By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
The Golden Tornado unleashed gale force winds on the Hive, shredding it to pieces and leaving the Yellow Jackets bewildered during a 74-39 win in Moorefield.
Keyser’s Bibs Felton recorded a game-high 22 points including eight in the third stanza, followed by Kiya Kesner with 11 points and Rooney Urice with nine points.
Raleigh Kuykendall guided the Yellow Jackets with 15 points, followed by Kerigan Bergdall with seven markers.
Moorefield’s student section lifted copies of the Moorefield Examiner to read during the Golden Tornado roster announcement.
Keyser built a 39-12 halftime advantage and kept the Yellow Jackets in single digits for three frames, except for a 20-point scoring effort in the third period which was equalized by the Golden Tornado and capped off the game 15-7 in the final stanza.
The Golden Tornado held a 7-4 edge in the first three minutes, despite hitting the rim five times and both teams having turnovers thrice.
Keyser started the game with a 3-pointer by Kesner at 7:28 and the Yellow Jackets answered with a layup by Brenna See on the ensuing possession.
A putback by Jillian Ault, two of her seven first period points placed Keyser ahead 5-2.
Felton swiped the ball and dished to Urice for a breakaway layup.
Felton snatched the ball again, but it was taken back by Moorefield’s CiCi Kump leading to a foul.
Kuykendall hit a jumper for the Yellow Jackets at 6:06 for the 7-4 score.
Kuykendall and Felton made steals, but neither team could buy a basket.
The Golden Tornado went on a 15-nil run the rest of the first period which included three steals and buckets by Felton for a 22-4 lead.
Moorefield stopped its scoring drought at the 7:03 mark of the second period with a basket in the paint by Kuykendall after a turnover.
Austyn Healy made a steal and assist to Felton, then hit a 3-pointer on the next trip down as the Golden Tornado went up 31-6 with 5:06 left in the second frame.
In the final three minutes of the first half, the Yellow Jackets netted six points on a field goals by Kuykendall and Elizabeth Williams, plus two free throws by the former.
Keyser added seven more points during the same stretch for a 39-12 halftime lead.
Moorefield and Keyser both scored 20 points in the third period starting with a perimeter bucket by Bergdall for the Yellow Jackets after a turnover in the opening minute.
An old-fashioned three-point play was executed by Felton blocked a shot for the Golden Tornado, then swiped the ball for a breakaway layup.
Kesner stole the ball moments later and added an old-fashioned three-point play as Keyser went up 48-18 at 4:26.
Kuykendall notched a jumper for the Yellow Jackets with four minutes left in the third frame, then Felton crashed into the paint getting another bucket and the harm.
The free throw went awry and Moorefield’s Brenna See collected the carom leading to a 3-pointer by Bergdall for a 50-23 score.
During the final minute of the third period, Moorefield’ Parvatee Snyder created an old-fashioned three-point play and CiCi Kump drilled a buzzer beating perimeter shot surrounding three Keyser points for a 59-32 score entering the fourth period.
Keyser continued its momentum going up 68-33 with five minutes to go.
The Yellow Jackets scored field goals within a minute by Kuykendall and See sandwiching a Keyser basket.
Moorefield’s Anniston Kite made a steal and jumper after a pump fake with just under a minute to go for the final score of 74-39.
In JV action, Keyser rallied to edge the Yellow Jackets 34-27.
The Golden Tornado were led by Sophie Lambka with 12 points.
Moorefield was paced by Kiersten Rinker with nine points and Parvatee Snyder with seven points.
