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The staff of Virginia Media, LLC thanks you for subscribing to our publication. We will do everything possible to publish to the standards you expect. This publication is intended solely for the subscriber and by viewing the eEdition online is agreeing not to share the user preferences with other persons. If you are experiencing technical difficulty, please contact us.

By Carl Holcomb

Moorefield Examiner

The Vikings steered the ship to an early 11-2 lead and floated to a 29-19 halftime lead en route to ousting the Yellow Jackets 55-41 from the Class AA Region II Girls Basketball playoffs held in Petersburg last Friday.

This was the fourth meeting between the two teams and third consecutive win for Petersburg since Moorefield won the holiday tournament.

Kerigan Bergdall scored a game-high 14 points for the Yellow Jackets, followed by Korbin Keplinger with 11 points and Sydney Rumer with six points.

Petersburg was paced by Addison Kitzmiller with 12 points, followed by Miley Tingler with 11 points and Ayden Mayfield with nine points.

“We know that familiarity was there on both sides as we have played each otter four times this year. It seems like the last handful of years, we have played three or four times. We know a lot about what each other will do. I was really concerned going into the game how our youth was going to handle the nerves and pressure of the playoffs. We did a good job starting off strong and seemed to play relaxed and was able to get into a flow offensively early on. That was helpful for us to calm down and just play the game of basketball. One of the things we talked about at the beginning of the year was to be able to put ourselves in a position to go to Charleston. We talked about it one time and the rest of the time the focus has been on trying to get better everyday. Out team has really grown over the season which is special and now we are in that position,” Petersburg coach Jon Webster commented.

Petersburg started the playoff game with a steal by Addison Kitzmiller leading to a basket by Quenlynn Cole.

The Yellow Jackets responded with a layup by Sydney Rumer to even the score at 6:59.

The Vikings answered with a 9-0 run over the next minute and change.

Petersburg’s Shyanne Tawney knocked down a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession at 6:36 to regain the lead.

Kitzmiller stole the ball and nailed a perimeter bucket to Greta an 8-2 lead.

Tawney collected a defensive rebound and drilled a trey for an 11-2 advantage at 5:15.

A minute later, Moorefield’s Seanna Heavner made two free throws to end the run.

Heavner and Kerigan Bergdall made defensive rebounds, but the Yellow Jackets walked both times.

Bergdall stole the ball, but the ensuing shot went awry with Cole grabbing the carom.

The Vikings hit the rim twice with Rumer snatching the latter board prior to a walk.

Kitzmiller hammered a 3-pointer to put the Vikings up 14-4 with 2:28 left in the first stanza.

Kitzmiller corralled a defensive board, then found Cole for a jumper.

Petersburg’s Ayden Mayfield hauled in a defensive rebound, but the next shot was off the mark and Moorefield’s Raleigh Kuykendall snatched the carom.

Moorefield’s CiCi Kump drew a foul and made both free throws with 1:03 left.

After a Vikings miss, Bergdall netted a layup off an assist from Kuykendall to cut the deficit to 16-8 with 30 seconds remaining in the first frame.

The Vikings got a jumper by Kitzmiller on the ensuing series, then the Yellow Jackets hit the rim on the last play with a rebound by Heavner at the buzzer, 18-8.

Mayfield opened the second period with a jumper for the Vikings, then Kitzmiller swiped the ball and drew a foul before missing both free throws and Korbin Keplinger collected the rebound.

The Yellow Jackets hit the rim with Cole snatching the board leading to a shot by Mayfield at 7:06.

Moorefield’s Sadie Crites scored in the paint on the next series, then forced a Vikings walk.

Keplinger drew a foul and added both shots from the line to make it 22-12 at 6:21.

Kump stole the ball and dished to Keplinger for a jumper as the Yellow Jackets were in a groove, 22-14.

Moorefield forced a turnover, but missed the next attempt and Petersburg garnered a jumper from Cole at 4:45.

The Vikings made three straight steals, but failed to convert and the Yellow Jackets forced two turnovers and came up empty.

The rim continued to be chilly, before a melting putback by Petersburg’s Miley Tingler at 2:55.

Rumer completed an old-fashioned three-point play for the Yellow Jackets with 1:42 left in the first half to close the gap to 27-17.

The Yellow Jackets forced a turnover and Bergdall was fouled on a rebound leading to two free throws made at 1:02.The Vikings added two free throws in the final minute of the second period, while Moorefield missed a few shots with Petersburg holding a 29-19 halftime advantage.

“We talked all week about keeping them out of the paint. We will make them score on top of us and just tip our caps to them and they did that very early. They came out on fire, so kudos to them. They shot the lights out in the first quarter and never looked back. Our defense was great and I think we caused them a lot of problems with our pressure. The story of the game came down to what it has all year, we just have struggled to score the ball consistently. We will have spurts where we will score well, but not consistent enough when we needed it to be,” Moorefield coach Jared Wratchford stated.

Petersburg lost the ball out of bounds to start the second half, then Moorefield drew iron twice before fumbling the ball away.

Tingler netted a layup for the Vikings at 7:20.

