Alco edges Keyser by a bucket, 74-72

Mineral Daily News Tribune

CUMBERLAND, Md. - Cameron Butler scored 17 points to lead five players in double figures as the Allegany Campers held off a late Keyser rally to defeat the Golden Tornado, 74-72, on Wednesday evening in Cumberland.

Matt Wilmer scored a game-high 25 points for Keyser, but it wasn't enough to help the Golden Tornado overcome foul trouble and 26 turnovers.

It also didn't help that the game had to be played without an electronic scoreboard, which was not functioning properly.

Both the score and the official time had to be kept on the sideline.

“That was very difficult,” said Keyser head coach Gary Liston. “We didn't know when to foul near the end of the game. We couldn't look at the clock to avoid a 10-second violation. Not being able to look up at the score wasn't so bad, but the time clock was definitely bad.”

What was also bad was Keyser's play in the second half, which has been a theme for the Golden Tornado so far in the young season.

Keyser lead by six points, 18-12, after the first quarter and increased that lead to 10 points, 37-27, at the half.

But things began to unravel for Keyser in the third quarter, as eight turnovers and foul problems led to just 10 points for the Golden Tornado and a 51-47 Allegany lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Campers led by as many as 12 points in the final quarter before Keyser mounted a furious rally which fell short when Allegany sank some clutch free throws down the stretch.

“It's the same thing we've been looking at all year - great first half, bad second half,” said Liston. “Preston (Hartman) picked up his fourth foul early in the fourth quarter, and when you lose one of your better offensive players, combined with eight turnovers, you fall behind.

“The effort was great once again, but we have been consistently inconsistent, and we're trying to fix that. We make improvements in one area and another bites us.”

Despite the foul trouble, Hartman finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds and three steals, while Jeremy Green added 16 points and Cody Spotts dished out a team-high four assists.

Travis Dordevic had 16 points for Allegany, while Casey Roberts added 14, Dustin Wharton had 11, and Jeff Babich had 10.

In JV action, Keyser dropped its first game of the season, 60-54.

R.C. Pratt led the Golden Tornado (3-1) with 21 points and four rebounds, while Wesley Stullenbarger added 12 points.

Daniel Zinn pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and Wes Washington added seven rebounds and five assists.

Adam Boor led the Allegany JVs with a game-high 25 points.

Keyser (3-3) will return to action this Friday evening when it hosts Hampshire at 7:30 p.m., with the JV game set to begin at 6 p.m.