Alco Upends Tornado, 67-55

KEYSER – Allegany used its’ overall inside-outside balance to beat Keyser at home last night, 67-55.

Allegany used it’s superior size and strength inside to take a quick first quarter lead, as initially the Golden Tornado had no answer for the Camper’s Jordan Grady.

Grady and company controlled the painted area, but only after Casey Roberts and Cody Ellsworth opened up the interior with back-to-back 3-pointer’s bookending a Maverick Nelson put-back for Keyser.

Robert’s extended the Alco lead with a freebie, but Jarell Ross came back for Keyser losing his man under the rim to keep it close at 7-4.

Keyser went cold, and Alco kept feeding its’ monster inside, and the Campers ran off to a 17-8 first-quarter lead on Grady’s back.

Dustin Wharton capped the quarter with a trey as Allegany went inside-out, and things didn’t look much better for Keyser when the Campers continued to roll through the first four minutes of the second stanza.

Preston Hartman did his best to keep it close for Keyser, but Allegany went to Grady inside and Wharton and Ellsworth outside. A mid-quarter 6-0 spurt gave the Campers a 12-point lead at 27-12, but Keyser’s athelticsm and bench would prove pivotal in the period.

Jeremy Green got the 13-2 quarter-ending blitzkrieg started when he converted a 3-point play, and Hartman, Nelson, Wilmer, and Wes Stalenbarger made it 11 unanswered points before Alegany could sneak a bucket in.

Taige Redman came right back with two more for Keyser, erasing a 13-point deficit and pulling within four, 29-25, at the half.

Keyser was able to come within a bucket right out of the locker room when Hartman hit again, but a 6-0 Alco run was the beginning of the end for the Golden Tornado.

Wilmer and Green teamed to pull the locals to within a bucket once more during the period, but Allegany was too big and too disciplined to allow Keyser’s speed and athletic ability to take this one away.

Alco led 49-38 after three quarters, and converted 12-of-17 free throws over the final 2:50 to seal the deal.

Robert’s paced Alco with a game-high 20 points. Grady, Ellsworth, and Wharton rounded out the high-scorers for the Campers with 14, 13, and 12 points respectively.

Hartman led the locals with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Wimer added 13 points and dished out six assists, while Maverick Nelson finished with 10 points.

Allegany improves to 6-1 and will face off with the 6-1 Mt. Ridge Miners on Thursday.

Keyser will host Southern Fiday.