Tawney collected a defensive rebound and passed to Tingler, who completed an old-fashioned three-point play for a 34-19 lead at 6:45.

Tingler and Keplinger traded blocks over the ensuing minute.

Both teams committed three turnovers apiece during the following two minutes, plus there were a combined six missed field goals.

An oasis was found in the scoring desert as Tingler hit a jumper at 3:48 for the Vikings.

Moorefield responded with an old-fashioned three-point play by Bergdall at 3:31, 36-22.

Bergdall made a steal, then Kump snatched an offensive rebound and passed to Keplinger who scored falling down to the floor at 2:56.

The Yellow Jackets forced five turnovers over the next couple minutes, but failed to convert.

Kitzmiller added to the Vikings lead with 24 seconds remaining for a 38-24 advantage.

After a carry by the Yellow Jackets during a trap, Heavner stole the ball and the ensuing attempt went awry at the buzzer.

In the first minute and change of the final stanza, the yellow Jackets hit the rim four times, despite steals by Rumer and Keplinger.

Mayfield nailed a 3-pointer for Petersburg at 6:25 for a 41-24 lead.

A minute later, Bergdall garnered a layup for the Yellow Jackets.

Kuykendall snatched a defensive rebound and passed to Rumer, who drew a foul and made one free throw at 4:58. 41-27.

Kump intercepted a pass and scored a basket within four seconds as Moorefield looked to battle out of the hole.

After a free throw by the Vikings and a missed shot on the other end, Rumer stole the ball and found Keplinger for a basket in the paint as the Yellow Jackets rally continued.

Moorefield forced a turnover and Bergdall made a layup to slice the deficit to 42-33 with 4:09 remaining.

Petersburg answered with a bucket by Abi Nettles, then Tingler swiped the ball and dished to Nettles for a 3-pointer to take a 47-33 lead at 3:22.

Bergdall created a steal and knocked down a 3-pointer for the Yellow Jackets with 2:48 to go, 47-36.

Kitzmiller added one free throw just five seconds later.

Mayfield and Tingler added jumpers for the Vikings, while Kitzmiller collected two defensive caroms securing a 52-36 advantage with 1:57 left.

The Vikings walked, then Keplinger drilled a 3-pointer for Moorefield at 1:24.

Kitzmiller notched one free throw on the ensuing series.

Crites hauled in the rebound and located Heavner for a jumper at 1:08, 53-41.

Petersburg stalled the game before Cole hit a jumper with 21 seconds remaining, then Tingler swiped the ball to end the game with the Vikings advancing in the playoffs 55-41.

Petersburg travels to top seeded Philip Barbour for the Class AA Region II Championship co-final tonight with a state tournament berth on the line.

By Carl Holcomb

Moorefield Examiner

The Yellow Jackets swarmed into Pendleton County and toppled the Wildcats for a 60-55 victory on Wednesday night.

It was a back and forth battle with the Wildcats gaining a 14-12 edge after the first period, then Moorefield responded to take a 25-24 lead entering halftime.

Moorefield was led by Shawn Reed with 22 points including 14 points in the first half, followed by Cyrus Kump with 20 points including nine points in the first half and Guyan Kahangirwe pitched in six of his eight points in the final stanza.

Pendleton County’s Chase Owens recorded a game-high 25 points including eight points in the first period and 10 points in the fourth period, followed by Josiah Kimble with 15 points.

“It has been a long three days. It was good to come up here tonight and see our team play as well as we did and as physical as we did and to play as hard as we did after three away games in a row. [Inside game] It was good. We rebounded well and found the post players and we got a lot of baskets around the hoop and that made it a good night. We passed the ball better. Diego [Taylor] did a great job against their best player. I don’t know what he helped him to, maybe four points. He did a great job on him. Our defense as a whole made the stops when we needed to and we got big rebounds tonight,” Moorefield coach Scott Stutler remarked.

The third period started with a layup by Moorefield’s Shawn Reed to extend the lead to 27-24.

The Wildcats rallied for the lead within 27 seconds as Travis Owens scored off a turnover, then Cashton Kisamore blocked a shot and Owens took the ricochet to the rim  for a 28-27 edge at 6:12.

The Wildcats boosted the lead on a jumper by Travis Owens after the Yellow Jackets missed two free throws.

Guyan Kahangirwe hauled in an offensive rebound for the Yellow Jackets and made the putback at 4:48 for a 30-29 score.

The Wildcats lost the ball out of bounds, then Moorefield’s Jackson Helmick drilled a 3-pointer to regain the lead 32-20 at 4:28.

Pendleton County answered with a trey from Travis Owens to go back on top at 3:52.

Kahangirwe dished to Cyrus Kump for a bucket in the paint giving the Yellow Jackets a 34-33 edge on the ensuing possession.

Moorefield forced a turnover, but Travis Owens snatched the ball back and passed to Josiah Kimble for a layup as the Wildcats regained the lead 35-34 with 3:15 left in the third period.

The Yellow Jackets responded with a basket by Kump off an assist from Kahangirwe to go up 36-35 at 2:59.

