SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!

Keyser Wins Sectional; Defeats Vikings 82-44

Mineral Daily News Tribune

The Keyser Golden Tornado, after an up-and-down regular season under first-year head coach Gary Liston, got their playoff run off to a great start with an 82-44 victory over the Petersburg Vikings to win the Class AA Region II, Section I title Tuesday evening at Tornado Alley.

Keyser, after enduring a stretch in which it lost 5 of 6 games, has now won 4 of its last 5 games and hopes to carry that momentum into next week’s Region II title game.

Frankfort and Berkeley Springs will play for the Section II championship this evening in Short Gap at 7 p.m., with the winner taking on Keyser on Thursday, March 6, at East Hardy High School for the right to play in the Class AA state playoffs.

On Tuesday, the Golden Tornado dominated both ends of the court, nearly doubling up Petersburg in field goals, 37-19.

Keyser took a 16-10 lead after the first period and then blew the game wide open in the second frame, outscoring the Vikings 21-10 to take a 37-20 lead into the half.

The Golden Tornado kept the heat up in the third quarter, scoring another 21 points to take a commanding 58-33 lead into the final period.

Matt Wilmer had a solid all-around game for Keyser, recording a game-high 21 points to go along with 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and a blocked shot.

Jeremy Green had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Preston Hartman added 15 points.

Jarell Ross and Taige Redman each had 8 points for the Golden Tornado (12-10), with Ross also pulling down 9 rebounds.

Wes Washington dished out a team-high 8 assists.

Derek Miller led Petersburg with 16 points and Marcus Hahn added 10.

With the loss, the Vikings finish up their season at 9-13.