BOYS’ CLASS AAA ALL-STATE BASKETBALL
Preston’s Galusky first team
MHS’s Core, Solomon, UHS’s Dixon honored
Staff, submitted reports

Preston High senior Jimmy Galusky was named to the Class AAA boys’ basketball all-state first team, as chosen by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association and announced today.
The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 25.6 points per game — the second-most in Class AAA behind George Washington senior Jon Elmore, who poured in 31.5 ppg and was named the captain of the all-state team.
Morgantown’s Scottie Core and Steven Solomon and University’s Tevin Dixon were also honored.
Galusky tore down 9.8 rebounds, made 4.3 steals and dished 3.1 assists per game for the Knights (11-14), who challenged Parkersburg South in a Region I final before falling, 70-66, in Parkersburg.
Galusky, who has committed to WVU to play baseball, finished his career as Preston’s all-time leading scorer, with 1,467 points.
He is the first Knight to make the all-state boys’ basketball team since T.J. Thompson, in 2010.
Core, a senior guard, was selected to the third team, after averaging 14.7 ppg and leading the Mohigans (15-11) to an OVAC championship, a Region I title, a Region I Section II title and a state tournament appearance.
Solomon, a sophomore point guard who scored 11.2 ppg, and Dixon, a senior point guard who scored 11.6 ppg, earned honorable mention.
Other first-team picks were Washington senior guard Dominique Newman (21 ppg), Hedgesville senior guard C.J. Burks (20 ppg), Musselman senior forward Trevon Wesco (22.2 ppg, 13.5 rebounds per game), Greenbrier East guard Rondale Watson (22.7 ppg), Lewis County center John Riley (24.8 ppg and 13.4 rpg), and South Charleston guard Brandon Knapper (18.9 ppg).
Woodrow Wilson senior guard Donte Nabors was chosen as the captain of the second team, while South Charleston junior forward A.D. Cunningham was named third-team captain. Nabors averaged 17.2 ppg, Cunningham 15.5.
Evans Award
George Washington’s Elmore won the Evans Award, given each year by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association to the state’s top boys’ player.
Second-place Brandon Knapper, of South Charleston, finished with fewer than half of Elmore’s total votes.
Elmore’s 31.4 ppg average was the state’s highest since 2011. That year, Ripley senior and current Brigham Young University guard Chase Fischer averaged 32.1 points and also won the Evans Award.
Elmore broke Eddy’s school season scoring record with 815 points in 26 games.
Elmore’s father, Gay Elmore, won the Evans Award while a senior at South Charleston, in 1982. It’s the only father-son combination to each win high school basketball’s highest individual honor in West Virginia.
Girls’ Player of Year
Huntington St. Joe guard Mychal Johnson earned the honor from the sports writers group.
Johnson won four state championship at St. Joe, and her teams never lost a game against West Virginia competition.
Johnson, who also won the Gatorade West Virginia State Player of the Year award for the second-straight year, averaged 20.3 ppg, 5.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.9 steals for the Irish, who finished 23-3.
The Notre Dame commit concluded her career in West Virginia basketball having never lost to an in-state opponent in middle school or high school.
University High’s Mariah Callen finished third in the voting.

Core, Dixon to play in OVAC all-star game
The Dominion Post
Morgantown senior Scottie Core and University senior Tevin Dixon were selected to play in the Ohio Va l l e y Athletic Conference ( OVAC ) all-star game, April 6, in St. C l a i r s v i l l e, O h i o.
The game will tip off at 4 p.m. at Ohio Eastern U n ive r s i t y.
Dixon, a senior point guard, averaged 11.6 points per game, and made 55 3-pointers on the season.
Core led the Mohigans to the OVAC championship, a Region I title, a Region I Section II title and a state tournament appearance. He led MHS in scoring with 14.7 points per game and set a record by scoring 25 points in a 5A OVAC championship game.

