Hatfield, Lindsay total 38
BY RYAN MCNEIL The Dominion Post
RYAN MCNEIL is a sports reporter for The Dominion Post. He can be reached at sports@dominionpost.com
Morgantown boys’ basketball coach Tom Yester knew his team needed a big performance from the starting backcourt of John Hatfield and Jeff Lindsay against Elkins. The duo answered the challenge Wednesday. Lindsay and Hatfield combined for 38 points as the Mohigans defeated Elkins, 77-58, at the MHS gymnasium. “Jeff and John are the key to our offense,” Yester said. “Jeff almost had a double-double tonight, he was nice and consistent. Hatfield also had a nice night.” Lindsay led the Mohigans with 20 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Hatfield finished with 18 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Morgantown was 32-of-56 from the field for a sparkling 57 percent. Yester credited his transition offense with the performance. “I will take that any day,” Yester said. “Our transition and running game were working tonight. We really stretched the floor well.” Even though Morgantown’s offense was clicking, the Tigers trailed only 52-46 heading into the fourth quarter. Elkins tried to use a full-court press but the Mohigans picked it apart.
Senior Nathan Pearson was the beneficiary of Morgantown’s tremendous press break. The forward was the deep man on the break and he collected 11 of his 13 points in the final period.
“Nathan was excellent in the fourth quarter,” Yester said. “He was at the right spot at the back of the press. We attacked the press like we should and kept hitting the low man.”
Jordan Lawson led the Tigers, with 20 points, going 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Roy Schneider added 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
“Schneider is a real nice player,” Yester said. “His post moves are incredible. He gets low and uses his body down there.”
J.T. Lewis added 11 points and seven rebounds for the Mohigans. Elliot Law came off the bench and chipped in six points and three rebounds.
“J.T. had one of his better games of the season,” Yester said. “Elliot came off the bench and he gave us some athleticism out there.”
Yester said he was pleased with the way his defense picked it up in the second half. “Early in the game, we were lax on defense. We were switching in and out of zones. In the second half, we really turned it up when we went man-to-man. It was a close game but our depth and defensive pressure helped us in the end.”
