Mohigans open state play today
MHS confident for game with Capital
BY ERIC HANLON The Dominion Post

With three more wins, the Morgantown High boys’ basketball team will be named the state Class AAA champion.
But first, the Mohigans have to get the first one.
“In a tournament situation, you have to earn confidence the first game, get lucky the second game and then the third game is about state of mind,” MHS head coach Tom Yester said.
The fifth-seeded Mohigans (19-4) will hope to grab some of that firstgame confidence in the state tournment’s opening round today, at 11:15 a.m., in Charleston, where they’ll meet fourth-seeded Capital (21-5).
Despite being the lower seed, the Mohigans are a confident bunch.
“They can beat any team on any given day,” MHS head coach Tom Yester said of Capital. “But I think we can beat any team, too.”
Going in, it is clear the two teams play very different brands of basketball.
“They’re quick as cats,” Yester said of the Cougars.
Morgantown is big, tough and relies on defense to win games. Capital is small, fast and scores — a lot.
“It’ll be quickness against ...” Yester said and paused, then added with a chuckle, “hopefully, stealth ... stealth and power.”
The Cougars score 74 points per game, and four of their players average double-digits. The Cougars have scored more than 90 five times.
“They play with four people out, which is a similar style to what Fairmont Senior runs in terms of their offensive attack,” Yester said. “They shoot 3s and take it really hard to the rack. Then they pressure you full- and halfcourt with man-to-man. They’re very athletic.”
Capital has, however, surrendered 60 points per game this season and allowed 90 or more three times, going 0-3 in those games.
The Mohigans allow just 48 points per game and have allowed opponents to score more than 59 points just three times, going 1-2 in those games.
“We’ll probably play more zones against them because of matchups,” Yester said. “It’s hard for us to match up with their kids speed-wise, but it can be beaten.”
Meanwhile, the Mohigans score 63 ppg.
“I know we’re going to play defense,” MHS senior Jordan Barnett said. “We just have to make sure we’re patient enough on offense. We need to take time and find the hoop.”
The two teams are relatively even against Class AAA tournament-level competition.
The Cougars are 1-1 against teams in the tourney — they beat South Charleston and lost to Logan. The Mohigans are 2-2 — they beat Logan and Martinsburg and lost to Wheeling Park, twice.