Yester, Ingle resign
UHS, MHS head coach jobs open

BY JUSTIN JACKSON AND KRISTIN KURELIC
The Dominion Post

Both Morgantown and University high schools will have new head boys’ basketball coaches next season.
According to Monongalia County Superintendent Frank Devono, his office received resignation letters from MHS coach Tom Yester and UHS coach Paul Ingle this week.
Devono said both resignations would need to be approved by the Mon County Board of Education (BOE), which meets Tuesday. “That step is pretty much a form a l i t y, ” he said.
Ye s t e r ’s resignation came after 42 years as a head coach, 32 of them with the Mohigans.
MHS finished 15-11 and played in the state tournament this season. The Mohigans fell to top-seeded Washington, 81-61, in the first round We d n e s d ay.
“I am retiring, and I just want to thank all the players that I’ve ever had for the great times that we’ve had,” Yester said Friday evening. “It’s nice to watch a lot of them grow into their professions and their families and that type of thing. That’s been particularly pleasing for me. This group this year was a good group. Got a lot of kids coming back, but when it’s time, it’s time.”
Ingle, who was hired as the Hawks’ boys varsity coach in 2009, but also served as the UHS freshman boys’ and assistant girls’ varsity coach in previous years, said he was appreciative of his opportunity to coach at UHS.
“I was fortunate to have been the University High School basketball coach,” Ingle said in a text message. “I wish all those in the program and the next head coach the very best of luck.”
Ingle, who is a technology teacher at UHS, will remain in that position with the school.
The Hawks finished 6-17 in Ingle’s final season.
Yester, who is a retired teacher, won 629 games during his 42 seasons and guided the Mohigans to 15 state tournaments and seven state semifinal games.
“I’d like to thank all the great coaches that have worked with me,” Ye s t e r said, naming Allan Collins, Jeff Hoffman, Bill Hines, Dick Parsons, Jason White, Kamela Meikle, Denny Crouso and Dennis Kerns.
“Thanks to them for all we’ve been through together and I enjoyed it. Thanks to all the coaches and other players I’ve gotten to know through this process. I need to thank my administrators and my athletic directors. I’ve had three at Morgantown High: Vic Bonfili, Kelly Geddis and Dan Erenrich. And my principals Ed Jenkins, Tom Hart, John George and Bob DeSantis.
“Most of all, I’d like to thank my wife and kids for being my rock and my support. Wish Morgantown High all the success.”
Ye s t e r ’s final season was marred by a three-game suspension in January after the family of a player alleged their son was assaulted by the veteran coach.
Yester denied all allegations and no charges were filed.
The player eventually quit the team.
When asked if the suspension played a role in his resignation, Yester declined to comment.
He coached five former players to first-team all-state honors and the Mohigans won 13 conference championships under Yester.
“It’s certainly two big positions to fill,” Devono said.
Devono said he expected both openings to be posted by the board by April 1.
According to state law, the openings must be posted for a minimum of five working days and a maximum of 10.
After the postings are closed, a short list of candidates will be determined by each school.
“It will probably be two or three names (for each school),” Devono said.
Interview teams, including a member of the county’s board office, according to Devono, will be set up and the candidates will be called in for interviews.
Under that time frame, it’s possible two new coaches could be hired by the end of this school year.

WASHINGTON 81, MORGANTOWN 61
Unbeaten Pats overpower MHS
Mohigans bow in first round of state tourney

