By BUBBA KAPRAL | For The Dominion Post
WHEELING — The writing was on the wall early at the Palace on the Hill Saturday afternoon.
Morgantown surged to a big first-quarter lead and never looked back en route to a 70-47 repeat win over Wheeling Park.
The Mohigans, making the most of five treys, built a 23-8 advantage after the opening session and were never seriously challenged the balance of the contest.
Morgantown owned a 38-20 halftime upperhand and maintained a 55-31 cushion entering the final chapter.
“I liked the way we started today. We shot it well early and that momentum carried over the rest of the game,” Morgantown head coach Dave Tallman said. “Our kids played really hard. It’s nice to come in and beat a good team on its home floor.”
Morgantown ended regular season play with a sparkling 19-3 mark.
The Mohigans will open sectional play Wednesday against Buckhannon- Upshur.
Park, meanwhile, closed out pre-tourney action with a fine 16-6 mark. The Patriots will make their sectional debut Friday, hosting the winner of the Brooke-John Marshall contest.
The loss spoiled another brilliant performance by senior Alex Vargo. The 6-5 all-stater poured in a game-high 35 points, 21 coming after halftime. He was a sharp 11-of-13 from the charity stripe.
D.J. Saunders was the second highest scorer for the Patriots. The dynamic point guard netted four points.
Morgantown, meanwhile, displayed superb offensive balance, placing three players in double figures with 11 performers reaching the scoring column.
Senior guard Mac McMillen and 6-7 junior forward Carson Poffenberger each netted 12 markers to pace the Mohigans. Senior guard Alex Rudy chipped in with 10 counters.
“We have had several bad first quarters lately. Today was obviously another one,” Park head coach Michael Jebbia said.
“Morgantown shot the ball really well early on and put us in a big hole. They played extremely well.
“Morgantown is a good basketball team and so are we,” added the former Wheeling Park and West Liberty hoop great. “Now we just need to get focused and get ready for the
sectional.”
Poffenberger had seven boards for the Mohigans. Saunders grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists for the
Patriots.
MORGANTOWN (19-3)
Battle 2, 2-2 7; McMillan 4 2-2 12; Pryor 3, 2-2 8; Rudy 4, 0-0 10; Poffenberger 5, 2-3 12; Bechtel 1, 0-2 3; Gage 2, 0-0 6; Poland 2, 1-3 5; Rolilo 0, 2-2 2; Felton 1, 0-0 2; Smith 1, 0-0 2. Totals 25, 11-16 70.
WHEELING PARK (16-6)
Vargo 11, 11-13 35; Morris 1, 0-0 2; Zimmerman 1, 0-0 2; Saunders 1, 2-2 4; Saxton 0, 0-0 0; Heller 0, 0-0 0; Hairston 1, 0-3 2; Smelley 0, 0-0 0; Chapman 0, 0-0 0; Ruchter 0, 0-0 0; Phillips 1, 0-0 2; Francis 0, 0-0 0; Lewton 0 0-0 0; Gibson 0, 0-0 0. Totals: 16, 13-20 47.
MHS 23 15 17 15 — 70
WPHS 8 12 11 16 – 47
3-pointers: Morgantown 7 (McMillan 2,, Rudy 2, Bechtel, Gage, Battle); Park 2
(Vargo 2).
