MORGANTOWN — The University girls’ basketball team saw its season come to an end by way of defeat to crosstown rival Morgantown for the second consecutive year on Wednesday night.
Although the Hawks failed to win the regional co-final and advance to Charleston, by no means was this season anything to hang a head about or be disappointed with.
UHS posted a 16-8 record with wins over teams like top-ranked Wheeling Park, Kennedy Catholic (PA), and Bridgeport. Although they lost all three games to MHS, each of the games were very competitive and close, which is much different from a season ago.
With nearly all of the scoring on the team returning next year, head coach Nick Lusk will exit this second year at UHS with confidence for the future of the team. Junior Ella Simpson and sophomore Hannah Stemple, who account for about 70% of UHS’ offensive production, will lead the way with a strong supporting cast.
“She (Simpson) is always solid for us,” UHS head coach Nick Lusk said after the regional game on Wednesday. “Even in that zone, we had her in the middle and it was more like a box-and-one because they were following her. Then we tried to get her outside, it frustrated us a little.”
Simpson led UHS with 15 points against MHS, in a game where she was tightly guarded by the opposition. She netted half of the Hawks’ made field goals, hitting five times from the floor. UHS made just 10 total shots in the contest.
Despite the poor shooting, the teams were only separated by six points going into the final frame, but the experience and patience of MHS caused some panic by the young Hawks and allowed a solid defensive effort to be had.
“I think we beat ourselves, but that’s what they (MHS) do to you,” Lusk said. “They’re a strong team, they’re long and we aren’t. If we get too deep then their size becomes a problem. They killed us on the boards and 50-50 balls also.”
MHS head coach Doug Goodwin knew his team had to be ready for a battle against the Hawks with a trip to the state tournament on the line.
“You simply cannot overlook University High,” Goodwin said. “You can’t do it. They’re too good of a team, they’ve good great shooters and they’ll test your limits. They got Wheeling Park in here earlier in the year and tested them. Can’t overlook them.”
Three seniors will exit the program as Eden Gibson, Emily Sharkey, and Aza Boateng all played their final game for UHS on Wednesday.
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