By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
Third time is the charm as the Yellow Jackets avenged two setbacks during the regular season against Romney Middle School with a 50-37 win to claim the Potomac Valley League 7th grade boys basketball championship held at East Hardy High School in Baker.
The Yellow Jackets have been on the mountain top three out of the past four seasons for the 7th grade team and collected the 8th grade title last year.
Moorefield Middle School has won four straight PVL crowns to create a little dynasty.
The Hive is buzzing with championships as the 7th grade boys joined the 7th grade girls in the PVL championship kingdom.
Sounds familiar, like an All-American Olympic Hockey Gold Medal party.
Moorefield Middle School 7th grade Boys Basketball team appeared dejected when the Pioneers drilled a buzzer-beating perimeter basket before halftime and were celebrating like they had just won the title.
Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there was still a whole half of a game remaining to decide the champions.
The Yellow Jackets were melancholy entering the locker room, but veteran coach Paul See grabbed their attention quickly with a slam of the clipboard to the floor which broke to help emphasize the intent of not giving up and to play with passion to get revenge.
“I am very proud of these boys for enduring through the season to be seeded number one. And it was nice to win over Romney, who beat us twice this season. Coach [Alisha] Reynolds made the big difference this week with defense adjustments which it worked well tonight. We are very fortunate to have her,” Moorefield Middle School Boys Basketball head coach Paul See commented.
“The players were down with that last shot Romney made right before the halftime. I went in the locker room and told them we haven’t lost the game yet. There was no reason to be pouting about that shot. We watched Romney celebrating that shot and I told the boys, take that into our head and get back on the court motivated. So those boys came out and played strong. And we had a good free throwing game which helped it greatly.”
This was a 15-year old clipboard, so it had fulfilled its purpose and the 8th grade had gifted Coach See a new clipboard during their final night at home.
“I smashed the clipboard on the floor in hope that I would catch the boys’ attention as they were feeling down after that halftime last shot. That clipboard officially is retired. We came out with a chip on our shoulders and came out to play,” Coach See noted.
The halftime shenanigans motivated Moorefield Middle School to climb out of the doldrums and persevere with an upbeat spirit culminating in the PVL title.
Third time was the charm as the Yellow Jackets had fallen to Romney Middle School twice during the regular season, but shook that monkey off their backs to win the crown.
The Yellow Jackets buzzed back with a vengeance outscoring Romney Middle School 34-16 in the second half to claim the top prize.
Moorefield Middle School was guided by Payden Williams with 15 points, followed by Landon Wilson with 13 points.
The Yellow Jackets also received scoring contributions from Sawyer Shirk (9), Brayden Crouse (7) and Kaden Flinn (6).
The remaining members of the Moorefield Middle School PVL championship team included: Micah Mallow, Keegan Weatherholt, Isaac Barb, Noah See, Navel Berros and Levi Rohrbaugh.
The Yellow Jackets were led by head coach Paul See and assistant coach Alisha Reynolds.
Wesley Hicks led the Pioneers with 16 point, including four perimeter shots.
Wilson poured in seven points in the third period and another four markers in the final frame amassing three markers on the stripe to help the MMS rally.
Shirk notched two markers in the third period and upped the ante with five points in the fourth period including three at the line.
Flinn netted four free throws in the third frame for the Yellow Jackets.
The PVL 7th grade boys basketball all-tournament team selections were: Moorefield Middle’s Payden Williams and Kaden Flinn; Romney Middle’s Jaden Denmark, Petersburg Middle’s Jackson Cook and Warm Springs Middle’s Ryder Walls.
Petersburg Middle School 8th grade boys basketball won the PVL championship over the Pioneers to complete the championship doubleheader in Baker.
The PVL 8th grade boys basketball all-tournament team members were: Petersburg Middle’s Alex Jackson and Parker Metheny, Romney Middle’s Keegan Evans, Moorefield Middle’s Dakon Taylor and Warm Springs Middle’s Landon Hiles.
It is a great day to be a Yellow Jacket or Viking wherever you may be.
