Sports in The Dominion Post
This article appeared in the Dominion Post Newspaper on January 24, 2003.
Law seals verdict for MHS
Big man's huge 2nd half buries No. 3 FSHS, 61-42
Ian Benson/The Dominion Post
Morgantown's Ben Torsney, who just grabbed a rebound, dishes a quick pass to Seth Fogarty (right).
Ian Benson/The Dominion Post
MHS's Geremy Rodamer (21), Chad Murray battle for a rebound.
BY KELLY CARR
The Dominion Post
After a scoreless first half from Morgantown High's Kameron Law, Mohigans coach Tom Yester felt a little ripped off.
"He scores double digits every game," Yester said. "He owed us some points."
The 6-foot-6 junior has become accustomed to high expectations.
And after 16 minutes of yelling from Yester, Law knew exactly what would quiet his coach.
Law exploded in the second half, scoring all of his 15 points to lead Morgantown past No. 3 Fairmont Senior, 61-42, Thursday, in an NCAC boys' game.
"It took a while to get me started and I got frustrated with myself," Law said. "Coach told me to slow down and I was able to take advantage of some mismatches."
With MHS leading, 37-24, in the third quarter, Law knocked in back-to back 3-pointers.
A pair of lay-ups, one each from Matt Simpson and Law, gave the Mohigans a 47-31 advantage at the end of the quarter.
"I shoot 3's but usually not that many," Law said. "Coach said if they gave me room to take them. He gave me the green light. When I shot the first one, I thought, 'Please let this go in. I need it to start the second half.'"
After outscoring the Polar Bears, 17-9, in the third, Morgantown carried its momentum into the fourth. Seth Fogarty scored seven points in the quarter and Law added five to assure the victory.
While Law did a good job scoring points in the second half, his teammate Tyler Benson controlled the first.
Benson nailed 11 points, including three treys, for the Mohigans, who had a halftime lead of 30-22.
While Morgantown limited the Polar Bears' key outside shooter, Stephen Sutherland, to just a bucket in the first half, Benson had no problem finding room.
"Stephen is the best 3-point shooter in West Virginia," Yester said. "All he needs is a little room, and we tried not to give him any."
Morgantown jumped to a 15-11 lead thanks to consistent shooting from Benson, Fogarty and Ben Torsney. Benson fired in five points while Fogarty and Torsney added four apiece.
Although Fairmont Senior's Paul Kettering managed to score 10 points, the Polar Bears still found themselves trailing.
Morgantown outscored Fairmont Senior, 15-11, once again in the second. Benson had six and Chad Murray four to keep the Mohigans in control.
But Morgantown's defense can be credited for its lead throughout the game. The Polar Bears (9-2), whose only previous loss was to Robert C. Byrd early in the season, committed one fundamental error after another.
With their top two scorers, Sutherland and Drew Hannah, silenced by the Mohigans, the game slipped further and further out of Fairmont's reach.
"Our key is defense and I think it was pretty darn good tonight," Yester said. "Offense will come and go, but you have to recognize players on the other team and how they can hurt you. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but it did tonight."
Law agreed with his coach.
"Defense is our offense," he said. "It is our strong point. If we can defend people, shots will eventually go in."
Box score
MORGANTOWN 61, EAST FAIRMONT 42
MORGANTOWN (7-2)
Murray 2 0-0 4, Benson 5 1-2 15, Rodamer 2 4-6 8, Dalton 0 0-0 0, Fogarty 5 1-1 11, Law 6 0-0 15, Williams 0 0-0 0, Torsney 3 0-0 6, Simpson 1 0-0 2, Holt 0 0-0 0, Minutelli 0 0-0 0, Kerns 0 0-0 0, Jones 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 6-9 61 61.
FAIRMONT SENIOR (9-2)
Henson 0 0-0 0, Kettering 6 4-6 17, Sutherland 2 0-0 5, Layfield 4 2-5 6, Cimaglia 0 0-0 0, Whiting 1 3-4 5, Donato 0 1-1 1, Hannah 2 0-2 4, Celaschi 0 0-0 0, Bartie 1 1-1 4. Totals 16 11-19 42.
Morgantown High15 15 17 14 -- 61
Fairmont Senior11 11 9 11 -- 42
3-point goals--Morgantown 7 (Benson 4, Law 3), Fairmont Senior 3 (Sutherland 1, Kettering 1, Bartie 1).