BY KRISTIN KURELIC
The Dominion Post
CHARLESTON — When a team is not only the favorite at the state tournament, but also projected to dominate, it can be hard to live up to such lofty expectations.
This past season’s top dog, Martinsburg, found that out when it narrowly defeated Huntington, 60-50, in the 2013 quarterfinals, after the Highlanders had the game tied at 48 with 3:50 minutes to play. After the scare, the Bulldogs and their star, Donte Grantham, went on to win the state title.
This year’s top seed, undefeated Washington High, was immune to any such pressure in its opening 81-61 win against Morgantown High, on Wednesday evening, at the Charleston Civic Center.
Wa s h i n g t o n’s closest game this season was a 69-66 win against Maryland’s Oakdale, in its season opener. Hedgesville gave the Patriots (25-0) their closest in-state contest, falling, 49-44, on Feb. 18.
As the first Class AAA team to enter the state tournament undefeated since Woodrow Wilson, in 1994, Washington has won the rest of its games by double figures.
The Patriots continued that streak against the No. 8 seed Mohigans (15-11).
“At the beginning of the season, we were named Number 1, but I never even heard the kids really talk about it that much,” Wa s h - ington head coach Don Bullett said. “They haven’t talked about it all year long. This group, they enjoy playing the game of basketball. They enjoy playing with each other and it hasn’t been a focus being Number 1. I didn’t think we would come down here and feel any pressure. Our kids just say, ‘One game at a time, one possession at a time.’ ”
The Mohigans briefly held a 4-3 lead after two minutes, before the Patriots went on a 20-4 run to lead, 23-8, after the first quarter. Washington led, 43-20, by halftime and had its largest advantage at 59-32, with 11 seconds left in the third quarter.
With the win, the Patriots advance to the semifinals to face the winner of t o d ay ’s contest between No. 4 George Washington and No. 5 Huntington. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. Friday.
“I thought our kids did a nice job in transition and I thought we also did a nice job defensively. We were able to rebound and push the ball up the floor. We also did a nice job in our half-court set when we needed to,” Bullett said. “So I thought the kids played well tonight, but I think we can play better.”
When Washington standout guard Dominque Newman swished a 24-foot 3-pointer with just 11 seconds off the clock Wednesday, the tone was set.
“We just go out there and try not to rush things. Coach Bullett stresses letting the game come to you, so we just stay patient and stay unselfish,” Newman said. “If you give me space, I’m going to shoot it. When I get it, I’m going to shoot it, and that was a good look.”
The Patriots gained immediate momentum and confidence, while the Mohigans were forced to extend their defense to cover Newman. It gave the 6-foot-5 Kendell Smith and 6-4 Josh Dudley too much breathing room in the paint.
Newman and Dudley had 18 points and four rebounds apiece, and Smith grabbed 16 rebounds with his 15 points. Jerome Jones added 11 points and eight boards, and Maleke Jones scored 10 to give the Patriots five players in double figures.
The Patriots were taller, stronger and, most significantly, faster at every position. They scored most of their baskets in transition, as a result of steals from their smothering man-toman defense.
The Mohigans struggled to get open looks at the basket and had 16 turnovers. Ten of them came in the first half, when Washington had just one.
The Patriots also controlled the glass, with 40 rebounds, but MHS kept it close, with 34.
“That was wonderful, as far as I’m concerned,” MHS head coach Tom Yester said. “But we shot bad shots, and we paid for it. They are very quick and very good to the rim. And of course, Newman can shoot the ball a little bit, as well as some others. Very impressed with their athleticism, but I thought (in the) second half we hung in there and kept fighting and I believe we won the second half by [three points], so you have to look for those things.”
The Mohigans refused to quit, finding some success in the second half with what was simply hard work and physical defense. They sent the Patriots to the foul line, where they struggled to make 20 of 32 attempts (62.5 percent).
“They are obviously really good, and we just had to go out and play our hardest,” said sophomore point guard Steven Solomon, who led MHS with 11 points. “We tried to simulate that in practice, but that’s really hard to simulate, that tall and that athletic. But we played our hardest and I’m proud of the guys, and I wouldn’t want to play on any other team in the state, or have any other teammates.”
While Washington’s roster featured seven seniors, the Mohigans had just three. Scottie Core (seven points, three rebounds), Shaun Carden (nine points, five boards) and Andy Vac ended their MHS careers.
Junior guard Zakeem Davis and sophomore forward Elvin McNally added nine points and six rebounds apiece for MHS. Four sophomores got state tournament experience, and they return with the rest of the Mohigans after a season of growth.
“This group, I told them, ‘Yo u ’ve gotta look like that next year. That senior laden group that you just played, you’ve gotta become that group (Washington),’ ” Yester said. “I’m very proud of them, and I didn’t have anything bad to say. We made a lot of mistakes, but we did correct some of them in the second half, and everybody got a chance on the court and that was good for them.”
MHS started the year at 2-5, but ended it on a 6-2 run and had key victories against top teams such as Martinsburg, Musselman, Parkersburg South and Wheeling Park.
“We ’ve been doing really good in practice, working hard, listening to the coaches, and hopefully we are going to do the same thing next year, but even better,” Mc-Nally said. “Playing this team, it makes the future look even better. Because we know how they play, (it) will make us better, to get in the weight room and get stronger and win the next time.”
MORGANTOWN (15-11)
Morgano 0 0-0 0, Solomon 4 2-3 11, Selby 2 0-0 4, Core 3 0-0 7, McNally 4 0-0 9, Castellanos 0 0-0 0, Shipley 0 0-0 0, Davis 3 3-4 9, Vac 0 0-0 0, Melko 3 0-0 7, Hall 0 0-0 0, Carden 4 1-2 9, Dale 0 0-0 0, King 2 0-0 5. Totals 25 6-9 61.
WASHINGTON (24-0)
Newman 7 0-0 18, Dudley 4 10-14 18, Smith 7 1-7 15, J. Jones 4 3-3 11, M. Jones 3 4-4 10, Stewart 0 0-2 0, French 1 0-0 3, Coles 0 2-2 2, Brunson 2 0-0 4, Shields 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 20-32 81.
Morgantown 8 12 14 27 — 61 Washington 23 20 16 22 — 81
3-point goals: Morgantown 5 (Solomon, Core, McNally, Melko, King). Washington 5 (Newman 4, French).

