2nd half all MHS
Mohigans find answer to Bears’ pressure in reprise
BY DEVON UNGER
For The Dominion Post
A close game in the first half quickly turned into a blowout as the No. 5 Morgantown High boys’ basketball team used a dominant third quarter to down No. 2 Fairmont Senior, 57-43, Thursday night.
After shooting 14.3 percent from the field in the first half, the Mohigans (16-5), opened the second half on a tear, getting steals and finishing around the basket. The Polar Bears (18-4) mounted a small rally in the fourth, but were ultimately put away by MHS’s consistent defense and effort.
The win gives the Mohigans a measure of revenge for a 65-44 loss in Fairmont earlier in the season. Junior forward Nathan Adrian said the team did a better job handling Fairmont Senior’s fullcourt pressure.
“We didn’t have as much trouble this time, and we got the ball inside more,” he said.
Adrian finished with a doubledouble with 12 rebounds and a game-high 30 points, despite struggling from the field in the first half, going 2-foot-11. The third quarter was a different story, as Adrian netted 12 points, shooting 6 of 8.
Adrian said the team played more zone defense this game to neutralize Fairmont’s speed. The Mohigans’ zone held FSHS to 27 percent shooting. Junior guard Travon Horton had a team-high eighteen for the Polar Bears.
MHS head coach Tom Yester echoed Adrian. He was pleased with the effort, particularly rebounding, and he said his team handled the pressure exceptionally well.
“We were pretty consistent on defense, made them try to shoot over the top, and tried to go get the rebound. We had good effort on the boards,” he said.
Yester said he hopes the team can enter the postseason with a win over John Marshall on Saturday at MHS. It will be the last regular season game for four Mohigan seniors.
MORGANTOWN (16-5) Johnson 2 0-0 4, Colasante 1 1-2 3, Marshall 2 2-3 6, Adrian 11 9-9 30, Agnew 2 0-0 4, Leftridge 0 6-8 6, Loudin 1 0-0 2, Allen 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 18-22 57. FAIRMONT SENIOR (18-4) V. Jones 5 0-0 12, Washington 2 0-0 4, Waites 1 2-2 4, Horton 5 5-7 18, Cook 1 0-0 2, Norman 1 0-0 3. Totals. 15 7-9 43. MHS 8 9 21 19 — 57 FSHS 9 6 10 18 — 43 3-point field goals: Morgantown 0. Fairmont Senior 6 (Horton 3, V. Jones 2, Norman 1).
Wheeling Park 55 University High 45
WHEELING — Demetrius “Boo” Lathon scored 19 points and Errin Baynes added 18 as Wheeling Park defeated the Hawks, 55-45, in Thursday night’s regular-season finale. Wheeling Park (17-5) jumped out to a seven-point first-quarter lead and never looked back in beating the Hawks (11-11). The teams meet again here Wednesday in the sectional playoffs. “We got out to a slow start at the beginning getting up to game speed,” UHS coach Paul Ingle said. “For most of the rest of the quarters we played competitively. It’s just a matter of us getting our feet on the ground and starting to hit a few shots.
“Unfortunately, they are an awfully good team. We need to do a better job on our defensive boards. Lathon gave us a lot of trouble, and Baynes got out in transition. We have to do a better job in defensive transition.”
Travis Tomer and Curl Dixon led UHS with nine points apiece. Deion Cunningham scored eight.
UHS (11-11)
Tomer 3 2-2 9, G. Gutmann 0 0-0 0, C. Dixon 3 2-3 9, Cunningham 3 2-2 8, Bodkin 0 0-0 0, Fraser 2 2-4 6, Warden 1 0-0 2, Shade 1 0-0 2, N. Gutmann 2 0-0 4, McLaughlin 1 0-0 2, Tev. Dixon 1 0-0 3. Totals 17 8-11 45.
WHEELING PARK (17-5)
Popicg 0 2-2 2, Baynes 7 4-5 18, Peluchette 1 0-0 2, Saseen 1 0-0 2, Bell 4 2-6 10, Geisel 1 0-0 2, Lathon 9 1-4 19. Totals 23 9-17 55.
UHS 8 14 11 12 — 45
WP 15 13 12 15 — 55
3-pointers: UHS 3(Tomer, C. Dixon, Tev. Dixon).
Jason DeProspero/The Dominion Post

Morgantown’s Nathan Adrian shoots over Fairmont Senior’s Channing Cook during their game Thursday at MHS.