By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
The Yellow Jackets battled to take the lead in the final stanza on senior night, but Pendleton County found a way to overcome the setback and crash the party 47-42.
Moorefield Boys Basketball recognized its quartet of seniors: Jeb Wagner, Law Sherman, Shawn Reed and Brock Linville.
Wagner, who is normally the water boy, was given the opportunity to start the game on the hardwood which he was stoked about and knowing how much the coach cares meant so much.
“These seniors are a good group. They are going to be successful after high school and after basketball. They are fun to be around. Last time they embarrassed us at their place, but this time we came out and did things right. We had a good crowd and our kids battled hard, but just had a couple miscues in the end,” Moorefield coach Scott Stutler commented.
The atmosphere was loud throughout the game as the Hive was packed and good vibes could be felt as the seniors were given a special ceremony.
Moorefield took the lead two minutes into the game as seniors Brock Linvile nailed a perimeter basket and Shawn Reed completed an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 6-4.
The Wildcats reversed course and would hold the lead from 3:25 left in the third period all the way through to the fourth period with the lead only stretching up to seven points along that journey.
Pendleton County maintained a 33-29 advantage entering the fourth frame, then the Yellow Jackets flipped the script.
Moorefield’s Jackson Helmick connected with Cyrus Kump on an alley-oop on the opening series.
The Wildcats responded with a jumper by Chase Owens for a 35-31 score.
Both teams drew iron, then Helmick drilled a 3-pointer at 6:30, 35-34.
A defensive rebound was collected by Helmick, then Pendleton County’s Henry Warner denied the ensuing shot with the Wildcats charging down the court finishing with an Owens layup.
Moorefield answered on the next possession as Matthew Iman crashed into the paint sinking a jumper at 5:25, 37-36.
Moorefield had defensive fireworks as Reed smashed the ball.
On the following series, Kump dished to Helmick, who completed an old-fashioned three-point play giving the Yellow Jackets their first lead since two minutes into the contest and now up 39-37 with 4:47 remaining.
Owens snatched a rebound before fumbling the ball out of play.
Moorefield worked the ball around the perimeter to chew time off the clock, then Edison Metheny netted a layup for a 41-37 edge at 3:19.
Warner corralled an offensive rebound and made the putback for the Wildcats with three minutes to go, trailing 41-39.
Reed slammed into the paint causing an offensive foul.
Pendleton County hit the rim and committed a foul, then Owens stole the ball and en route to a game-tying breakaway layup for a 41-all score and drew the harm in the process, but missed the bonus with 1:48 left.
Moorefield passed the ball around again, but made a crucial errant throw out of play under pressure.
Travis Owens nailed a 3-pointer giving the Wildcats a 44-41 lead with one minute to spare.
Linville drew contact and made one free throw for the Yellow Jackets with 16 seconds to go.
Pendleton County’s Cashton Kisamore made the biggest rebound of the game off the errant free throw and was immediately fouled.
Moorefield knew what was at stake and made two quick fouls sending Warner to the line with just nine seconds left and he added one marker for a 45-42 edge.
Helmick launched a perimeter shot and was hacked to give Moorefield an opportunity to tie the game on the charity stripe with only two seconds to go.
However, Helmick would miss the first two attempts and purposely sent the third try off the mark and didn’t connect with the rim for a violation.
Warner was immediately fouled and sealed the game with two free throws for the 47-42 Wildcats party crashing win.
After taking the early lead 6-4, Moorefield’s Matthew Iman stuffed a shot and the Wildcats recovered as Chase Owens made a spinning jumper to tie the game at 4:43.
In a span of under 30 seconds, there were three consecutive steals by Kisamore, Linville and Owens with the latter resulting in two free throws putting Pendleton County ahead 8-6.
Reed found Kump inside the paint for a game-tying score at 4:09.
Kump blocked a shot, but the Wildcats grabbed the ricochet and Jaydon Hess knocked down a 3-pointer for an 11-8 lead with 3:25 left in the opening stanza.
Hess swiped the ball and added a layup.
Moorefield responded with Reed draining a perimeter bucket for a 13-11 gap at 2:44.
Both teams coughed the ball up prior to a jumper by Travis Owens for a 15-11 edge at 2:01.
Kisamore and Kump traded defensive caroms, then Metheny notched a jumper with 35 seconds on the clock as the Wildcats held a 15-13 lead by the edge of their claws.
Reed snatched a defensive rebound, but Owens intercepted the pass before losing the nugget out of play and Moorefield missed a buzzer beater.
Metheny drilled a 3-pointer for the Yellow Jackets at the 6:45 mark of the second frame cutting the deficit to 17-16.
Pendleton County came up empty thrice before Travis Owens garnered a layup.
Hess swiped the ball and scored within 25 seconds for a 21-16 lead at 4:23.
The Yellow Jackets managed two free throws on the next series by Kump with four minutes to spare, but those would be the only points riding out the first half for the swarm.
Pendleton County added one field goal in the last three minutes of the first half as both teams struggled to connect twice.
Pendleton took 23-18 lead into the locker rooms.
Moorefield senior Law Sherman knocked down a 3-pointer at 6:24 in the third period responding to a jumper by Chase Owens.
Owens created another shot inside the lane for the Wildcats on the ensuing series for a 27-21 lead.
The Yellow Jackets answered with a perimeter bucket by Helmick for a 27-24 score at 5:50.
Linville and Owens traded steals with the latter resulting in a collision into Reed and a bricked shot with Helmick snatching the board.
Moorefield drew iron twice, then Owens made a layup.
The Wildcats hauled in a defensive board and Owens struck again for a 31-24 lead at 3:35.
Sherman corralled an offensive board and drew a foul resulting in one marker on the line.
Both teams were off the mark, prior to a jumper from Kisamore.
Helmick responded with a trifecta as one minute remained in the third period as the Yellow Jackets closed within 33-28.
Helmick grabbed a carom, then dished to Iman who drew a foul and added one free throw for a 33-29 score.
Pendleton County grabbed the rebound, but Helmick swiped the ball leaping along the baseline before the losing the ball out of play and the Wildcats failed to connect at the buzzer entering the final period up 33-29.
Moorefield rallied back in front, but the Wildcats would persevere for the win.
Pendleton County’s Chase Owens recorded a game-high 18 points and Hess contributed 13 points.
Moorefield was paced by Helmick with 12 markers.
In JV action, the Yellow Jackets prevailed 54-33 over Pendleton County. Moorefield JV’s Luke Stutler netted a team-best 13 points.
Moorefield (4-9) hosts Pocahontas County tonight and Philip Barbour on Friday.
Sherman.
