Martinsburg bulldogs MHS
Yester sees bright spots in loss to No. 2
BY ERIC HANLON The Dominon Post

It has been a rough week for the Morgantown High boys’ basketball team. After being beaten, 67-48, Saturday night by the state’s second-ranked team, Martinsburg (11-2), the Mohigans have lost two straight games and are 5-4 on the season.
But in defeat, the Mohigans played one of their better games of the season, leaving them hopeful for the future.
“We gave it our best tonight and we showed no quit,” MHS coach Tom Yester said. “Hopefully, we’ll rise to the top next week.”
The Mohigans committed just 12 turnovers — six in the first quarter — their lowest total in the past three games.
Still, Yester knows his team needs to improve to be a factor come playoff time.
“We had better execution tonight than we did last game, against Fairmont Senior,” Yester said. “Still, I’m not thrilled. I’m only thrilled if we win. But, this is a learning experience because we’re going to have to play teams like this in March.”
For Martinsburg, it was business as usual as the Bulldogs bullied the Mohigans around the glass, outrebounding them, 33-19.
“They’re a very good team and they don’t have any weaknesses,” Yester said. “It’s not by chance that they’re No. 2.”
One Mohigan who certainly was up for the challenge against a much bigger, athletic Martinsburg team was senior Chase Wilson, who finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and four steals.
“Chase had a fine offensive performance. This is probably the best game he’s ever played,” Yester said. “He didn’t start tonight, which is a good thing. Maybe that means that is a good spot for him.”
Wilson routinely made big plays for the Mohigans, who consistently cut 12-point deficits to six or seven. “This was by far my best game,” Wilson said. “What happened was, I just knew we needed a basket while I was out there so I went for it.”
Wilson’s play came as no surprise to his teammates. “I knew it was in him,” MHS junior Sam Runner said of Wilson. “He definitely made a couple of circus shots for us. [Martinsburg] was bigger but he is stronger and he used that.”
Runner tied Wilson for a team-high 11 points.
The Mohigans’ JV team had more success against the Bulldogs, winning, 71-67. Leading the Mohigans (7-0) was Carlton Drake, with 14 points. Nathan Colombo contributed 13 points and Ben Blemings 11.
MARTINSBURG (11-2)
Cato 3 2-4 8, Washington 2 0-0 4, Thorton 8 8-8 27, Cole 1 2-2 4, Walker 6 4-7 17, Rogers 0 0-0 0, Hairiston 1 0-0 2, Mohomed 1 0-0 2, Woodward 1 0-0 3. Totals 23 16-21 67.
MORGANTOWN (5-4)
Anderson 5 0-0 10, Jackson 1 0-0 2, Barnett 0 0-0 0, Petitte 0 1-2 1, Parsons 4 0-0 9, WIlson 4 3-6 11, Runner 5 1-2 11, Caridi 1 0-0 2, Simmons 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 5-10 48.
Martinsburg 16 20 12 19 — 67 Morgantown 10 16 11 18 — 48 3-point goals: Martinsburg 5 (Thorton 3, Walker, Woodward), Morgantown 1 (Parsons).

Jason DeProspero/The Dominion Post Morgantown’s Arius Jackson (center) looks for someone to pass to as Cameron Cato (left) and Inshan Mohamed apply pressure.