It was a historic night in the Hive as Moorefield Girls Basketball upset the tenth-ranked Lady Mountain Lions for the first time since 2003 by a score of 62-59 guided by junior Lindsey Rinker’s game-high 31 points which helped her eclipse the 1,000-point career milestone on Wednesday.
Rinker is the seventh player in program history to reach the 1,000-point scoring club, joining all-time leader Jess Fisher with 1,406 points, Cindy Martin, Katie Fisher, Jodie Bosley, Robin Cole and Tara George.
Moorefield was the region champion and reached the state tournament the last time the Lady Yellow Jackets defeated Tucker County in 2003 with Fisher leading the team.
Despite the loss to the Lady Yellow Jackets (10-9), Tucker County (11-6) moved up in the state rankings from tenth place to eighth place overall.
“We came out and jumped out on them quick and we were moving around defensively. That’s the kind of energy we need every night. We shot the ball well and rebounded well, there was only a one point rebound difference,” Moorefield Girls Basketball coach Paul Keplinger remarked.
“They were hesitant to bring the ball inside as ‘G’ [Gianna Fair] was waiting. Since they dropped into this section years ago from Class AA, this was a big challenge for us. They were competing in the state tournament in Class AA and made the adjustment at our level. You always measure things by Tucker County and we wanted to build towards playing at that level and we are finally turning the corner. That was great start, but we want to keep going and we will see them again. This win was a huge confidence builder for us. Lindsey [Rinker] is a very hard worker and deserves that milestone. She isn’t a selfish player and you could see that tonight as she dished the ball out. She was nervous in the locker room before the game and I asked her what was wrong and she said ‘this was a PVC game against a ranked team with playoff implications’, she wasn’t concerned about the 1,000 points, her focus was on the team win and that’s what it always has been. I am very proud of her and how she controlled the game.”
Entering the game, Rinker needed only 13 points to reach the 1,000-point plateau and the energy from the stands sent a good vibe that it would happen as it was electric inside the Hive.
After the opening tip-off, Tucker County’s Terra Kuhn ripped the ball away from Moorefield’s Lexi Gilhuys, then her pass was kicked out of bounds by Rinker.
Kuhn responded with a jumper at the 7:20 mark, then Riley Evans stole the ball for the Lady Mountain Lions and Rinker kicked the ball on defense again.
A foul by Moorefield’s Gianna Fair put Kuhn on the free throw line for two successful shots to put Tucker County ahead 4-nil at the 7:05 mark.
A missed perimeter shot by Rinker turned into a collective sigh from the stands, then Tucker County’s Aliyah Plum made the rebound before Fair blocked a shot on the other end sending the fans into a loud cheer with Madison McGregor recovering the ball for the Lady Yellow Jackets.
Both teams missed a couple of baskets and committed turnovers over the next minute which included a steal by Gilhuys.
Rinker collected a defensive rebound, then scored an old-fashioned three-point play at the 5:18 mark to cut the deficit to 4-3 as the fans cheered and tallied the countdown.
McGregor swiped the ball and scored on a layup 15 seconds later to put Moorefield on top, 5-4.
Fair blocked shots twice on defense as the Moorefield student section went nuts.
Rinker scored on a putback to extend the lead, but the Lady Mountain Lions answered with a game-tying 3-pointer by Evans at the 4:08, 7-all.
Moorefield broke the press and McGregor nailed a 3-pointer to regain the lead at the 3:44 mark.
Under the Lady Yellow Jackets pressure, Tucker County couldn’t get past mid-court for a violation.
After a Moorefield foul, Rinker stole the ball which led to a missed shot and around by Tucker County’s Katelyn Surguy.
Fair blocked another shot and Gilhuys recovered the ricochet, but the Lady Yellow Jackets hit the rim.
Tucker County collected the board and London Hood scored moments later to cut the lead to 10-9.
A pass near mid-court to Rinker leaping in the air went behind the line for a backcourt violation, then Rinker made a defensive rebound leading to a baseline layup by Gracie O’Neill at the 1:35 mark.
Gilhuys stole the ball and fed Rinker for a 3-pointer at the 1:11 mark to put Moorefield ahead 15-9.
Gilhuys collected a rebound, then Tucker County’s Kelcee James made a block before Moorefield snatched the ball back on a steal by Remi Hinkle.
Rinker drew a foul and notched both free throws with 40 seconds left in the first period to need only three more points to reach 1,000 as the lead grew to 17-9.
Tucker County’s Anna DiBacco added a putback on the next series as the Lady Yellow Jackets took a 17-11 edge into the second period as a turnover and a steal by O’Neill didn’t create anything in the waning seconds.