Reed collected a defensive rebound, then Kisamore blocked a shot and Kimble hit a jumper for the Wildcats lead at 2:26.

Reed nailed a perimeter shot giving the Yellow Jackets a 39-37 edge within eight seconds.

The Wildcats missed several attempts over the next minute before Kimble knocked down a 3-pointer at 1:21 to go back up 40-39.

Pendleton County’s Chase Owens made a trey as the Wildcats entered the final stanza up 43-39.

The Wildcats continued with the momentum adding two field goals in the opening minute of the fourth period creating a 47-39 lead.

The Yellow Jackets rallied to tie the game over the ensuing three minutes starting with a jumper by Kahngirwe at 6:43

A steal by Moorefield’s Diego Taylor led to an old-fashioned three-point play by Kump coming off a rebound at 5:51 for a 47-44 score.

Brady Vetter stole the ball for the Yellow Jackets and Taylor scored on a putback to closet ht gap to 47-46 at 5:14.

Kimble made two free throws on the next Wildcats series, then Taylor added one free throw during Moorefield’s turn on the line.

“I expected a battle like this, because they have gotten better. I am not making excuses, but we are down a few players so it wasn’t the same. Give them the credit, they play hard and they deserve to win. Our kids played hard, too. It just didn’t fall our way tonight. We alway have a pretty good crowd, but it was a special crowd tonight. It was a good atmosphere,” Pendleton County coach Jeremy Bodkin stated.

A jumper by Kahangirwe tied the game for the Yellow Jackets at 49-all with 4:06 remaining.

A minute transpired with the Yellow Jackets keeping possession alive with rebounds by Taylor, Kahangirwe and Kump as the latter carom led to a putback for a 51-49 edge.

Reed hauled in a defensive board and passed to Kahangirwe, who drew a foul and made both shots on the line with 2:34 to go.

Taylor swiped the ball and netted a breakaway layup to extend Moorefield’s lead to 55-49 with 2:06 left.

The Wildcats ended the run with a bucket from Chase Owens on the ensuing series at 1:51.

Reed crashed into the paint, but a whistle for a travel was called prior to the contact.

Kisamore grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled, but missed both opportunities at the line.

A foul was called on Chase Owens during a steal attempt and Reed went to the line making both shots to put the Yellow Jackets up 57-51 with 1:06 left.

Kump collected a defensive rebound and Moorefield passed the ball around before a foul was committed and Reed added one foul shot with 26 seconds to go.

Reed snatched a defensive rebound, then Chase Owens stole the ball and scored a layup as the Wildcats cut the deficit to 58-53 with 15 seconds remaining.

Taylor was tripped and notched two more points on the charity stripe giving Moorefield a 60-53 lead with nine seconds to go.

Chase Owens scored on a putback as time expired, but that wasn’t enough for Pendleton County claw out of the hole as the Yellow Jackets caged the Wildcats 60-55.

Moorefield travels to top seeded Doddridge County in the opening round of the Class AA Region II playoffs this Friday, while Pendleton County hosts Union in the Class A Region II playoffs.

By Carl Holcomb

Moorefield Examiner

The Golden Tornado siren sounded and sent the Yellow Jackets spiraling to the ground with a 52-42 blast in Keyser.

Moorefield kept it close in the first half with rebounding, but foul trouble and mistakes loomed large in the second half causing a rift in the continuity.

“I don’t know that it was anything they threw at us in the first half. We have been doing that for about a month now, starting slow and getting down six, eight to ten points in the first period. We come out and have a game plan, then commit three, four or five turnovers and take bad shots that weren’t in rhythm or anything out of the set. You aren’t doing the stuff you were talking about in the locker room 20 minutes ago. I’m not taking anything away from them, but we aren’t doing what we needed to do. Sometimes you do things to speed them up, but you speed yourself up and not going in the right rhythm. We don’t press a lot, but we wanted to give it a whirl to test it out knowing we had it in our bag going into the playoffs. I think a lot of it was more about us. We tried to do too much. The key in the second half was going into a 1-3-1 trying to protect Braylon who was in foul trouble and needed him on both ends of the floor. We just needed to rebound better, because most of their points in the first half came off putbacks and not getting boxed off. We shot ten free throws in the first half with the third quarter notwithstanding, but we got to the line more in the second half which is what we wanted to do,” Keyser coach Scott Furey commented. 

Shawn Reed scored a game-high 11 points for the Yellow Jackets, followed by Cyrus Kump with nine points and Guyan Kahangirwe added eight points.

Keyser was paced by Grayson Lambka with 10 points, followed by Ian Spiker with eight points and Braylon McGreevy with seven points.

“They made shots and we didn’t. We got into foul trouble and had kids sitting on the bench most of the game. At one point, we missed four foul shots and two layups and they came down and hit a big three which was a turning point,” Moorefield coach Scott Stutler remarked.

Both teams had a couple turnovers in the opening two minutes of the game.

Keyser took the initial lead with a free throw by Evan Ack at 658.

Moorefield’s Diego Taylor scored on a putback for the lead at 5:24.

