MHS's Bobby Prim drives the lane before passing off to set up a scoring chance against University.
Hot MHSstart dooms Hawks
Scores first 16 in 74-34 victory
Jim Moore/The Dominion Post
MHS's Bobby Prim drives the lane before passing off to set up a scoring chance against University.
BY JUSTIN JACKSON
The Dominion Post
The miracle would never come.
The sixth-ranked Morgantown High boys' basketball team made sure of that Friday night during its 74-34 victory over University High.
"They had trouble shooting and we came out hot," MHS coach Tom Yester said. "It just kind of snowballed for them from the start."
The last time the two teams hooked up, MHS walked out with a 78-32 victory that just punctuated the troubled times UHS has experienced this season.
Friday, MHS (14-3), a team on the verge of breaking through to what could be a memorable season, added to what has already been a long season for UHS.
MHS forward Ronnie Shaver started the game with a 3-pointer, seconds later teammate Bobby Prim sank one, and then so did Justin Vidovich, and then the honors went back to Prim.
Before you knew it, the score was 16-0 and the rout was on ... again.
"We didn't get out and pressure their shooters like we had talked about before the game," UHS coach Dick Parsons said. "Morgantown took advantage of that and knocked down their shots. They came out and hit everything."
Timeouts or a change of defense or personnel made no difference for the Hawks (4-16), who fell behind, 22-8, after the first quarter and 38-13 at halftime.
"After we got off to that fast start, you could see their confidence slip away," Yester said. "As far as our team, I thought play got a little sloppy in the second quarter, but other than that, I thought we were sharp."
Vidovich finished with a game-high 19 points, while Ronnie Shaver added 11. Matt Simpson got a chance to show off his offensive skills with 15 points on a night the MHS reserves saw plenty of action.
"The game was basically determined by halftime pretty much," Yester said. "We played conservatively in the second half, which we pretty much had to."
It was the sixth consecutive victory for the Mohigans, a winning streak that only magnifies the team's possibilities.
Beat Fairmont Senior? Possibly. State tournament? Not out of the question, Win the state tournament? Sounded crazy two months ago, but not anymore.
"There's really no reason to get into any of that now," Yester said. "We still have three games before we even play Fairmont Senior.
"But, this team knows that it has bigger fish to fry than what we did tonight. They certainly want to make a little noise in the postseason."
As for the future of the Hawks?
"It's something that I haven't really discussed much with the players," Parsons said. "But, they can see the writing on the wall. They know that everybody is coming back next year. If we can stay together this year and work hard in the offseason, who knows what may happen next year?"
Box score
MORGANTOWN 74, UNIVERSITY 34
UNIVERSITY HIGH (4-16)
Smith 0 0-0 0, Luzier 0 0-0 0, Kirelawich 0 0-0 0, Clawges 3 2-2 9, Jackson 5 0-2 12, Phillips 4 0-0 8, Spraggins 0 0-0 0, Mayfield 1 1-2 3, Redman 1 0-0 2, Casdorph 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 3-6 34.
MORGANTOWN HIGH (14-3)
Hedges 1 0-0 2, Prim 2 0-0 6, Shaver 5 0-3 11, Vidovich 8 1-2 19, Dalton 1 0-0 2, Fogarty 2 0-0 5, Murray 1 1-2 3, Rodamer 1 2-2 4, Simpson 6 2-4 15, Williams 3 0-0 7. Totals 30 6-14 74.
University 8 5 12 9 -- 34
Morgantown 22 16 19 17 -- 74
3-point goals--University 3 (Jackson 2, Clawges 1), Morgantown 8 (Prim 2, Vidovich 2, Shaver 1, Williams 1, Simpson 1, Fogarty 1). Rebounds--University 26 (Luzier 7), Morgantown 45 (Hedges 11).