MORGANTOWN – The No. 2 Morgantown Mohigans traveled across town Thursday night to Baker’s Ridge to visit the No. 5 University Hawks in the second of two games in the regular season series between the rivals.
MHS took the victory in the first contest of the season 60-41 on December 11, but the Mohigans needed all they could get on Thursday night as an improved Hawks squad pushed their opponents to the final seconds.
Morgantown defeated University 66-62 in an instant classic between the two schools, sweeping the regular season series.
MHS sophomore Kayli Kellogg scored a game-high 38 points, including nine three-pointers, while shooting 12 of 22 from the field. She also added eight steals and dished five assists while grabbing a pair of rebounds.
“We’ve been in a few close games that like one tonight that haven’t gone our way,” MHS head coach John Fowkes said. “I think those experiences helped us tonight in this game. We’ve had a heck of a stretch of games this week after coming back from the two-week hiatus from the weather. These girls stuck with it tonight and stayed together, and that’s what we need to continue to do going forward.”
University (6-5) was led by senior Hannah Stemple, who was honored for reaching the 1,000-point mark of her career earlier this season before the game, with 20 points, four rebounds, four steals, and two assists. Junior Bri Fox added 16 for the Hawks.
“We just had a few lapses when we didn’t need them,” UHS head coach Nick Lusk said. “Kayli Kellogg is number one on the scout for MHS as the player you can’t let shoot and we just let her have too many open looks and she’s just a great player who can punish you multiple ways. I’m proud of our effort though, Morgantown is one of the best teams, if not the best, and if they’re up there around the top I think we are right there with them.”
Kellogg got started early and often, opening the game with two triples in the first 90 seconds of the first quarter. She hit her third midway through the frame that sparked a small MHS run but the Hawks ended the first eight minutes strong and led 20-18 after one.
The first three minutes of the second quarter began slow offensively for both sides as UHS clung to a slight lead 24-20.
Kellogg then took over for the remainder of the half, nailing two deep threes on back-to-back possessions to steal the lead back for MHS 26-24. Two minutes later she added two more, her sixth and seventh of the first half, extending the lead to 34-27. MHS took a 34-30 lead into the halftime break.
“I knew coming into this game I would have to step up and I feel like I’m ready for the moment when it comes to me,” Kellogg said. “I have confidence myself and I know my teammates trust me also.”
Not only did she punish the Hawks shooting the ball on offense, Kellogg produced eight steals defensively for the Mohigans. She entered the game averaging around four takeaways per game.
“To be honest, people don’t really give me credit for my defense and think I’m only an offensive player,” she said. “I really take that to heart and take pride in my defense. I want to do whatever I can for my team to help us win and on both ends of the floor.”
The third quarter saw momentum shifted back and forth between the two clubs. The Mohigans threatened to pull away multiple times but the Hawks slammed the door shut each attempt.
Stemple went on a personal 5-0 run midway through the quarter to cut the lead to one possession, 40-37.
But Kellogg made her impact felt once again, scoring two tough layups and another triple that swelled the lead back to eight, 51-43.
Stemple answered with another three of her own as UHS entered the final quarter trailing 52-46.
UHS found itself within a point of the Mohigans after a pair of free throws by Julia Maisel cut the lead to 55-54. But just as they’d done all night, MHS responded to the Hawks offensive success with baskets on the other end.
With 4:30 to play and leading 57-54, Kellogg produced a steal and layup, followed by her ninth three-pointer of the contest. That sequence gave the Mohigans a 62-54 lead with just over three minutes to play.
With 40 seconds left in the game, Maisel knocked down two free throws cutting the MHS lead to 64-62. The Hawks managed a stop on the ensuing possession but couldn’t secure the defensive rebound.
Kellogg was fouled and knocked down a clutch pair of free throws that out the game out of reach with 10 seconds left as the Mohigans headed back to Wilson Avenue with a big victory towards OVAC and Regional Tournament placing.
The Mohigans will enjoy some time off before returning to the court next Friday at home against Linsly for a 6:30 p.m. tip off.
UHS returns home on Saturday to host No. 3 Wheeling Park.
BOX SCORE
Morgantown 66, University 62
UHS 20 10 16 16
MHS 18 16 18 14
University (6-5) – Stemple 8 0-1 20 Fox 6 2-2 16 Simpson 5 4-5 14 Maisel 1 6-6 9 Johnson 1 2-2 4
Morgantown (10-2) – Kellogg 12 5-6 38 Jones 5 0-2 11 Deusenberry 3 1-1 7 Nelson 2 1-2 5 Hatcher 1 1-2 3 DeVries 1 0-0 2
3pt goals made – Morgantown 10 (Kellogg 9 Jones 1); University 7 (Stemple 4 Fox 2 Maisel 1).