Both teams committed turnovers, then Keyser’s Grayson Lambka netted an old-fashioned three-point play to regain the lead 4-2 at 4:27.

Moorefield’s Cyrus Kump drew a foul and added one free throw on the ensuing series.

The Golden Tornado responded with a jumper by Layton Valentine.

Kump went back to the line and made both free throws for the Yellow Jackets cutting the deficit to 6-5 at 3:28.

Taylor stole the ball and drew a foul, but missed the attempts on the line.

Keyser came up empty, then Kump collected rebounds on both ends of the floor with the latter carom resulting in a putback giving Moorefield the lead 7-6 at 2:11.

Keyser’s Kameron Samples drilled a 3-pointer to regain the lead 9-7 with 1:40 left in the first frame.

Samples and Reed traded steals, but the latter led to a charge by Kump.

Reed blocked a shot, then Kahangirwe scored on a putback as the Yellow Jackets tied the game at 9-all with nine seconds left.

Keyser missed two field goals to start the second period, sandwiching a leaping save and steal by Damarian Allen, with Kump collecting the rebounds.

Reed drew a foul and made both free throws to put Moorefield up 11-9 at 7:01.

Camden Owens netted a jumper to tie the game for the Golden Tornado on the following possession.

Moorefield answered with a layup by Kump to regain the lead at 6:25.

Both teams hit the rim, then Keyesr’s McGreevy made one free throw and Reed hauled in the board.

Ack swiped the ball and found Allen for a layup as Keyser took a 14-13 lead at 4:56.

The Yellow Jackets took the lead back just 11 seconds later on a jumper by Brady Vetter.

Moorefield’s Jackson Helmick drilled a perimeter basket for an 18-15 edge with 4:17 left in the half.

Lambka recorded an old-fashioned three-point play to tie the game for Keyser at 4:01.

A steal by Lambka led to two free throws for a Golden Tornado edge at 3:18.

Ack blocked a shot and stepped out of bounds after the steal.

Reed completed an old-fashioned three-point play to five the Yellow Jackets a 21-20 lead with 2:47 remaining.

Ack netted two foul shots on the ensuing possession to regain the Keyser edge.

After a turnover, Moorefield’s Dawson Arbaugh blocked a shot and forced a jump ball before committing an offensive foul.

Keyser took a 26-21 lead with a dunk by Samples with 16 seconds left in the half.

Moorefield’s Diego Taylor garnered a buzzer beating putback for a 26-23 halftime score.

Keyser opened the second half setting a trap to force a walk, then Allen scored in the paint.

McGreevy blocked a shot after a rebound by Taylor, then stole the ball leading to a miss.

McGreevy blocked another shot before the Golden Tornado lost the ball out.

Reed scored on a layup for the Yellow Jackets at 6:11, 28-25.

McGreevy scored twice within a minute with the help of a steal to put Keyser up 33-25 at 3:34.

Moorefield’s Jackson Helmick hammered a 3-pointer on the next series.

Kump stole the ball, but the ensuing shot went awry and the Golden Tornado couldn’t connect on the other side.

Moorefield’s Guyan Kahangirwe hit a jumper to close the gap to 33-30 at 1:55.

Kahangirwe snatched a defensive rebound before being called for a charge going to the hoop.

Keyser missed two shots, then Taylor stole the ball and a technical foul was called on the Golden Tornado.

Moorefield missed the free throws and ensuing field goal attempts.

Keyser’s Ian Spiker drilled a perimeter bucket for a 36-30 lead entering the final stanza.

A steal by Taylor setup a putback from Reed as the Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to 36-32 at 7:27 in the fourth period.

The Golden Tornado answered with a 3-pointer by Spiker to spark an 8-0 run to build a 44-32 advantage with 5:12 left.

Moorefield stopped the run with a jumper by Reed at 4:02.

A steal by Kahangirwe led to a bucket from Kump as the Yellow Jackets made it 44-36 with 3:12 to go.

Keyser added three free throws over the next minute, then Kahangirwe scored off an assist from Taylor in the paint at 2:12.

After a field goal by Spiker, Moorefield responded with a layup by Taylor to cut the deficit to 49-40 with 1:43 remaining.

Keyser added a free throw, then Moorefield hit the rim and Helmick stole the ball back and dished to Kahangirwe for a basket with one minute left, 50-42.

The Golden Tornado missed six out of eight free throws down the stretch, but that was enough to seal the 52-42 win as Moorefield drew iron thrice despite a steal by Reed.

The Junior Hardy Hardwood Boys reign over the Potomac Valley League as East Hardy Middle School 7th grade Boys Basketball opened the championship doubleheader edging Warm Springs 39-37 for the crown and the Yellow Jackets 8th grade squad capped off the night with a 44-20 championship victory over the Wolves at Moorefield Middle School last Thursday.

It was a tough challenge for the Cougars (13-3) having only five players on the roster, but they have become accustomed to disciplined play and won five consecutive games without anybody fouling out as this quintet proved they had the heart of champions. 

