Hartman powers Keyser past Mountain Ridge in overtime

Cumberland Times-News

KEYSER — Junior Preston Hartman and junior Jeremy Green each posted double-doubles for Keyser as the Golden Tornado held off a late Mountain Ridge charge for a 71-69 overtime victory in their season opener Friday evening.

Hartman scored 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while Green netted 12 points and had 12 rebounds. Matt Wilmer scored 15 points for the Tornado.

“I didn't know what to expect heading into tonight,” said Keyser first-year head coach Gary Liston. “We played and executed the offense well and it's nice to get a win and start the season off this way. It's also a good start for the new coaching staff."

Despite Hartman's gutsy performance, he was outgunned by the Miners' Brandon Wright. The 6-foot-3 senior scored a game-high 36 points and pulled in 12 rebounds. Wright made 13 straight baskets in the third and fourth quarters and for much of the overtime to lead Mountain Ridge (2-1 overall, 1-1 Appalachian Mountain Athletic Conference) back from a 10-point third-quarter deficit. Wright missed a jumper with just eight seconds left that would have tied the game for the Miners.

Wright finished the night shooting 16-of-22 (73 percent) from the floor with one three-pointer, and was 3-of-4 from the foul line.

David Hobel scored 10 points and passed out 12 assists while Bobby Smith came off the bench to add 15 points and eight boards for the Miners, who shot 55 percent (17-for-31) from the field in the second half.

Wilmer opened the third quarter for Keyser with a three-pointer that put the Tornado up by 10, 37-27. The Miners narrow the gap to 48-45 with 1:16 to play. Wilmer ended the quarter's scoring with a jumper with 34 seconds left.

In the final quarter, the teams battled back-and-forth until Mountain Ridge captured its first lead of the contest at 4:46, 58-57. The lead would change hands two more times and was tied three times over the final 4:30.

In the overtime, Wright’s three-point put Mountain Ridge up 67-66 with 3:18 to go. Hartman made a layup with 45 seconds left to put the Tornado ahead for good and Green sealed the win with a late free throw.

In the first half Keyser led the entire way behind 15 points and seven rebounds from Hartman.

The Tornado jumped out quick with an 8-2 lead behind four points and an assist from Hartman. Mountain Ridge battled back to close the gap 8-7 with 5:13 left in the first quarter. Keyser led at the end of the half 19-12.

In the second, the Miners narrowed the deficit to four points just over three minutes in but Keyser rebounded to extend its lead to double digits, 30-20 at 4:09. Mountain Ridge’s Bobby Smith scored four points in the final minute of the second quarter, and Keyser led at the break 32-25.

Keyser won the junior varsity game, 56-34, with Jarrell Ross scoring 16 points. Chris Sowers scored 12 points for Mountain Ridge.

Keyser won the freshman game, 50-32, with Payton Hartman scoring 12 points.

Mountain Ridge plays Tuesday at Fort Hill. Keyser hosts Frankfort on Wednesday.

Golden Tornado Win in Overtime

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Updated 2007-08 Team Statistics

Click here for the current statistics for the 2007-2008 team. Once at the main menu, click on "GAME RESULTS" for game by game statistics or click on "TEAM/ROSTER" for season statistics.

Keyser boys open season tonight at home

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2007-2008 VARSITY GOLDEN TORNADO

Front L to R: Matt Wilmer, Cody Spotts, Lucas Carr,
Jarell Ross, and Coach Harr
Back L to R: Coach Furey, Jeremy Green, Kevin Smith,
Taige Redman, Preston Hartman, Caleb Jones,
Tyler Logsdon and Coach Liston

Coach Gary Liston

Gary Liston graduated from Kingwood High School in 1974. He attended Potomac State College from 1974-1976 and graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor's degree in physical education and driver education teaching in 1980. He received his degree in Health Education from West Virginia University in 2003. He is currently teaching driver education at Keyser High School.
Coach Liston began his coaching career at Elk Garden High School, where he led the boy's basketball program from 1982-1990 and again from 1995-1997. While at Elk Garden, Coach Liston also led the varsity girl's basketball team from 1982-1987 and again in 1989 and the varsity baseball team from 1983-1987.
From 1990-1994, Coach Liston led the men’s basketball program at Potomac State College, in Keyser, WV.
During the 2001-2002 season, Coach Liston assumed the duties of head women's basketball coach at Potomac State College, finishing with a record of 7-17. During the 2002-03 season, the Lady Cats finished first in the nation in scoring with an average of 84.76 and a record of 20-5. The following season the Lady Cats finished with a 21-4 record, marking the first time in 19 years the Lady Cats had sported back-to-back 20 win seasons. The Lady Cats were named the 2003-2004 WPCC regular season and tournament champions after only their second season in the League. Coach Liston was named the
2003-04 WPCC Coach of the Year. Having served led both the Men's and Women's basketball programs at Potomac State College, Coach Liston is the only coach to have led both the men's and women's programs to a nationally ranked status during his tenure.
Coach Liston resides in Keyser, W.Va. with his wife Ann, who is a Paraprofessional at Keyser Primary-Middle School. Ann also serves as the team statistician. They have two daughters, Kerri Gibbs, currently living in Gainesville, Virginia with her husband Les an executive for a FD Systems in Herndon, Va., and their 1-year old son, Tyler; and Jennifer, a Probation and Parole Officer with the State of West Virginia Division of Corrections in Keyser, WV.

Coach Scott Furey

Scott Furey is a three sport coach and a teacher at KHS. A 1994 graduate of Keyser High School, he also attended Frankfort High School for two years, playing football, basketball, golf and track, while in high school. After starting out as a volunteer for the Mini-Steeler/Tornado programs while in High School and in College at Potomac State, he has been on the KHS football staff for 10 seasons. The first five as the Head Freshman Coach, while serving as the quarterbacks and defensive backs coach for the past five seasons.
Coach Furey has also been on the track staff for 10 years, coaching four State Champions and 11 State Runners-up. Over 30 athletes have been named All-State during his tenure.
Coach Furey’s 12-year basketball career began in the Keyser Church League where he was part of an undefeated championship team with Coach Jody McDonald. After graduating from Fairmont State College in 1998, he was hired as the JV Boys Basketball Coach under Coach Ed Jordan. After two seasons with the boys, Coach Furey took over for retired coach Terry Larue as the Head Girls Basketball Coach. He was fortunate enough to coach two of the best seasons in KHS history, with a record tying (most wins in a season) 17-7 mark in 2001-2002 and the highest scoring team (55 ppg) in KHS history in 2006-07. His teams won one sectional championship and were also Regional Runner-up in 2001-02. Thirteen former Lady Tornado have gone on to play seven college sports as diverse as track, cross country, rugby, softball, tennis and soccer. Four former Lady Tornado went to play College Basketball.
He lives in Keyser with his wife Kim and son Christopher.