MORGANTOWN – The Morgantown boys basketball team enter sectional play the top seed in Section 1 of Region I and the top-ranked team in Class AAAA in the final AP poll of the season.
With John Marshall coming to visit in the opening round of the sectional tournament, MHS (20-2) will look to continue its title defense that’s looked good for the season so far. But with tonight’s game being a win-or-go-home scenario, and with Charleston still three games away, head coach Dave Tallman and his team know they must focus on the 32 minutes at hand first.
“We are really excited to get started (with the postseason),” Tallman said. “Our guys have worked extremely hard since last season for this time of the year. We’re going to take it one game at a time and first up is John Marshall. We must come out with some fire from the start and put together a great game of winning basketball.”
MHS continue to play without star guard Sharron Young who has missed time with an injury, but he is expected back later in the postseason should MHS defeat John Marshall tonight and advance to Regionals.
Despite the absence of Young, the Mohigans have continued to win and only dropped one game without him. Players like Marty Johnson and Izzy Everett have stepped up in place of their teammate with some quality minutes and contribution on both ends of the floor.
“Izzy lives in the gym and has been very aggressive for us,” Tallman said. “When Sharron does come back, then we can put five guys out on the floor that are averaging double-figures. Then Marty Johnson stepping up in the point guard spot is helping off the bench a lot too.”
On the other side of the section, Wheeling Park will host Brooke, with the two winners advancing to play each other for the sectional championship.
On the other side of Region I, which may be one of the toughest in the state, Bridgeport, University, Buckhannon-Upshur, and Preston will fight for a sectional title.
All games will tip at 7:00 p.m. in all rounds.
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