James Reese V scored 24 points, including the game-winning basket, as Best Virginia knocked off Elite Nation to win the Charleston Regional of The Basketball Tournament, advancing via a 79-68 victory on Tuesday night.
Best Virginia, made up of West Virginia alumni and friends of the program, reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2022. They’ll play Shell Shock, a Maryland alumni team and winner of the James Madison Regional, in the quarterfinals. That game will take place on Monday at 6 p.m. in Charleston.
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Tuesday’s game was an almost reversal of Best Virginia’s first round win over Dubois Dream. In that game, Best Virginia got outscored 15-2 in the fourth quarter, forcing them to scramble in the Elam Ending with both teams one shot away from advancing.
This time, Best Virginia never let its opponent get into a flow in the fourth quarter. They outscored Elite Nation 12-4 in the fourth quarter, carrying a 70-63 lead when the teams entered the Elam Ending. Justin Robinson’s 3-pointer marked Elite Nation’s only basket in the final quarter, as the Best Virginia defense locked down to take control.
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The defensive showcase in the fourth quarter was a microcosm of the defensive job Best Virginia did all game. In round 2 against the Crown Street Kings, Elite Nation got 21 points out of Desi Washington and 16 from Darious Hall, as the two combined to shoot 16-for-24 from the field.
Best Virginia instead took both players out of the game. Washington shot 3-for-9 from the floor, and Hall was so well-guarded that he only got three shots at the hoop. Best Virginia couldn’t stop Rashad Vaughn, who shot 75% from long range, but he and AJ English were the only Elite Nation players to reach double figures. When it needed a true defensive effort, Best Virginia got it.
Consistency Proves Key for Best Virginia
One of the biggest reasons Best Virginia will still be playing was its consistent attack. Over the first three quarters, it put up between 18 and 21 points every time. In the final frame, where only half the time gets played, Best Virginia outscored Elite Nation 12-4.
Reece did a lot of the damage in his time on the court. He never played for West Virginia (his connection to Best Virginia is WVU coach Ross Hodge coaching him in college). However, he’s looked like he’s always worn the Blue and Gold. In three games in the 2025 TBT, Reece has scored 20 points or more all three times.
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Best Virginia also played a controlled game at both ends of the court. It committed just nine fouls in the contest, compared to 21 for Elite Nation. That showed up in the free throws, as Best Virginia shot 21 to just eight for Elite Nation. Not coincidentally, the Blue and Gold sank 11 more foul shots than Elite Nation, a perfect match for the final margin of victory.
Best Virginia sits three wins from the $1 million prize. Should it beat Shell Shock, it would face the winner of either the Louisville or Lexington Regionals in the semifinals.
