MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – No. 1 University and No. 3 Morgantown – two of the best teams in the state – squared off in the second installment of their regular-season series, but unlike the first game where the Hawks came away with a close 3-point win, the Mohigans clinched their own victory by a slim margin Wednesday night, 67-65.
“I thought it was a great team win,” MHS coach Dave Tallman said. “Antonio Rollo came in and played great and got us a boost. Carson Poffenberger had a career night, too.
“I have so much respect for University. Kaden Metheny was in his zone tonight and I thought we did a good job on him in the second half. You can’t guard him when he’s playing like that – we tried to do certain things, but he’s so quick and any adjustment you make he’s going to get the ball and score. He’s such a good passer too and makes his teammates better. It was a tough match for us, but I’m proud of us gutting it out.”
The first quarter was seemingly gone in the blink of an eye as both teams started out on fire. Unlike the first time the two rivals met, however, Kaden Metheny and K.J. McClurg were part of that mix, netting 11 points between them to keep the Hawks (9-3) just behind the Mohigans led by Alex Rudy and Carson Poffenberger with a combined 16 points. As the minutes disappeared from the clock in the second quarter, both teams kept the pressure on each other going shot for shot, but the hard-fought half ended in spectacular fashion. Metheny, after hitting his four treys, attempted another that fell short, but Mike Maumbe was there for the put-back to push the Hawks up nine points at 36-27.
The second half was where things got fun, though.
The Hawks and Mohigans continued to go tit for tat in the third quarter, as Poffenberger hit 14 points and Mac McMillen dropped two clutch treys to lead the Mohigans. A late-quarter 7-0 resurgence run brought the underdogs within four points of UHS.
And then the fouls started coming in. Whether it was panic or just whistle-happy referees, each team was in the bonus toward the halfway mark of the final stanza. The quarter opened with John Ross Mazza fouling Poffenberger who nailed his two free throws to pull the Mohigans within two of the Hawks, but the junior big man wasn’t done. After his free throws he posted up in the paint for an assault by Metheny whose shot was smacked out of the air by the 6-foot-7 center who then took a dish and hit the tying field goal. After a missed shot, Antonio Rollo – who managed to stymie the Hawks on a lot of their perimeter shots – hit a clutch trey to force a Hawks’ timeout. From there, it was Morgantown’s game.
McMillen continued to produce, hitting five shots to help Morgantown go on a 7-4 run while Xavier Pryor charged through a full lane to hit a lay-up and head to the line for a 3-point play. The Mohigans, locked at 65 points, managed to hold the Hawks to five points, but with 36 seconds on the clock, UHS was only down two points. A foul by Maumbe on an inbound pass gave the Mohigans one more point, but McMillen was called for a foul of his own to allow Metheny to tack on two more points – one down from MHS at 66-65. The following inbound pass by McMillen would wildly bounce off Poffenberger’s hands to give UHS the ball back with 10 ticks on the clock, but a major block on McClurg’s lay-up attempt ended with Poffenberger getting fouled, sending him to the line one more time.
With a chance to put the Mohigans ahead enough to possibly seal the game, MHS’s leading scorer took a deep breath, readied himself and let the ball go.
A miss. But one more chance to put them up by two points.
Another breath. Another three bounces to ready himself. Another release. A bounce off the front of the rim. And a bucket. The Mohigans were up by two, and Poffenberger had a career-high 27 points.
A quick inbound pass to the last guy you want to have the ball with a two-point lead, Metheny charged down the court to the arc. He was forced to take an off-kilter shot, and it hit the front of the rim. It was over, and the Mohigans had upset the No. 1 team in the state and their rival.
“It’s a game, it’s a foul shot. Just step up and hit it with confidence,” Poffenberger said. “[And when Metheny got the shot off], I hope it doesn’t go in. We knew Kaden was going to shoot the ball, and we did what we could to contest it and make sure he didn’t get the foul shots.”
And maybe it wasn’t worth it being a fan group of the No. 3-seeded team, but the Morgantown student section stormed the court. To them, it seemed like it was worth it.
