University senior #11, Ashten Boggs plays aggressively against Wheeling Park on Thursday. 
University senior #11, Ashten Boggs plays aggressively against Wheeling Park on Thursday. 
University senior #32, Abbie Coen comes in for her team with her shooting against Wheeling Park on Thursday. 
University senior #32, Abbie Coen comes in for her team with her shooting against Wheeling Park on Thursday. 
University senior #11, Ashten Boggs plays aggressively against Wheeling Park on Thursday. 
University senior #11, Ashten Boggs plays aggressively against Wheeling Park on Thursday. 
Wheeling Park junior #20, Asia Roby drives down the court against University on Thursday. 
Wheeling Park sophomore #35, Jai’lah Walker looks to her team against University on Thursday. 
University sophomore #4, Lauren Dean drives down the court against Wheeling Park on Thursday. 
University senior #11, Ashten Boggs plays aggressively against Wheeling Park on Thursday. 
University senior #11, Ashten Boggs plays aggressively against Wheeling Park on Thursday.
By Jared Serre
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Eden Gibson saw an opportunity and she took it.
Facing a deficit with just under a minute remaining, the University High guard knocked down her only 3-pointer of the game, cutting Wheeling Park’s lead to only one.
The momentum was short lived, however, as a Wheeling Park defensive stop helped the Patriots escape with a narrow victory over University on Thursday night, winning 56-55.
Following the Gibson 3-pointer, the Patriots were able to knock down two free throws to extend their lead.
On their next offensive position, the Hawks were able to counter with a basket and, despite picking up a steal on the corresponding inbound pass, the clock expired before University was able to get a potential game-winning shot off.
“We kind of played not to win the first half or the fourth quarter and, (if) you let a team like University hang around like that, they’re gonna make you pay for it,” Wheeling Park coach Ryan Young said. “We made the plays when we needed to, but they’re just such a scrappy team. I’ve never seen a team that aggressive on the offensive boards.”
Wheeling Park struggled offensively in the fourth quarter, scoring only seven points. The Patriots did not make a single fourth quarter shot from the field as all of their points came from the free throw line.
On the other hand, the Hawks scored 16 points — their best offensive quarter of the game.
University’s offensive success was newfound as, in the first half, the team struggled on both sides of the ball. Wheeling Park was able to capitalize, holding a nine point lead at the end of the first quarter and the first half.
“We started shooting the ball well and got a lead on them. That certainly helped,” Young said. “As the game wore on, I think that rebounding hurt us. I didn’t think that the offense got any worse as far as our shots, but maybe our motion needed to be a little bit quicker.”
Emerging from halftime, a revitalized University team came charging back. In the third quarter, the Hawks were able to close the deficit to four points, which was the lowest of the game.
“I think we got into a better defense for us to stop the scoring because I felt like the first quarter was terrible for us. Defensive scheme-wise, it was bad,” University coach David Price said about halftime adjustments. “We changed that up and we started digging our way back into the game.
“It’s hard when you dig a hole against a very good team to get back in the game.”
Offensively, University was led by senior forward Ashten Boggs, who scored 20 points. Abbie Coen scored 12 points and Lauren Dean scored 10.
For Wheeling Park, junior center Bella Abernathy was the leading scorer with 15 points. Junior guard Lindsey Garrison and senior guard Shanley Woods shot a perfect 6 of 6 from the free throw line.
Next up for University is a visit to Huntington on Saturday.
