Keyser falls to Wyoming East

Mineral Daily News Tribune

Gentry Shrewsbury poured in a game-high 31 points to lead Wyoming East to a 74-60 victory over the Keyser Golden Tornado in the first round of the Westside Family Health Care Classic on Thursday at Westside High School.

After beginning the season 2-0, the Golden Tornado have now lost two straight.

Wyoming East held a slight edge in rebounding, 48-45, but pulled down an astounding 32 offensive rebounds which led to 14 second-chance points.

“To give up 32 offensive rebounds is really unbelievable,” said Keyser head coach Gary Liston. “I don't think I've ever seen that before.”

The game was nip-and-tuck through the first 16 minutes, as the teams played to a 25-25 tie after the first period and a 40-40 tie at the break.

Wyoming East opened things up in the third period and led by 10 points, 62-52, heading into the final period.

“We got into a little foul trouble,” said Liston. “We had to take some key guys out and things unraveled a bit from there.”

Matt Wilmer led Keyser with 17 points, while Jeremy Green added 16 and Preston Hartman had 12.

Hartman also had 10 rebounds and four assists, while Green pulled down 10 boards and Taige Redman had 8.

Cory Willard had 17 points for Wyoming East and Travis Smith added 11.

Keyser will return to action this evening when it takes on Westside at 8 p.m.

Warriors power past Keyser

By Randall Jett
Register-Herald Sports Writer

CLEAR FORK — Gentry Shrewsbury and Travis Smith controlled the backboards for Wyoming East as the Warriors defeated Keyser 74-60 in the opening game of the Family Healthcare Classic Thursday at Westside High School.

Shrewsbury came away with 31 points and 15 rebounds and Smith added 11 points and 10 rebounds as the duo pounded the boards against the Golden Tornado.

“Travis and Gentry inside, that’s a hard matchup for most double-A teams in this state,” said East coach Jesse Lester, who notched his 250th career win. “They are really two real good players around the rim.”

The game started at a frantic pace as both teams scored 25 points in the first quarter.

It didn’t slow down much in the second quarter either as both teams pushed the tempo.

Keyser’s Jeremy Green and Matt Wilmer kept the game tight, scoring 12 apiece in the first half.

“We usually don’t run into people that make us give,” Lester said. “My challenge to them was that we had to play as hard the second half — if not harder — and see if they would give. I don’t know that they ever gave in. I think they just got tired enough that they quit executing and making shots.”

The Tornado and East went to the locker room tied at 40-40.

Things would settle down after the half with the Warriors working the ball inside time and time again after Cory Willard gave East a cushion with back-to-back three-pointers to open the half.

“Willard’s two shots were big to start the second half,” Lester said.

Willard’s outside shooting helped free up the inside for Shrewsbury and East took advantage.

Up 53-50 with 2:331 remaining in the third quarter, Shrewsbury scored in the paint and added a free throw for a three-point play. Willard would follow that with a trey and Keyser never recovered.

“They’re good,’” Lester said. “They fought hard for a long time and never gave in. I think we’ll see Keyser again in Charleston (at the state tournament).”

Willard finished with 17 points.

Keyser was led by Wilmer’s 17 points. Green finished with 16 and Preston Hartman contributed 12 to the Tornado effort.

Wyoming East (4-1) plays Oak Hill (2-1) at 6 p.m. today in the final day of the Family Healthcare Classic.


Keyser (2-2)

Jeremy Green 7 2-2 16, Preston Hartman 5 0-0 12, Taige Redman 0 0-0 0, Cody Spotts 1 0-0 2, Matt Wilmer 6 4-7 17, Caleb Jones 3 0-1 6, Kevin Smith 2 0-2 4, Jarrell Ross 1 0-0 2. Totals: 25 6-12 60.

Wyoming East (4-1)

Cory Willard 6 0-0 17, Evan Muscari 2 2-4 7, Adam Repass 0 1-2 1, Gentry Shrewsbury 13 5-8 31, Travis Smith 5 1-2 11, Blake Cook 1 0-2 2, Brandon Belcher 0 4-4 4, Anthony Fuller 0 1-2 1, Kody McCracken 0 0-0 0, Kyle McGraw 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27 14-24 74.

K 25 15 12 8 — 60

WE 25 15 22 12 — 74

Three-point goals: K: 3 (Hartman 2, Wilmer); WE: 6 (Willard 5, Muscari); Fouled out: K: Hartman.

to read the full story in the Register Herald.

Keyser dropped by Wyoming East, 74-60

From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News

CLEAR FORK, W.Va. — Gentry Shewsbury posted a game-high 31 points as Wyoming East got the best of Keyser, 74-60, Thursday in the West Side Family Health Care Classic at West Side High School.

The teams were tied at the end of the first two quarters. The scored was knotted at 25 after one, and 40 at halftime. Wyoming moved ahead by 10 (62-52) after three quarters.

Cory Willard added 17 points and Travis Smith had 11 points and eight rebounds for the winners.

Matt Wilmer had team-highs for Keyser with 17 points and five assists. Jeremy Green had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Preston Hartman scored 12 points.