“I think God has given me the chance and opportunity to develop into the player I am right now,” Poffenberger said. “My teammates have pushed me all summer. We’ve all pushed each other for moments like this. I couldn’t do it without them.”
And where Poffenberger may be too humble to brag on himself, Tallman had high praises for his junior.
“I’m so proud of him. He’s come along so far in one year and it’s because of hard work. There’s no secret to it: If you work hard, things usually happen to you. Kaden Metheny works hard, K.J. McClurg works hard, Carson’s worked hard. I’m just so proud of him.”
Even UHS coach Joe Schmidle had a lot of good things to say about Poffenberger.
“He got rolling, man,” Schmidle said. “He just kept making 3s, and we weren’t expecting that. Hats off to him, he played a great game.”
But even amid a loss, Schmidle had niceties for his team, too.
“It was a great game,” he said. “Two really good teams, probably the two best teams in the state of West Virginia who are going to see each other two or three more times. We had a lapse there at the end of the third quarter. I think [Morgantown] did a better job of pressuring Kaden. He didn’t get as many open looks in the second half.”
Aside from Poffenberger’s career stats, McMillen was the only other player in double digits with 16 points. Rudy added nine, and Pryor, Alec Poland and Troy Battle all had four. In total, MHS shot 14 of 33 (42.4%) from the field and 10 of 22 (45.4%) from beyond the arc.
McClurg assisted Metheny’s game-high 32 points with 10 points of his own, plus he grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double. Maumbe also had a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards, while Ryan Niceler tossed in eight points. The Hawks hit 21 of 35 (60%) from the floor and 5 of 23 (21%) from 3-point land.
Playoffs are the main focus, but the next rivalry games are important, too
Both Schmidle and Tallman both like to focus on the playoffs which is understandable considering the way West Virginia basketball is set up, but it’s also important to look at the next few games. And Schmidle’s assessment is, “We’ll be fine.”
“A lot of times we’ll learn a lot from a loss [as opposed to] a win. I know my kids: They’ll be ready to play and will be focused. Morgantown’s a good basketball team, and I thought we did a lot of good things that we’ll build on.”
TWEET @ASpellman_DPost
University’s Mike Maumbe (14) and Morgantown’s Maxwell Washington (33) vie for the rebound on Wednesday. 
University’s John Mazza (23) takes a shot against Morgantown on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s Alec Poland (0) is fouled by University’s Kyle Smith (2) on Wednesday. 
University’s Kaden Metheny (3) hits a 3-pointer against Morgantown on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s Xavier Pryor (15) and University’s K.J. McClurg (0) vie for the rebound on Wednesday. 
University’s John Mazza (23) protects the ball from Morgantown’s Alexander Rudy (22) on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s Carson Poffenberger (24) shoots over University’s Mike Maumbe (14) on Wednesday. 
University’s Aaron Forbes (33) is fouled on the play against Morgantown on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s Carson Poffenberger (24) protects the ball from University’s John Mazza (23) on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s head coach David Tallman reacts to a call on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s Alexander Rudy (22) protects the ball from University’s Kyle Smith (2) on Wednesday. 
on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s Troy Battle (1) and University’s Kyle Smith (2) vie for the loose ball on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s Carson Poffenberger (24) shoots over University’s Mike Maumbe (14) on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s Xavier Pryor (15) and University’s K.J. McClurg (0) vie for the rebound on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s Xavier Pryor (15) shoots over University’s Ryan Niceler (11) and Mike Maumbe (14) on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s Xavier Pryor (15) and University’s Kyle Smith (2) vie for the loose ball on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s Xavier Pryor (15) and University’s Kyle Smith (2) vie for the loose ball on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s Carson Poffenberger (24) protects the ball from University’s John Mazza (23) on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s Carson Poffenberger (24) shoots over University’s Mike Maumbe (14) on Wednesday. 
Morgantown’s Carson Poffenberger (24) blocks University’s K.J. McClurg (0) on Wednesday. 
Morgantown students reacts on Wednesday. 
Morgantown players reacts after defeating University in the final seconds of play on Wednesday.
