On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Bluefield used a dominant second half to defeat Petersburg 82-56 in a Class AA quarterfinal at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.

Petersburg came out strong early behind Caleb Kuhn, who knocked down a three-pointer to help the Vikings grab an early lead. However, Bluefield quickly responded with a 15-2 run to close the first quarter, taking control of the game.

The Beavers were led by Jace Smith, who scored a game-high 24 points, including a strong first half that helped Bluefield build a 38-29 lead at the break. Ricky Dunford added 20 points, including a late three-pointer before halftime to extend the advantage.

Petersburg stayed within striking distance thanks to Kayden Hours, who led the Vikings with 15 points, and key contributions from Peyton Matheny and Carter Hardy. The Vikings trimmed the deficit to seven heading into the fourth quarter.

But Bluefield took over in the final frame, opening with an 8-0 run fueled by Davion Hickman and strong transition play. The Beavers’ defensive pressure created turnovers and easy scoring opportunities, allowing them to pull away for the decisive win.

With the victory, Bluefield advances to the Class AA semifinals, where they will face either Wyoming East or Logan.