MORGANTOWN — Senior Alec Poland led all scorers with 25 points on 10 of 16 shooting while five players scored in double-figures for the Morgantown boys’ basketball team (11-3) as it proved why it is currently the top-ranked squad in West Virginia, beating No. 2 Parkersburg South 85-54 on Tuesday night.
Six different Mohigans made a 3-point shot and they converted 8 of 10 free throws, as well. For PSHS (13-2), junior Cyrus Traugh led the way with 17 points and Ashton Mooney contributed 14.
The pace of the game was established from the opening tip, won by PSHS, as both teams looked to push the ball in transition. A few baskets and a few defensive stops for both teams found them tied at 6 through the first three minutes. Brooks Gage then scored five-straight points for MHS as their lead grew to 15-11 with just under two minutes to go. Four different Mohigans already registered points as they led 18-13 heading into the second.
Whatever head coach Dave Tallman and his players discussed in the huddle allowed MHS to take the game over, and they wouldn’t look back. Sophomore Sha-Ron Young scored four quick points, helping MHS extend its lead to 24-15. After forced turnovers and a few offensive rebounds by Poland, the Mohigans went on to score 29 points in the second quarter alone, something Tallman credits his defense for.
“Honestly, I thought our defense was really good,” Tallman said. “That’s a great offensive team and our defense helped create our offense.”
It’s that same stifling defense and rebounding that helped Tallman’s team hold its opponents to an average of 48 points per game. PSHS struggled to find shots and to grab offensive rebounds, often being held to one possession. PSHS got within 17 on back-to-back buckets halfway through the third. Until MHS grew its lead to as much as 25 in the third quarter behind a hot shooting streak and Poland’s 25 points.
Coaches made substitutions going into the back half of the fourth. Fan-favorite Koma Neal ignited the MHS faithful on a made 3-pointer from the corner with 2:30 to play.
This is the fifth time MHS has scored 80 or more points in a game this season.
“I was just proud of our effort,” Tallman said. “The last couple games we’ve been talking about good habits on the court, talk, execute, the little things.”
MHS will travel to Wheeling Park on Friday for an OVAC tournament matchup.
Parkersburg South (13-2)
Cyrus Traugh 16 5-6 17 Ashton Mooney 9 2-2 14 Caleb Shaffer 6 2-6 9 Riley Street 8 0-0 5 Austin Reeves 1 2-2 4 Jackson Smith 3 0-0 3 Brady McMullen 2 0-0 2
Morgantown (11-3)
Alec Poland 16 3-3 25 Brooks Gage 10 1-3 17 Sharron Young 11 2-2 12 Brody Davis 9 0-0 11 Cam Dancer 5 0-0 10 Jalen Goins 7 0-0 5 Koma Neal 3 2-2 5
MORGANTOWN 18 29 16 22 – 85
PARKERSBURG SOUTH 13 14 12 15 – 54
3-pointers: Morgantown 9 (Poland 2, Dancer 2, Gage 2, Goins 1, Davis 1, Neal 1); Park South 3 (Street 1, Smith 1, Shaffer 1)
