MOHIGAN VARSITY FINISHES 40-9 7/07/09

The Morgantown High Varsity (returning players, only) continued the spring/summer portion of their off-season with a 40-9 record. Of the 9 losses, seven of them occurred when the team was either competing as a split squad or had injuries to key players. During a recent span of 7 days the team played 15 games in 7 days. Losses to Akron area Hudson High School (by 2 points), Erie Cathedral Prep (by 7 points) and to Erie McDowell High School (at the buzzer) marked a very competitive schedule during the span which included 12 wins. During the week MHS competed in the WVU Team Camp and Erie Girard shootout. A partial group of the players will compete in the Jam Fest on July 13-16 and host Erie Girard on July 17.

MOHIGANS HANDLE HUSKIES, FALL IN KNIGHT-CAP
By Johnnie Mohigan
6-6-09

The Preston Knights pulled off one of it’s the bigger wins in a long time with a 46-41 victory over Morgantown High in summer league at Fairmont West on Friday night. Both teams at full strength, matched each other in the back and forth tussle. In the end it was poor shooting that doomed Morgantown. “We couldn’t throw it in Lake Erie if we were standing on the beach,” said Coach Hoffman. “We shot something like 13-54 and only 20% from three-point-range. For us to be good, we have to shoot well, which this group usually does.” 

 “We have to take the ball to the basket more for us to be successful,” said point guard Evan Berryhill. “If your shots are not dropping, then you have to take it to the hole.”

 Leading the way for the Mohigans (13-6 this spring), was Luke Meador with 10 points and Sam Runner with 8 points.  Michael Keffer had 7 rebounds but did not score. Taylor Price only had 3 points. “We have to get more production out of Taylor Price, he is a heck of a player and hard match up for other teams,” Said Coach Hoffman.

 In the opening game of the night, MHS spanked North Marion by a score of 72-43. Leading the way with 17 points and 6 rebounds was Nathan Colombo. Jordan Barnett added 13 points and Carlton Drake dropped in 9 points and had 5 rebounds. Shooting 52% from the floor (22-42) and 6 for 20 from three-point-range, the Mohigans handled the Huskies, easily. “I have to give North Marion a lot of credit, they used their whole bench and came after us,” said Hoffman. “We were just on our game and making shots. When we do that, we are tough to stop.”

 MHS will play Fairmont West and East on Monday night at 4:00 and 6:00 at the West Fairmont Gym.

MORGANTOWN VARSITY CLAIMS TRINITY WASHINGTON SHOOTOUT

The Morgantown Varsity (returning players) ran its spring record to 7-3 with a 4-1 record at the Hiller Classic at Trinity High School in Washington, Pa. over the weekend. They have now won six of their last eight games. Two weekends ago, they lost in the semifinals of the 63 team Mountaineer Shootout. Leading the way in Washington was Sam Runner and Luke Meador who each averaged 12 points per game. Sam added 6 rebounds per game and Luke was 6-12 from three point range in the tournament. Jordan Barnett added 9 points per game and shot 10-12 from the free thrown line in the final two games to help seal the victories over all star teams from Garrett County and the Slippery Rock/ Grove City area. Nathan Colombo averaged 6 ppg and 6 rebounds per game, Michael Keffer averaged 7 points per game and shot a blistering 40% from three point range. Evan Berryhill and Carlton Drake led the team with 4 and 3 assists per game and each averaged better than two points per game. TJ Elchuck chipped in 5 points per game. Ben Blemings, playing in his first tournament of the spring had a strong showing with 8 points per game and 4 rebounds per game. Other victories were over Columbus Elite and a team out of the California Pa, area. Taylor Price is still recovering from an ankle injury and will join the team for their next tournament in two weeks. The team is coached by Jeff Hoffman and Bob Fletcher.