MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Heading into Saturday afternoon’s home game against Bridgeport, the No. 2 ranked Morgantown High boys’ basketball team — coming off two tough wins over University and Robert C. Byrd — was on the low end of the energy spectrum to start the game.
So when the surprising, hot-shooting Indians had matched MHS in each of the first two quarters, then took a seven-point lead midway through the third quarter, it was clear that the Mohigans needed a boost.
So far this season, when it has needed a pick-me-up, the team hasn’t turned to the usual green sports drink, or even to water, but to its favorite “juice box.”
Otherwise known as burly forward Cam Rice.
The senior forward turned in some major minutes, scoring five key points, grabbing huge rebounds on both ends of the floor to help MHS tie the score after three quarters, and eventually grind its way to a 61-54 Senior Day victory.
It’s not often that two teams match each other point-for-point after three straight quarters, but that’s a statistical indicator of just how tight the game remained right from the opening tip. After a slow shooting start, they combined for seven 3-pointers and 16 points apiece. The Mohigans (9-1) scored the first seven points of the second quarter, and had several opportunities to extend their advantage, but Bridgeport (6-3) responded with eight straight of their own to reel MHS all the way back.
Knotted at 25 to begin the second half, the Indians’ smooth forward Jack Bifano (on his way to a game-high 22 points) knifed through the lane for several lay-ups, helping to forge a 38-31 lead with three minutes left in the third quarter. But Rice’s intensity pulled the Mohigans out of their funk, and a late triple from Alec Poland off a cross-court pass from senior Xavier Pryor lifted MHS back into a tie at 41-all heading into the final frame.
Finally, the Morgantown defensive intensity showed up in full, as it forced five big turnovers, leading to some easy transition baskets, and made the Indians work long and hard for any decent looks on offense.
Senior Luke Bechtel was especially effective denying Bifano entry passes, and fellow senior Carson Poffenberger scored five big points down the stretch to put the game out of reach. Appropriately, Rice snagged the final rebound to seal the victory.
When asked if his team was concerned or calm when they found themselves trailing by seven points late in the third, Rice responded after the game in typical senior leader fashion.
“We just knew we had to find a way back into it,” he said. “I knew that my job was to rebound and bring us up, and we have faith in each other that we all are capable of stepping up when we need it most, and that’s what we did.”
Mohigans coach Dave Tallman characterized this as “a good win,” and he knows exactly where the credit goes.
“The seniors (Bechtel, Rice, Poffenberger and Pryor), of course,” he insisted. “They’re such awesome kids, an unbelievable group to work with every day. I never have to say much, because their leadership is so strong. And today, the moment never got too big for them. They stayed calm and ramped it up when they had to.
“We’re pretty spent,” he admitted, “but I asked them if they had one more in them this week (the Mohigans travel to Parkersburg South tomorrow afternoon) and they said they did. We’ll just have to grit it out and find a way, just like we did today.”
A little extra “juice” wouldn’t hurt either.
The Morgantown JV team cruised to a 59-29 win over the Indians. Cam Danser led the MHS offense with 15 points, and Sebastian Dalton scored 11 in the victory.
The Mohigans stay busy, travelling to face Parkesburg South at 3:30 p.m. today.
BRIDGEPORT (6-3)
Chiharo 1 1-2 4; Duez 2 0-0 5; Ranzelli 1 0-0 2; Bifano 9 2-4 22; Messe 3 0-0 9; Haywood 3 3-3 10; Spatafore 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 6-9 54
MORGANTOWN (9-1)
Bechtel 3 2-4 9; Gage 5 0-0 15; Pryor 2 2-3 6; Poffenberger 4 3-4 12; Rice 3 1-2 7; Poland 4 2-4 12. Totals 21 10-17 61
Bridgeport 16 9 16 13 — 54
Morgantown 16 9 16 20 — 61
3-pointers: Bridgeport 8 (Meese 3, Bifano 2, Haywood, Chiharo, Duez), Morgantown 9 (Gage 5, Poland 2, Bechtel, Poffenberger)