“I am very proud of the whole team’s effort they have given all year and the progression I have seen from the first week to the end of the season,” East Hardy Middle School Boys Basketball coach Derek Brill remarked.

Luke Holliday scored a championship game-high 14 points for East Hardy Middle School 7th grade squad, followed by Zach Weaver with 12 points, Dalton Nicholson with nine points and Chance Hahn with four points.

Messiah Mitchell led the Wolves with 11 points, followed by Thurman Moss with 10 points.

Warm Springs Middle School started with a 4-0 lead a minute and change into the championship game with free throws and a field goal by Messiah Mitchell.

East Hardy Middle School responded with a 7-nil run sparked by Zach Weaver’s 3-pointer at 4:27.

Both teams lost the ball and hit the rim, then Luke Holliday netted a layup for the Cougars lead at 3:25.

A  minute later, Holliday recorded a putback for the 7-4 lead.

Garrett Gloyd hit a jumper for the Wolves to close the gap to 7-6 with 1:52 left in the first period.

East Hardy Middle School’s Colton Aylor made a steal before a double dribble.

Weaver intercepted a pass, but the Cougars failed to convert.

Both teams missed shots twice sandwiching a block by Holliday.

Holliday scored on a putback to put the Cougars up 9-2 with 24 seconds left in the opening frame.

A steal by Weaver led to a layup from Dalton Nicholson as East Hardy Middle School closed out the first period up 11-6.

The Wolves howled back in the first two minutes of the second period to take a 13-11 lead as Rylan McCuster and Thurman Moss hit jumpers and Mitchell knocked down a 3-pointer.

The Cougars tied the game on a pair of free throws by Chance Hahn at 4:01, 13-all.

Warm Springs Middle School rattled off six more points over the next minute on buckets by Moss, Mitchell (off steal by Moss) and Elijah Briscoe for a 19-13 advantage at 3:10.

East Hardy Middle School’s Chance Hahn netted a jumper at 2:57 to spark a 7-0 run to close out the first half for a 20-19 edge.

Weaver made a steal and scored the breakaway layup at 2:09, then Hahn collected a defensive rebound and dished to Nicholson for a game tying bucket at 1:45.

Both teams nit the rim, then Isaiah Hobday got a steal for the Wolves and it was snatched away by Hahn for the Cougars prior to another turnover.

Nicholson swiped the ball and drew a foul and made one free throw to put East Hardy Middle School ahead 20-19 with a minute remaining in the first half with the score standing at the break after a handful of missed field goals.

East Hardy Middle School opened the third period with a jumper by Holliday at 5:53.

Warm Springs Middle School answered with a layup on the ensuing series.

The Wolves got a steal by Roman Omps, but came up empty.

Holliday garnered a putback to give the Cougars a 24-21 edge at 4:57.

Mitchell collected an offensive rebound and took a trip to the line making both shots for the Wolves.

A steal by Holliday led to a layup as East Hardy Middle School went up 26-23 at 4:19.

Both teams committed two turnovers apiece and hit the rim twice over the next minute and change, but Hahn did record a block for the Cougars.

Weaver notched a jumper for the Cougars at 2:45.

Hahn garnered another block and recovered the ball prior to a foul.

Holliday scored in the paint to put East Hardy Middle School up 30-24 with 1:46 to go in the frame.

The Wolves stepped out of bounds, then Weaver drilled a perimeter basket for the Cougars at 1:20 for a 33-24 lead.

Briscoe added one field goal for the Wolves in the final minute of the third frame as East Hardy Middle School carried a 33-26 advantage into the fourth period.

The Cougars commenced the final stanza with a layup by Nicholson, then Aylor stole the ball and it was snatched away by Moss leading to an errant attempt and rebound by Holliday.

Holliday located Nicholson for a jumper as the Cougars took a 37-26 lead at 5:25.

The Wolves added a free throw at 4:48.

East Hardy Middle School missed five shots despite forcing three turnovers including steal by Holliday and Hahn over the ensuing minute and the Wolves drew iron twice.

Warm Springs Middle School made a furious comeback going on a 10-nil run to tie the game at 37-all with 37 seconds remaining.

Hobday started the run with a jumper, then forced a turnover and Omps grabbed an offensive board before having the ball swiped by Weaver.

The Cougars slowed the game down passing around, then McCuster made a steal for the Wolves prior to a walk on hop before shooting.

A steal by Mitchell led to an old-fashioned three-point play pulling the Wolves to 37-32 with 1:33 left.

A defensive rebound by Omps led to 3-poiner by Moss as the Wolves rally continued, 37-35 at 1:12.

A Cougars miss and steal by Hahn led to another miss.

Warm Springs Middle School forced a jump ball and Moss scored in the paint to tie the game with 37 seconds to go.

Weaver knocked down jumper at the top of the key for the Cougars going back on top 39-37 with 20 seconds left.

Holliday intercepted a pass for the Cougars and was fouled with four seconds on the clock.

The Wolves got a steal, but didn’t have the time for a clean shot as East Hardy Middle School claimed the Potomac Valley League 7th grade boys basketball championship, 39-37. 

