subs late to set the final margin.

Erin Bailes overcame a difficult shooting performance to nearly post a triple-double for the Highlanders in the win.

Despite shooting just 4-of-19 from the floor, Bailes finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds and dished out seven assists for Huntington (18-4), who takes on No. 1 North Marion on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Jacqueline Brewer finished with 14 points for Martinsburg, but had just four in the second half. The Bulldogs’ season ends at 17-5.

Check www.herald-dispatch.com for updates.

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