Keyser Pulls Away Late to Win Section, Defeats Petersburg, 46-35

KEYSER — The Keyser Golden Tornado used a 17-2 run over the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarters to break open a tight, low-scoring affair, winning 46-35 over the Petersburg Vikings in boys’ basketball action at Tornado Alley on Friday night.
Now champions of Region II, Section I, the Golden Tornado will host the loser of Webster County and Philip Barbour on Wednesday night.
Petersburg will travel to face the winner of that game, which is Saturday night.
The Golden Tornado held the Vikings without a point for five minutes and 19 seconds during the run and without a field goal in the second quarter.
Preston Hartman had 17 points, ten in the second half, and ten rebounds to lead Keyser.
Jeremy Green was also in double figures with 13 points and added eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
Wes Washington had four steals.
Marcus Hahn’s 12 points and Derek Miller’s 11 paced Petersburg.
Keyser came out of the gate looking sluggish offensively and trailed 6-3 with 2:44 to go in the first quarter, prompting Coach Gary Liston to call a timeout.
A Derek Miller finger roll put Petersburg up 10-5 with 1:14 to go.
Keyser closed the quarter well, however, on a Preston Hartman hook and a Jeremy Green layup.
The Golden Tornado trailed, 10-9, after the first quarter.
A pair of Mike Wise free throws with 7:26 to go in the half put the Vikings up three, 12-9.
Keyser closed to back within one point on a Maverick Nelson pull-up jump shot just to the left of the foul line, then took their first lead since 1-0 on a Preston Hartman three-point play, 14-12.
Petersburg held the ball for the remainder of the second quarter.
Keyser led at the half, 14-12.
Hartman had seven points to lead Keyser; Marcus Hahn’s six points topped Petersburg.
Hahn tied the game at 14-all with a layup 15 seconds into the half, then Hartman put Keyser back up a deuce with a layup of his own.
Petersburg opened up a five-point lead, their largest of the game, with 5:09 left in the third quarter on a Hahn tip-in.
Keyser briefly re-took the lead on a Green layup, 22-21, but Hahn again responded to put Petersburg back on top.
But the Golden Tornado found their footing, going on a 17-2 run stretching through the rest of the third quarter and into the fourth. Green had five points and an assist during the run.
KHS led, 39-25, with 3:41 to go.
But PHS made it interesting, scoring the next eight points to pull within six, 39-33, with 1:48 to go.
A Matt Wilmer three-point play gave Keyser some breathing room, 44-35, with 1:04 left, and Hartman’s tip-in with 43 seconds left sealed the deal.
In Section II action Thursday night, Philip Barbour toppled top-seeded Grafton, 63-53, and Webster County knocked off second-seeded Lincoln, 57-50.
Philip Barbour will travel to Webster County Saturday night for the Section II final.
The two sectional winners host the runners-up from the opposite section on Wednesday, March 11.