The Yellow Jackets 8th grade team (15-1) started off the Potomac Valley League Championship with a 9-nil run against the Wolves.

Moorefield Middle School 8th grade team was led by Matthew Iman with 11 points, followed by Luke Stutler with 10 points, Edison Metheny with nine points and Hector Lea-Davy with seven points.

Levi McFarland netted a championship game-high 12 points for Warm Springs Middle School.

“I’m proud of all Moorefield Middle School players on the PVL Championship team this year. It was the big victory as the team, because each player contributed to the team by making each other better in practices. It made a huge difference in competing with other teams all season. All players deserve to be acknowledged on this team which I had a great pleasure of coaching those players for past two and three years. I’m looking forward to seeing their continuous improvement and success through Moorefield High School basketball for the next four years. It was nice to win the PVL championship at our gym in front of our great hometown crowd,” Moorefield Middle School Boys Basketball coach Paul See commented.

Warm Springs Middle School commenced the game with a steal by Jackson Shives, but failed to convert.

Brody Simmons drilled a 3-pointer for the Yellow Jackets to start the run at 4:51.

The Wolves hit the rim twice, then Moorefield Middle School’s Matthew Iman netted a layup at 4:10.

The Yellow Jackets forced a turnover out of bounds, then Edison Metheny crashed into the paint scoring a basket for a 7-0 edge at 3:27 and drew a foul with Iman collected the ensuing rebound.

Moorefield Middle School and the Wolves missed their next attempts.

Metheny scored off an inbound pass at 3:03 for the 9-0 lead.

The Wolves got on the board with jumper from Levi McFarland at 2:52.

The Yellow Jackets answered with a layup by Metheny within seven seconds.

McFarland notched two free throws for the Wolves at 2:25.

Iman recorded a free throw and two field goals in the last two minutes and change of the first period for a 16-4 lead, surrounding a combined seven missed field goals.

Moorefield Middle School’s Luke Stutler garnered a free throw and scored on a putback for a 21-6 lead in the second period at 4:27.

Both teams missed shots over the next minute before a jumper by Ben Frank for the Wolves at 2:54.

Iman created a putback for the Yellow Jackets on the ensuing possession.

A steal by Metheny didn’t create a point, then Iman hauled in a defensive rebound and found Stutler for a basket at 1:45 for a 25-8 Moorefield Middle School lead.

After a block by Iman, Hector Luna-Davy intercepted a pass for the Yellow Jackets which led to a score by Iman coming after a rebound and assist from Stutler with under a minute to go, 27-8.

Warm Springs Middle School’s Jackson Shives added a foul shot on the next series as the Yellow Jackets carried a 27-9 lead into halftime.

Moorefield Middle School closed out the first half with a block by Bill Ware.

Warm Springs Middle School missed four field goals in the first minute of the third period, while the Yellow Jackets added two free throws from Stutler.

The Wolves finally broke the ice with an old-fashioned three-point play by McFarland at 4:33 for a 29-12 score.

There were a combined eight missed field goals over the next two minutes and two turnovers, plus a block by Luna-Davy for the Yellow Jackets.

Shives made a jumper for Warm Springs Middle School at 2:16, then stole the ball and missed the shot and collected a tipped rebound leading to one free throw by McFarland.

Metheny netted a free throw, then stole the ball and dished to Luna-Davy to put Moorefield Middle School up 32-15 with 1:17 remaining in the third period.

Ware snatched a defensive carom and passed to Luna-Davy for a basket with 56 seconds to go.

Brennen Anderton scored in the paint for the Wolves on the next series.

Ware recorded a putback for the Yellow Jackets creating a 36-17 lead entering the final stanza of the PVL championship.

McFarland garnered a jumper for the Wolves to begin the fourth period.

A steal by Luna-Davy led to a perimeter shot from Stutler at 4:38 as the Yellow Jackets took 39-19 lead.

The Wolves got a free throw from Bentley Mullin on the ensuing possession.

Luna-Davy drilled a 3-pointer for the Yellow Jackets going up 42-20, then Metheny forced an over-and-back mid-court turnover before the bench substitutions.

Moorefield Middle School’s Vance Simmons recored the last points of the PVL championship for the 44-20 victory.

The Junior Hardy Boys reign as the Potomac Valley League champions for the year.

By Carl Holcomb

Moorefield Examiner

East Hardy Girls Basketball took the early lead for the first half of the opening frame, then the Wildcats slashed back to take a 21-15 halftime lead and commenced the third period on an 8-nil run en route to securing a 50-34 victory on senior night in Franklin.

“The difference was we had five turnovers to start the third quarter. We actually had six turnovers in a row as they scored off a turnover to end the second quarter. We came out and had five turnovers in the third quarter. That was the difference in the game. They went up by 12 and that was it. We can’t play from behind,” East Hardy coach Calvin Mongold noted.

Pendleton County senior Avery Townsend recorded a game-high 16 points, followed by Jameigh Miller and Susan Vincell with 11 points apiece.

