The Yellow Jackets buzzed with joy in the Hive celebrating the seniors with compassion from Frankfort during a 38-27 win.
The Falcons agreed to let the two injured Moorefield seniors a chance to start the game and touch the ball before an immediate timeout to have them gracefully hop to the bench.
A Frankfort parent noted that her team would want the same thing afforded them if they were in the same boat.
Moorefield recognized seniors in a special pregame ceremony: Veronica Carr, CiCi Kump, Raleigh Kuykendall, Elizabeth Williams and statistician Faith Snyder.
The Yellow Jackets quartet of senior players got the nod to start which included the injured duo of Kump and Kuykendall.
The act of kindness and sportsmanship by the Falcons coaching staff and team will be remembered well after the final whistle.
Moorefield sophomore Kerigan Bergdall led the team with 11 points, followed by senior Elizabeth Williams with 10 points and junior Brenna See with 9 markers.
Frankfort’s Kasi Ouellette netted a a game-high 12 points.
The Yellow Jackets opened the game with a 7-0 run, but Frankfort responded with its own run to take a 9-7 lead before Moorefield equalized the game entering the second stanza.
The first minute and change had turnovers and errant shots.
Williams netted the game’s initial basket in the paint for the Yellow Jackets, then recorded a defensive block.
See snatched a defensive carom, then the next attempt went awry and Parvatee Snyder hauled in the board to keep play alive.
Moorefield took a 5-0 lead as See knocked down a 3-pointer at 5:12.
See deflected a dribble and Bergdall scooped up the ball on the ricochet for the steal leading to a layup, 7-0.
Frankfort scored the next 9 points in a balanced attack stretching over three minutes by Angel Arnold, Allegra Northcraft, Raygan Grogg and Ouellette.
Williams notched a tying layup with 20 seconds left in the first period.
See commenced the second stanza with a steal and assist to Bergdall as the Yellow Jackets regained the lead, 11-9.
The Falcons drew iron twice prior to a steal by Bergdall, but the ensuing shot was blocked by Ouellette.
Williams grabbed a rebound, then Bergdall was fouled and added one point on the line at 5:52.
A steal by Bergdall, who returned the favor with an assist to See for a 14-9 lead at 5:28.
See swiped the ball, then got trapped into a jump ball.
Moorefield’s Lily Eye stole the ball, but the Falcons’ Northcraft blocked the next attempt.
See made another steal, but Moorefield failed to connect three times.
Ouellette found an opening in the lane for a basket as Frankfort cut the deficit to 14-11.
Eye snatched an offensive board and dished to Williams for the hoop.
See created two turnovers and the Yellow Jackets capitalized these times with an own layup and a dish to Brylee Reel, who drew a foul and added both shots on the charity stripe.
Reel garnered a steal, but Moorefield came up short.
Moorefield took a 20-12 lead into halftime.
Bergdall and the Yellow Jackets began the third period with a four-point play, 24-12.
Eye swiped the ball and located Bergdall for a layup extending the lead to 26-12 at 7:32.
The Falcons purchased several free throws over the next two minutes by Ouellette and Maci Smith.
A steal by Frankfort’s Ava Lupettie setup a bucket by Ouellette to make it 26-17 at 5:11.
The game got sloppy in both directions, but Northcraft managed to add a field goal for the Falcons.
Williams added a jumper for the Yellow Jackets with a minute and change remaining in the third frame for a 28-20 edge.
Both teams combined for 25 errant shots and 14 turnovers in the final frame.
Despite the miscues, Moorefield kept a 10-7 edge to give the seniors a 38-27 win gift.
Eye paced the Yellow Jackets with four points in that final frame, while Carr, See and Williams created two points apiece.
Frankfort returns to the Hive for a rematch in the playoffs.
“It is always nice to get a win on senior night. It was a special moment. I want to personally thank the Frankfort coaches and team for allowing us to have that moment with our two injured girls. It is something they will remember for the rest of their lives. It wasn’t the prettiest game, but we buckled down and got the job done. We wanted to speed things up and they wanted to slow things down, but it just didn’t work out. We did enough in the end to win. These girls have meant a lot to the program. They were great leaders for us,” Moorefield coach Jared Wratchford remarked.
Moorefield Girls Basketball seniors provided some information about their careers:
Veronica Carr is a three-sport athlete competing in golf, basketball and track and field.
Carr has been to the WVSSAC state golf tournament in Wheeling and a four-year representative at the WVSSAC girls golf invitational state tournament in Mineral Wells.
Carr is the MHS Class of 2026 president, student council vice president, a member of the Social Studies Club, Academic Showdown and Envirothon teams, MHS National Honor Society treasurer and on the Superior Honor Roll.
Carr plans to attend West Virginia University to study Biology Pre-Medicine with an emphasis on Human Health and further her education with a graduate’s degree in pursuit of becoming a physician assistant.
CiCi Kump is a three-sport athlete for the Yellow Jackets in volleyball, basketball and softball.
Kump is the president of the MHS National Honor Society, MHS Senior Class vice president and student council member.
Kump made all-conference and all-state selections.
Kump will attend the University of Kentucky, joining her sister Sterling.
Kump will pursue a degree in a sports medicine related field.
Raleigh Kuykendall is a three-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball and softball.
Kuykendall has been to the state volleyball tournament and named to the all-PVC volleyball team and member of the North-South Volleyball All-Stars, plus selected to the Bub Riggleman Softball All-Tournament Team.
Kuykendall is a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council.
Kuykendall’s advice to the underclassmen is: “Play every game like it could be your last, because you truly never know when an injury could change everything. Don’t take a single practice, rep, or game for granted. Don’t complain about early mornings/Saturday practices, because one day you might be wishing you could do it all again.”
Kuykendall added her favorite quote: “If you think the price of winning is too high, wait til you get the bill for regret. You don’t get hurt sitting on the couch eating butterfingers,” Adam Kuykendall said.
Kuykendall plans to attend WVU to obtain a degree in nursing and later become a nurse practitioner specializing in aesthetics.
Elizabeth Williams was a member and captain of the first girls soccer team in school history this season, in addition to playing basketball and track.
Williams is the MHS Student Council president, NHS vice president, Future Farmers of America treasurer, MHS Class of 2026 treasurer, a member of Envirothon and Academic Showdown teams, Social Studies Club member, NHTS member and West Virginia DECA state vice president.
Williams is a member of the Old Fields Mountaineers 4-H Club, Moorefield Presbyterian Youth Group and the Lions Club International Exchange Club in Germany.
Williams plans to study International Relations at WVU and go to law school.
Faith Snyder is the MHS girls basketball statistician and competed in track.
Snyder is a member of the NHS and Student Council.
Snyder is an active member of Believers Victory Center and enjoys volunteer work in the community.
Snyder has maintained a 3.5 GPA for her entire high school career.
Snyder plans to attend West Liberty University and obtain a degree in marine sciences.
These Yellow Jackets have a bright future ahead.