West Virginia Press Association photo
Washington’s Kendell Smith challenges the MHS defense of Elvin McNally (left) and Kenzie Melko.

West Virginia Press Association photo
Morgantown High’s Antonio Morgano (right) drives to the hoop against Washington’s Dominique Newman, in their state Class AAA quarterfinal game Wednesday.

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BOYS’ STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Washington a big challenge for Mohigans

1st unbeaten Class AAA team at state in 20 years

BY MARK SCHRAF
For The Dominion Post

CLASS AAA QUARTERFINALS: Morgantown vs. Washington 7:15 p.m. today Charleston Civic Center. RADIO: WAJR 1440-AM. TOURNEY bracket. Page 8-B.
The Morgantown High boys’ basketball team is staying at the same Charleston hotel the girls’ squad occupied this past week.
MHS boys’ head coach Tom Yester hopes that fact will lead to similar good fortunes. After all, the Mohigans, under first-year girls’ coach Jason White, won three games in three days to claim their first state title since 2007.
“If it helps us get to the same place as Jason, who coached our ninth-grade team last year — we’re thrilled for him and the girls’ team — we’re all for it,” Yester said. “We ’ll take any help we can get, because we certainly know what’s coming up.”
That would be 24-0 Washington, the No. 1 seed and the first Class AAA team to qualify for state with an unblemished record since Woodrow Wilson, in 1994.
“They’re a very athletic, senior-laden group, which is a nice combination to have,” Ye s t e r said. “Coach (Don) Bullett was a long-time assistant at Martinsburg, so that means you’re gonna see the same kind of game from his kids. They run the floor very well, attack the rim, and pressure the ball from end-to-end. They were in the semifinals last year, and lost to the eventual champions, Martinsburg, so they’re experienced and hungry, too. It’ll be a tall task for us.”
The Patriots enter the Charleston Civic Center having won 22 of 24 games by 15 or more points.
Senior guard Scottie Core, the Mohigans’ best outside shooter, said he’s excited about the challenge of today’s 7:15 p.m. quarterfinal-round game against Washington.
“I haven’t seen them in person, but I can’t wait to see Dominique Newman p l ay, ” Core said of the Patriots’ high-scoring guard. “He’s made 80 3-pointers this year — that’s twice as many as me — and it’s really exciting to have the chance to go out there and measure yourself against the best.
“We ’ve been working really hard in practice to be ready to handle their press,” he said, “because we know that will be a key for us. Coach Yester always has a plan for us, and if we stick to it, I know we can stay with this team, because when we play at our best, we can play with anybody.”
The biggest part of Yester’s plan involves control, in just about every basketball-related form of the word.
“We have to control the tempo, slow things down to a pace we’re comfortable with, which is slower than they want,” Yester said. “We ’ll also have to control the boards, which should limit their transition game and their full-court press. And when they do press, we have to control our emotions, play with poise, and then attack when we have the chance. If we do those things well, get some additional scoring from our bench, and enjoy the moment, embrace the challenge, it should be a lot of fun.”
Core said the No. 8-seed Mohigans (15-10) echoed that message for his younger teammates.
“Go for it now,” he said. “Don’t think you’ll have other chances as a junior or senior. This is the time when we leave it all out there on the court. Hustle for every loose ball, box out on every rebound, do everything you can, because, in my eyes, we can upset these guys.”
The Morgantown-Washington winner will play the Huntington-George Washington winner at 5:30 p.m. Friday, in the state semifinals.
By the way, for those wondering, back in 1994, Woodrow Wilson di