After giving up at least 70 points in two losses to Keyser this season, the Frankfort Falcons entered Thursday’s Region II title game against the Golden Tornado looking to keep the game at their own pace.
And it almost worked.
Frankfort slowed the game to a near halt, but Keyser was able to do just enough to squeak out a 41-37 victory at East Hardy High School to win the region title and advance to the Class AA state tournament, which begins Wednesday, March 12, in Charleston.
Keyser’s seeding and opponent will be determined later today and will appear in Saturday’s edition of the News-Tribune.
It is the Golden Tornado’s third Region II championship in four years, and Frankfort has been the region runner-up all three times.
The Falcons looked to change that trend early on Thursday, holding Keyser to just three points in the first quarter to take a 6-3 lead into the second frame.
Keyser was then able to find some offense, scoring 12 points while holding Frankfort to another six points to take a 15-12 lead at the half.
The Golden Tornado put a little distance between themselves and their inter-county rivals in the third quarter, taking a 25-16 lead into the fourth period.
Frankfort was able to rally, however, closing to within 38-36 late in the game, but Jeremy Green salted things away by stealing an inbounds pass and converting a layup and also hitting a free throw with 8 seconds remaining.
Green finished with 13 points and 7 rebounds to lead Keyser (13-10), while freshman Wes Washington added 10 points, 7 boards and 5 assists.
Preston Hartman had 6 points, 12 rebounds and 5 steals.
Steven Whitacre led Frankfort with 13 points, while Dan Alkire added 12.
With the loss, Frankfort ends its season at 8-16.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Keyser Wins Region 2 Championship
KHS, FHS to play for regional title
The Keyser Golden Tornado and Frankfort Falcons will square off this evening with the Class AA, Region II championship — and more importantly — a spot in the state playoffs on the line.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at East Hardy High School.
This will be the third meeting between the inter-county rivals this season, with Keyser sweeping the regular-season series.
The Golden Tornado won at home, 70-56, on December 19, and then completed the sweep in Short Gap, 75-55, on January 18.
Keyser, under first-year head coach Gary Liston, finished the regular season with a 12-10 mark. The Golden Tornado will be making their third trip to the Region II title game in four years, having won in 2005 and 2006, both times beating Frankfort.
Keyser reached tonight’s game with an 82-44 victory over Petersburg in the Section I championship game.
Frankfort, meanwhile, finished the regular season at 8-15.
The Falcons qualified for tonight’s game with a 52-30 victory over Berkeley Springs on February 27.
Keyser comes in averaging 65.2 points per game while allowing nearly the same number, 64.5 per contest.
Frankfort averaged just under 50 points a game while giving up 59.6.
The Golden Tornado boasted the top three scorers in the Potomac Valley Conference’s AA Division.
Preston Hartman led the way with 19.2 points per game, followed by Jeremy Green at 16.6 and Matt Wilmer at 15.2.
Frankfort’s leading scorer is Nathan Gillispie at 8.5 points a game while Skyler Minke averages 8.3.
Hartman also led the PVC D-AA in rebounding with 12.2 a game, while Green was third in the conference at 8.9.
Saige Shepherd led Frankfort with 5.6 boards per game and Steven Whitacre pulled down 4.7.
Cody Spotts is Keyser’s leading assist man with 3.5 per game while Dan Alkire leads Frankfort with 3.2.
The winner of tonight’s game moves on to the Class AA state tournament in Charleston beginning Wednesday, March 12.