Wednesday, February 4, 2009

2008-09 Keyser High Boys Basketball Team

Keyser Defeats Miners, 65-57

KEYSER - Keyser got a little help from its’ sixth man and decided to finally man up themselves, as the Golden Tornado tossed Mountain Ridge 65-57 last night at home in local high school basketball action.
Keyser’s athleticism was finally put to good use where it was needed most last night, on the defensive end of the floor. The Golden Tornado utilized its’ superior speed and size to disrupt what is usually a fluid Mountain Ridge offense, and Tornado Alley itself proved to be as pivotal - especially early - in forcing Miner missed shots.
Mountain Ridge senior sharpshooter David Hobel was “contained” to “just” 26 points on the night, but misfired on multiple attempts with the difficult depth perception Keyser’s home floor presents to opposing teams. It wasn’t much better for the rest of the Miner jump shooters, as Keyser allowed just one other Ridge player to reach double figures, Cody Hovatter, with 15.
Hobels’ game-high performance came on six 2-point attempts and a trio of treys, and the Ridge floor general was 5-of-5 from the free throw line. Mt. Ridge connected on 14-of-17 overall from the stripe.
Keyser jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after Preston Hartman hit for two of his team-high 16 points and Wes Walker connected off an in-bounds pass, but Hobel hit a tough hanger from the free throw area to cut that margin in half.
Hovatter tied it at 4-4 with a pair of freebies, and Hobel followed a Jeremy Green turnaround jumper with a trey for the game’s first lead change when the Ridge went up 7-6.
Keyser came right back as Hartman hit at the rim to make it 8-7 with over five minutes to play in the first quarter, and the Golden Tornado would never trail again.
Keyser went to its’ other big man, Maverick Nelson, and he teamed with Jarell Ross to combine for a Keyser 7-2 quarter-ending surge to give the Golden Tornado a 15-9 cushion after a period of play. The Ridge cut into the Keyser lead quickly when Hovatter and Hobel connected on back-to-back trips out of the break, but Keyser’s size would be the difference in the second stanza.
Keyser posted a lineup of Preston Hartman, Peyton Hartman, Nelson, and a backcourt with Matt Wilmer, and Washington, and the Golden Tornado manhandled the Miner’s time and time again on the offensive glass to get extra looks. A Nelson transition basket with just over two minutes to play gave Keyser its’ largest lead of the game, 10 points, at 27-17, but Hobel hit another three and Hovatter connected on a pair of charity shots to cut that margin in half quickly.
Wilmer nailed a long two just before the intermission to account for the halftime tally, 29-22.
Hovatter and Hobel continued to do their best to keep the Miners in it out of the locker room, cutting the Keyser advantage to a digit, 29-28, with three consecutive scores to start the third quarter.
Green ended the run with a jumper, and Hovatter kept it close with two more foul shots to make it 31-30. Wilmer, Hartman, and Washington scored on consecutive trips for Keyser to give the Golden Tornado a cushion, and the locals maintained that margin and led 47-41 entering the final eight minutes of play.
Hobel went nuts to open the final frame, and led a Mt. Ridge frenzy that brought the Miners back to a 51-51 standstill with 4:37 left in regulation. That was all the closer the Ridge would get, as Keyser went on a 6-0 spurt at that point and never looked back.
Nelson followed Hartman with 15 points for Keyser, Green got 12 more, and Washington and Wilmer both added nine points in Keyser’s well-balanced offensive attack.
Hartman added 16 rebounds to his 16-point performance, while Green gathered 10 boards. Wes Washington dished out six dimes for Keyser.
Mt. Ridge took the jayvee matchup, 52-43. Montana Bradley and Justin Winebrenner led the victors with 19 and 10 points respectively. RC Pratt scored 24 points and added six rebounds for Keyser. Keyser led 26-22 at the half, but a 15-6 third-quarter Ridge run was the difference.
Keyser will play at Allegany and Mt. Ridge will play at Fort Hill on Thursday in make up games.

Keyser Hands Miners First AMAC loss; Beats Mountain Ridge 65-57

KEYSER, W. Va. — Preston Hartman scored 16 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, Maverick Nelson added 15 points and Jeremy Green had 12 points and 10 rebounds as fifth-ranked Keyser upset second-ranked Mountain Ridge.

Keyser (8-5, 6-4) roared back after dropping a spot in the area poll after losses to Frankfort and Hampshire by handing the Miners their first Appalachian Mountain Athletic Conference loss.

David Hobel hit for a game-high 26 points and Cody Hovatter added 15 for Mountain Ridge (12-3, 7-1), now tied with Allegany for the conference lead.

Matt Wilmer and Wes Washington scored nine points, with Wilmer adding five assists and four steals for Keyser. Tied at 51, the Golden Tornado scored 14 of the final 20 points.

Mountain Ridge won the jayvee game 52-43. Montana Bradley scored 19 points for the Miners and R.C. Pratt had 24 for the Tornado.

Keyser plays at third-ranked Allegany and Mountain Ridge visits Fort Hill on Thursday.