By Carl Holcomb
Hibernation in the Baker Den for the Cougars met a brutal chill factor as Moorefield created a frozen tundra icing East Hardy with a 39-nil lead en route to a frigid 71-13 finishing the Hardy Girls Hardwood Classic.
All 11 players scored for the Yellow Jackets with two in double figures as Kerigan Bergdall guided the swarm with 20 points and Brenna See notched 14 points.
East Hardy was paced by Alexis Baker and Chloe Gue with four points apiece.
“It’s always fun to play rivals and extra special to win against them,” Moorefield coach Jared Wratchford remarked.
“Tempo was definitely key. We wanted to try to speed them up and push the ball in transition and we were able to do that. Rebounding was another big key. We’ve been a good rebounding team all year, but had dipped some in the previous two games so we wanted to focus on holding them to one shot and finishing every defensive possession with a strong rebound.”
Moorefield kept the Cougars frozen in the first period with a 24-nil advantage as eight different players landed snowballs in the net.
See set the pace in the first period with six points and Bergdall added five points.
Bergdall turned up the chill zone with nine points in the second period.
The Cougars finally pounced on the scoreboard with three minutes left in the first half as Bergdall started the Moorefield run with two free throws, then stole the ball for a breakaway layup in the opening minute.
Moorefield’s Veronica Carr added a free throw at 5:57.
See swiped the ball and dished to Bergdall for a bucket.
Carr snatched a defensive rebound, then See drew a foul and added one marker.
A steal by Moorefield’s Parvatee Snyder led to a basket by Brylee Reel to cap off the run for a 54-6 lead at 3:14.
Kiersten Rinker stole the ball for the Yellow Jackets and passed to Sndyer, who crashed into the paint.
East Hardy’s Adyson Crider went down with an injury and was helped off the court.
Moments later, Jaiden Gordon made a basket in the paint for the lone Cougars points during the third period.
East Hardy’s Alexis Baker made all four of her points in the final stanza and Jenna Mongold added one marker.
The Yellow Jackets outscored East Hardy 15-5 in the fourth period paced by Snyder with six points and Anniston Kite with four points.
The Yellow Jackets turned the Den into a winter wonderland with a 71-13 icy win to complete the season sweep.
“I felt like they were excited to play, but we came out a little sluggish. Moorefield is quick and their guard set the tempo. Our girls continued to play hard. That’s one thing I like about our girls, they continue to compete all game. I tell them not to look at the scoreboard. I told them with all the press from these teams this year, as we start to beat the press, other teams won’t be able to press us. These girls continue to battle. They have come together and bring energy everyday,” East Hardy coach Donny Evans commented.