The Golden Tornado (2-2) will play West Side tonight at 8 o’clock.

Southern stonewalls KHS

Click here to read to full story in the Mineral Daily News Tribune.

Southern Slows Tempo, beats Keyser 49-40

From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News

KEYSER — Jordan Pacella was 10-for-10 from the foul line in the final quarter to help Southern preserve a nine-point lead Friday evening in a 49-40 win over homestanding Keyser.

Southern forced Keyser to play from behind for almost the entire game with a slowed down, ball control offense. The Golden Tornado had a tough time dropping their shots, while the Rams made 14-of-17 free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off any Keyser charge.

Pacella led all scorers by finishing with 19 points by hitting four field goals and all 11 of his foul shots. Dan Shockey added 10 points and Jeff Stem added eight.

Matt Wilmer led the Golden Tornado with 16 points, three steals and three assists. Preston Hartman finished with 10 rebounds and eight points and Jeremy Green eight points.

The jayvee game was won 60-40 by Keyser. Wesley Stullenbarger had 18 points for the Tornado, and Joe Kissolovich scored 13 for Southern.

Southern (1-2) plays Smithsburg on Friday in the first day of the Snowball Classic in Oakland. Keyser (2-1) will play Wyoming East in the Wyoming East Christmas Tournament on Thursday.

Keyser Outlasts Falcons, 70-56

From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News

KEYSER - Four Keyser players reached the 10-point barrier, and the Golden Tornado prevailed in a fourth quarter battle with Frankfort to improve to 2-0 with a 70-56 win.

Preston Hartman provided the big game with 18 points, 16 rebounds and four steals, all Keyser bests. Kevin Smith, Jeremy Green and Cody Spotts had big fourth quarters for the Tornado. Smith scored a total of 15 points, and had big foul shots go his way down the stretch. Green scored 14 points, and along with Spotts had key buckets to increase Keyser's lead. Matt Wilmer added 10 points.

Keyser scored eight of its 17 points in the fourth quarter from the charity stripe.

Smith also had a double-double with 11 rebounds, and Spotts added seven assists.

Saige Shepherd, Christian Brown and Nathan Gillespie all scored 11 points for Frankfort.

Keyser won the jayvee game 57-41 behind 13 points from Wesley Shullenbarger. Marcus Weaver scored nine for the Flacons.

Keyser (2-0) plays Southern at home on Friday. Frankfort (1-2) plays at Allegany on Friday.

Hartman, Smith lead KHS past Falcons

Click here to read the full story in the Mineral Daily News Tribune.

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

Click here to read the full story in the Mineral Daily News Tribune.

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

Click here to read full story in the Mineral Daily News Tribune.

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.

Coach Johnny Haines

A 1998 Keyser High School Alumnus, Johnny Haines is beginning his fifth season with the Keyser High School basketball program serving as a varsity assistant and head coach of the freshman team. He has previously served as an auxiliary coach for the boys basketball team, for the past four season, under former coaches Todd Smith and Lindy Shank. Additionally, he has served as a member of the KHS football coaching staff for the past two season.
During his four years at Keyser High School, Coach Haines was a four-year member of the basketball team, a 2-year member of the football team, and competed on the track team for one season.
Coach Haines and his wife Meredith were married this past summer and reside in Keyser. He enjoys playing basketball and following Mountaineer sports.

Coach Larry Harr

Larry Harr is entering his first season as Auxiliary Basketball Coach at Keyser High School. Coach Harr began his coaching career at Elk Garden High School, where he served as freshman basketball coach and later served as head basketball, baseball and cross country coach. Additionally, he has served as an assistant basketball coach at Elk Garden High School and as assistant basketball coach at Potomac State College.
Coach Harr is a graduate of Potomac State College, Shepherd University and has completed graduate studies at West Virginia University. He is a retired Mineral County teacher, where he taught for 42 years.

2007-08 VARSITY ROSTER

NAME	YEAR	#	HT.	WT.
Lucas Carr	12	3	5' 8"	145
Caleb Jones	12	33	6' 2"	170
Tyler Logsdon	12	2	6' 2"	165
Kevin Smith	12	1	6' 3"	246
Jeremy Green	11	10	6' 2"	173
Preston Hartman	11	4	6' 2"	185
Taige Redman	11	23	6' 2"	205
Cody Spotts	11	12	5' 8"	140
Matt Wilmer	11	32	5' 11"	180
Jarell Ross	10	22	5' 10"	150

Fall is in the Air -- and so is basketball!!!

Well, October is finally here. We can now officially say basketball starts "next month" as try-outs will be held the week of November 12, 2007.

Plans and preparation for the new season have begun -- the coaching staff is almost complete with two assistants hired and a volunteer coach or two will be added soon -- new uniforms have been ordered -- shoe styles have been narrowed down to a couple of choices -- new travel warm-ups are being designed and ordered -- plans are being finalized for the Christmas Tournament at Wyoming East High School, just to name a few!

Check back from time to time before the season begins December 14 to see biographies of the coaching staff, a team roster and photo, links to the local papers and other tidbits of information.