SAINT CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio — In the last week, the University boys’ basketball team beat two Class AAA top five teams by a combined 69 points.
Does UHS coach Joe Schmidle think his guys, playing their best basketball of the season, can get better?
“We’re going to try,” Schmidle said. “We’re going to keep working. We’ve still got a lot of things that we need to improve on. I think this team is disciplined enough and driven enough that they’ll be willing to do that.”
After beating No. 5 Wheeling Park 108-69 on Tuesday, the Hawks’ latest victim was No. 2 Morgantown in the Class 5A OVAC championship game Saturday at Ohio University Eastern. UHS used a strong second half to pull away from the Mohigans in a 74-44 win, claiming its fourth-straight OVAC title.
It was the usual suspects for the Hawks (16-3) — Kaden Metheny scored a game-high 27 points, followed by 26 from K.J. McClurg.
But since a home loss to MHS a month ago, on Jan. 15, Schmidle decided to make a few lineup changes, penciling John Mazza and Aaron Forbes as starters, while having Mike Maumbe and Kyle Smith come in as fresh reserves.
Since those changes, which could continue to be juggled down the stretch, the No. 1 Hawks are 7-0 and beating teams by an average of 31 points per game.
“It’s made a big difference,” said Metheny, who was also named player of the game for the third-straight year. “Aaron’s playing out of his mind. Ever since the Beach Ball (Classic), his confidence has shot through the roof. [Mazza] is shooting the lights out and being in the starting lineup helped. Kyle Smith is a big spark off the bench and that’s what he was last year as the sixth man. With Mike coming off the bench, it keeps him out of foul trouble and let’s him settle in.”
UHS did not trail against MHS and it was a stark difference from the previous two match-ups this season. The Hawks beat the Mohigans (15-3) on Jan. 3, 49-46, but MHS took the second, 67-65.
Schmidle said eliminating cutting lanes was critical, which forced MHS to shoot from the perimeter. The Mohigans were able to make shots early, but couldn’t sustain any offensive flow as the Hawks continue to extend the lead in the second half on their way to the 30-point win.
Although it was close early, MHS coach Dave Tallman wasn’t thrilled with the effort from the beginning, wanting to see more toughness from his group.
“We have a bunch of really nice kids, but when they cross the line, they’re still really nice kids,” Tallman said. “They really are great human-beings, but when they get on the court, they get exposed. They have to have some fire and the coach can’t want it more than the players. We have to have better leadership, better intensity and more emotion.”
The Mohigans’ leading scorers on the season, Carson Poffenberger and Alex Rudy, were held to just five points combined. All five of their starters were only able to score 18 points. No one scored in double-figures, but Luke Bechtel had eight points off the bench to lead the team.
UHS will host Musselman at 7 p.m. Tuesday in its final home game of the regular season. MHS will host North Marion at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
University (16-3)
Metheny 9 5-8 27; McClurg 8 9-10 26; Niceler 3 0-0 6; Mazza 1 3-5 5; Forbes 2 4-4 6; Maumbe 0 0-0 0; Smith 1 0-0 3; Reyes 0 0-0 0 Brooks 0 1-2 1; Braham 0 0-0 0; Hammack 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24 21-28 74.
Morgantown (15-3)
Rudy 1 0-2 3; Poffenberger 1 0-0 2; McMillen 1 0-0 3; Pryor 3 0-0 6; Battle 1 2-2 4; Bechtel 2 2-2 8; Gage 2 0-0 6; Poland 2 0-1 4; Rollo 1 0-0 3; Washington 1 1-2 3; Borom 1 0-0 2; Smith 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 5-7 44.
UHS 14 18 19 23 – 74
MHS 8 15 10 11 – 44
3-pointers: UHS 6 (Metheny 4, McClurg, Smith); MHS 6 (Rudy, McMillen, Bechtel 2, Gage 2).
