Sports in The Dominion Post

This article appeared in the Dominion Post Newspaper on January 30, 2003.

Despite grad losses, MHS staying on top

University visits tonight in city showdown

PROJECTEDLINEUPS

Morgantown High

G: Geremy Rodamer (6.8 ppg)
G: Seth Fogarty (11.5 ppg)

F: Tyler Benson (13.6 ppg)

F: Kameron Law (13.5 ppg)

C: Ben Tornsey (5.4 ppg)

BENCH: 16.7 ppg

University High

G: Bryan Phillips (3.4 ppg)
G: Casey Jackson (14.5 ppg)

G: Robby Dinsmore (5.7 ppg)

F: Julian Spraggins (3.4 ppg)

C: Jared Mayfield (5.8 ppg)

BENCH: 20.1 ppg

BY JUSTIN JACKSON

The Dominion Post

Don't look now, but the Morgantown High boys' basketball team is at it again.

Last season, the Mohigans were expected to finish near .500, but instead went 22-4 and advanced to the state's Final Four.

Although four senior starters graduated from that team, the Mohigans are stilling rolling, posting a 9-2 record and leading the North Central Athletic Conference with a 6-1 mark.

The Mohigans are also ranked No. 10 in the state as they prepare to host tonight's 7 p.m. game with crosstown rival University High.

"For the most part, we like to think we're building a complete program," MHS coach Tom Yester said. "We have a terrific freshman coach in Lindsay VanVoorhis, who has lost only one game this season. Coach (Jeff) Hoffman does a fine job with the junior varsity program.

"We're very fortunate to have had a core group of players over the last few years that have played basketball all year long."

Yester said he sees some comparisons with last year's surprising team.

"If anything else, we're extremely quick on the perimeter, just like we were last year," Yester said. "I think we're a little more defensive-minded than we were last year and we're probably just as athletic."

The Mohigans enter tonight's game on an eight-game winning streak, while the Hawks are coming off a tough 71-61 overtime loss, to Elkins. Bruce Clinton's first season at UHS (3-10, 2-7) has seen more downs than ups.

In three games against the Mohigans last year, UHS was outscored, 232-132.

"We have to be committed to understanding what University High has and what we have," Yester said. "UHS has a lot of potential, because they have some very athletic players. Now, I'm not sure if UHS has realized its full potential, yet, and I hope they don't do it against us.

"Our team last year was very good at finding the hot players and getting them the ball. We're still fine tuning that part of our game. As far as University is concerned, I think they just need more time to gel as a team."

University's Casey Jackson is the third-leading scorer in the area, averaging 14.5 points, but MHS will counter with Tyler Benson, Kameron Law and Seth Fogarty, who combine for 39 points a game.

"There will be some interesting matchups in this game," Yester said. "I think Kameron Law against Julian Spraggins will be a nice matchup," Yester said. "We're going to stick Fogarty on Jackson and we'll find out quickly who the better man is there."