CADIZ, Oh. — Morgantown and Wheeling Park have waged memorable battles the last few seasons, both during the regular and postseason.
Each team wins its fair share, though recent precedent features the Mohigans coming out on top in playoff-type atmospheres.
That was not the case Saturday in the finale of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference’s Class 5A championship at Harrison Central High in Cadiz.
Morgantown’s inability to make shots, either from mid-range or inside, coupled with an untimely defensive breakdown in the second half ultimately did in the defending OVAC and West Virginia Class AAAA champions.
Wheeling Park’s Alexis Bordas led a balanced effort with 20 points and earned game MVP honors. But it was Morgantown’s 24 of 68 performance from the floor, including an uncharacteristic 10 of 34 (29%) in the first half, that gave the Mohigans the most fits.
“We have to finish open looks and bunnies when we get them,” coach Doug Goodwin said as his team fell to 12-5 following the 68-53 defeat to Park, a team that now owns a 2-1 record vs. MHS this season. “We got off to a slow roll, but I thought we did a good job defensively early.
“But we gave up 23 points in the third quarter as what we did well early started not working.”
Park led by five after both the first and second quarters at 14-9 and 26-21, respectively.
Sadaya Jones scored six of her game-high 23 points in the first half, but like her teammates, was frustrated with missed shots that on most nights fall with ease.
Park didn’t change anything up defensively from the previous two meetings, electing to stick to its sagging man defense that focused more on defending the interior and dribble penetration while leaving open looks on the perimeter.
Morgantown attempted a few three-pointers, but aside from one from Jones in the fourth quarter, none fell. Goodwin knows those are shots his team needs to knock down in games like this.
“They were sagging off and leaving us open on the perimeter and when we get open looks like that, we have to hit them,” Goodwin said.
Parks’ big three of Bordas (seven), Lala Woods (seven) and Natalie Daugherty (five) all got hot at the same time in the third, leading to the 23-13 run that pushed Park’s lead to 49-34 after three.
The Patriots were getting open looks that weren’t found in the first half, and that coupled with another rough shooting quarter (6 of 17) didn’t help matters.
Morgantown finally started hitting, Jones especially, with 11 points in the final quarter. But no other Mohigans player hit double digits as Kayli Kellogg totaled eight points and Sofia Wassick and Paige Smith added seven apiece.
The road doesn’t get any easier for Morgantown, which next readies for a mid-week home date with George Washington.
Woods totaled 16 for Park, with Daugherty chipping in 13 and Seneca Heller adding 11. Daugherty also cleaned house on the boards, leading the Patriots with 12.
By MIKE HUGHES
BOX SCORE
Wheeling Park 68, Morgantown 53
Wheeling Park 14 12 23 19 — 68
Morgantown 9 12 13 19 — 53
WP — Huffman 3 2-2 8; Daugherty 5 1-2 13; Heller 5 1-2 11; Bordas 7 4-6 20; Woods 4 6-6 16; Hicks 0 0-0 0; Totals: 24 14-18 68.
MHS — Wassick 3 1-2 7; Jones 10 2-2 23; Kellog 4 0-1 8; Jordan 3 0-0 6; Smith 3 1-2 7; Hatcher 0 0-0 0; Howell 1 0-0 2; Totals: 24 4-7 53.
Three-point Goals: Daugherty 2, Woods 2, Bordas 2. Jones.