East Hardy senior captains scored all of the points as Brooklynn Tinnell led the way with 15 points, followed by Chloe Miller with 12 points, Brooklyn Miller with five points and Addison Armentrout with two points.

Brooklyn Miller gave the Cougars an initial 3-nil lead with a perimeter basket at 7:37.

The Wildcats fumed the ball out of play, then Julia Mongold stole the ball before it was deflected out by the Cougars.

East Hardy’s Chloe Miller made a steal and save along the sideline, but the ensuing pass went awry.

Tinnell swiped the ball, then the Cougars hit the rim thrice.

Both teams would hit the rim three times over the next minute prior to one foul shot by Townsend at 4:21.

East Hardy’s Jenna Mongold collected a defensive rebound.

Chloe Miller drew a foul and added one point on the line to put the Cougars up 4-1 at 4:11, then Tinnell hauled in the carom and Pendleton County’s Susan Vincell blocked the ensuing attempt.

Pendleton County’s Julia Mongold notched a 3-pointer to tie the game at 3:45.

A steal by Jessica Parker led to a Wildcats miss, but grabbed the reobund and tied up for a jump ball.

Both teams came up empty prior to a putback from Jameigh Miller giving Pendleton County the lead for good at 2:37, 6-4.

Pendleton County’s Jenna Smith stole the ball and Vincell scored on the series.

Townsend forced a turnover on a back court violation and VIncell added a jumper to put the Wildcats up 10-4 with 1:25 left in the first period.

Townsend stole the ball, then Pendleton County hit the rim twice prior to a lane violation.

Both teams missed one final shot attempt to close out the frame.

The first two minutes of the second period featured a combined six errant field goals and steals by Pendleton County’s Mongold and Townsend.

Vincell scored inside the paint off an assist from Townsend to give the Wildcats a 12-4 lead at 6:08.

East Hardy answered with a long range jumper by Brooklyn Miller at 5:34.

The Cougars forced a turnover, but failed to connect.

Pendleton County hit the rim twice and missed free throws before a leaping save along the baseline by Chloe Miller turned into a blunder as the pass was caught by Addison Armentrout who was standing out of bounds.

Chloe Miller collected a defensive rebound, but Townsend stole the ball and was fouled leading to a pair of charity stripe buckets to make it 14-6 at 4:36.

Armentrout knocked down a jumper for the Cougars on the ensuing possession.

The Wildcats responded with a putback by Vincell doubling the lead to 16-8 at 4:01.

A defensive carom garnered by Chloe Miller resulted in a foul and two free throws made for East Hardy at 3:44.

Vincell notched one free throw just six seconds later, then the Cougars missed two free throws.

Smith swiped the ball and was fouled to add one free throw for the Wildcats at 2:43.

Pendleton County’s Julia Mongold stole the ball and dished to Townsend, who tripped and drew contact for one free throw made.

Tinnell was fouled and made both free throws as the Cougars cut the deficit to 19-12 with 2:21 remaining in the half.

A steal by Tinnell led to a layup by Chloe Miller at 1:30 as East Hardy kept the momentum going, 19-14.

After a charge by the Wildcats, the Cougars lost control of the ball.

Pendleton County missed several field goal attempts before fumbling the ball out.

Chloe Miller notched one free throw for the Cougars with 36 seconds left in the half.

The Cougars forced a jump ball, but Townsend swiped the ball and scored on a breakaway layup to close the first half giving Pendleton County a 21-15 edge.

East Hardy opened the second half with steals by Chloe Miller and Brooklyn Miller, but no points came to fruition.

The Wildcats went on an 8-nil run starting with a jumper by Jessica Parker at 7:10, then Townsend collected a defensive board and a foul led to two points on the line.

A steal by Chloe Miller turned into a walk for the Cougars, then Julia Mongold hit a jumper for the Wildcats.

Parker swiped the ball and found Townsend for a layup extending the lead to 29-15 with 5:42 left in the third period.

Tinnell drilled a 3-pointer for East Hardy to end the run at 4:56, 29-18.

Townsend and Chloe Miller traded one free throw apiece for a 30-19 score at 4:25.

Pendleton County’s Jameigh Miller hit a trifecta with 2:58 remaining.

The Cougars responded with a jumper from Tinnell on the ensuing series, 33-21.

East Hardy’s Jenna Mongold made a steal, but the ball was snatched back by Parker with a quick foul.

A defensive carom was corralled by Chloe Miller, then Tinnell drew a foul and added two free throws at 2:07.

The Wildcats answered with a jumper by Julia Mongold for a 35-23 lead at 1:44.

Both teams hit the rim prior to a 3-pointer connected by Julia Mongold for a 38-23 advantage with one minute to go in the third frame.

The Cougars hit the rim twice before Tinnell blocked a shot and forced a jump ball, then added a bucket in the paint to close the gap to 38-24 entering the final stanza.

“This was very special. These are wonderful girls who have been playing together since recreation league. I was looking at pictures of them as kids today. They are a good, hard working group of girls. We had a really tough game on the road at Tygarts Valley last night spending a lot of emotion and energy, but they bounced back tonight. We hd some good balance tonight with a lot of people in the scoring column. I am proud of the overall effort. Now we have to get ready for the playoffs and give these seniors a chance at going to teh state tournament,” Pendleton County coach Donnie Kopp said.

Vincell and Townsend netted putbacks in the first minute of the fourth period to extend the Wildcats lead to 42-25.

Chloe Miller knocked down a mid range jumper for the Cougars at 6:54.

Pendleton County came back down the floor with a 3-pointer by Jameigh Miller.

Townsend and Tinnell traded a free throw over the next minute for a 46-28 score.

Townsend recorded two field goals sandwiching a block from Jameigh Miller as the Wildcats secured a 50-28 lead with 4:12 remaining.

There were eight combined missed field goals over the next several minutes.

East Hardy’s Chloe Miller drilled a 3-pointer with 20 seconds to go, then the Cougars forced a turnover and Tinnell nailed another perimeter bucket with 14 seconds left to slice the deficit to 50-34.

Pendleton County survived the attack on senior night in the Franklin Den.

East Hardy defeated Tygarts Valley 42-32 in the opening round of the Class A Region II playoffs, while Pendleton County beat Paw Paw. 

The Cougars face top seeded Tucker County on the road in the Class A Region II championship co-final tonight, while Pendleton County hosts Pocahontas County in the other co-final with the winners advancing to the state tournament in Charleston.

TEAM STANDINGS: Terminators 75 – 25, Vetter’s Guns & Ammo 68 – 32, Split Happens 60 – 40, Empire Strikes 56 – 44, MMATFB 56 – 44, Country Cars & Trucks 46 – 54, WELD 45 – 55, Family Traditions II 37 – 63, Family Traditions I 33 – 67, Happy Bowlers 23 – 77;

HIGH GAME MEN (SCRATCH): Jon Hedrick 245, Cohan Kesner 224, Troy McGreevy 212, Andrew Hawk 211; 

(HANDICAP): Brent Berg 256, George Halterman 256, Jon Hedrick 251, Andrew Hawk 235, Kevin McDonald 235; 

HIGH SERIES MEN (SCRATCH): Jon Hedrick 695, Cohan Kesner 622, Arron Faxon 592, Andrew Hawk 590; (HANDICAP): 

Jon Hedrick 713, George Halterman 681, Kevin McDonald 675, Brent Berg 663; 

HIGH AVERAGE (MEN): Cohan Kesner 213.92, Jon Hedrick 203.61, Troy McGreevy 199.18, Larry Walp 195.65; 

HIGH GAME WOMEN (SCRATCH): Dee Anna McDonald 213, Emily Stark 185, Tonya Ours 178, Carissa Michael 175; 

(HANDICAP): Dee Anna McDonald 243, Tonya Ours 234, Emily Stark 224, Suzie Berg 218; 

HIGH SERIES WOMEN (SCRATCH): Dee Anna McDonald 545, Emily Stark 508, Denise McGreevy 475, Tonya Ours 440; (HANDICAP): Dee Anna McDonald 635, Jordan Ketterman 630, Emily Stark 625, Tonya Ours 608; 

HIGH AVERAGE (WOMEN): Sarah Earle 175.63, Dee Anna McDonald 172.44, Emily Stark 161.86, Ashley Wratchford 

160.87;

THURSDAY NIGHT MENS LEAGUE

02/20/2025

TEAM STANDINGS: Balls Deep 66.5 – 37.5, Chillmers 58 – 46, Vetter’s Guns & Ammo 58 – 46, Vetter’s Mini Mart 57 – 47, Petersburg Oil Company 56 – 48, Strikeforce 54 – 50, Golden Lanes 53.5 – 50.5; 

HIGH GAME (SCRATCH): Derek Miller 248, Andrew Hawk 240, Don Himelright 239, Evan Kesner 237, Josh Arbaugh 234; (HANDICAP): Derek Miller 281, Harry Timbrook 277, Andrew Hawk 275, Josh Arbaugh 273, Nathan Timbrook 271, Trevor Wratchford 271; 

HIGH SERIES (SCRATCH): Derek Miller 696, Cohan Kesner 638, Trevor Wratchford 637, Evan Kesner 630, Mike Smith 624; (HANDICAP): Derek Miller 795, Trevor Wratchford 772, George Halterman 752, Harry Timbrook 742, Travis Cook 735; 

HIGH AVERAGE: Cohan Kesner 214.24, Evan Kesner 208.53, Don Himelright 207.01, Zachary Arbaugh 203.06, Tyler Halterman 200.45, Jon Hedrick 199.64;

Tucker County Boys Basketball 82 Moorefield 40

Northern Garrett Girls Basketball 52, East Hardy 31

East Hardy Boys Basketball 89, Union 34

Evan Hamilton scored a game-high 23 points for the Cougars,

followed by Gideon Good and Jordan Teets with 18 points.

Union was paced by Braylon Ward with 21 points. 

Class A Region II Playoffs:

East Hardy Girls Basketball 42, Tygarts Valley 32 

March 5 7:00 — Region II Championship East Hardy at Tucker County

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