After a handful of missed baskets to start the second period by Tucker County and Moorefield, Kuhn was fouled and made one free throw.
O’Neill denied a shot attempt which turned into a jump ball situation for the Lady Yellow Jackets, but Moorefield missed twice.
Kuhn hit a jumper for the Lady Mountain Lions to cut the deficit to 17-14 at the 6:34 mark, but Moorefield responded with a jumper by McGregor a dozen seconds into the next possession.
Tucker County’s Plum and Surguy scored baskets over the next minute and change with the latter coming off a steal by Kuhn snatching the ball out of O’Neill’s hands.
A layup by Gilhuys put the Lady Yellow Jackets up 21-18 at the 4:38 mark, but Tucker County answered with a jumper by Plum.
Rinker knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key for her 1,000th career point which gave Moorefield a 24-20 lead at the 3:59 mark of the second period as family and friends cheered loudly with signs displayed in support.
“It was a very special moment for me and my teammates. When I became a freshman I set two major goals: the first being 1,000 points and the second being breaking the school record. I feel blessed to achieve the first one,” Moorefield junior Lindsey Rinker commented.
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“I must thank my family for the many hours and miles spent helping me gain experience on the court that has allowed me to succeed. I can’t thank my teammates enough for sticking by my side though the good and bad. They were always there to hype me up and help me work toward my goals. I was very nervous about my points, but I knew they’d come sooner or later. Getting the win over Tucker [County] was a huge turnaround for us and our program. The hard work and focus our team reached was tremendous. After I got my points I knew it was game on. I remember telling my teammates that it was our game and we were getting this one. They believe in me. Leading my teams with 31 points in the win was a dream come true.”
There was a break in the action as Moorefield coach Paul Keplinger recognized and honored Rinker with an inscribed basketball as teammates congratulated her, then Rinker went into the stands to hug family members.
After the celebration, Evans hit a 3-pointer for Tucker County and that was immediately answered with perimeter shot by Rinker for a 26-23 score.
There were a couple missed baskets, then Surguy and Gilhuys made back-to-back layups.
Evans hit a 3-pointer at the 1:57 mark to tie the game at 28-all.
Gilhuys made a free throw, then Kuhn grabbed a rebound off the foul line miss and Tucker County missed twice with Kuhn getting another rebound before the ball deflected out of play off of the Lady Yellow Jackets.
Moorefield’s Madison McGregor stole the ball and the ensuing shot was off the mark, but Gilhuys was there to put the ball in the hoop.
Kuhn netted a jumper with one minute left in the first half.
Rinker assisted Regan Davy on a jumper with five seconds remaining in the first half to give the Lady Yellow Jackets a 33-30 edge at halftime.
Starting the third period, Rinker assisted Gilhuys on a basket at the 7:48 mark.
Evans scored in the paint for the Lady Mountain Lions on the next possession.
Moorefield missed a couple of shots with rebounds by O’Neill and Fair, then Tucker County created a steal and Kuhn was fouled leading to one free throw.
Rinker hopped inside a trap entering the paint for a turnover, then Kuhn hit a jumper to equalize the score at 35-all with 5:58 left in the third period.
Kuhn and Davy hustled to the floor after a loose ball with Kuhn rolling away with the ball passing off to a teammate, but Rinker stole the ball only to be called for a foul in the process.
Rinker and Hinkle blocked shots with Rinker collecting the ricochet after the latter block leading to a basket by O’Neill at the 5:10 mark for a 38-35 lead.
Moorefield committed two fouls, then forced a turnover as Tucker County was whistled for a five-second violation.
Rinker drilled a 3-pointer at the 4:37 mark to put the Lady Yellow Jackets ahead 41-35.
Tucker County lost the ball out of bounds after a miss and fumble by Plum, then Moorefield slowed the pace down moving the ball around before Rinker was fouled on a block attempt and added both free throws at 3:28.
James and Davy made defensive rebounds, then Rinker nailed another 3-pointer at the 2:37 mark for a 46-35 lead.
After a score in the paint by Kuhn, Moorefield worked the ball around eating the clock before Hinkle netted an old-fashioned three-point play at the 1:30 mark, 49-37.
Moorefield held a 51-39 lead entering the fourth period.
Tucker County chipped away at the deficit with an 11-2 run with jumpers and free throws by Kuhn and Plum before a 3-pointer by Evans made it 53-50 at the 4:48 mark.
During that stretch, Rinker made two free throws.
A steal and score by Gilhuys at the 4:10 mark made it a two possession game, 55-50.
After a score by Kuhn, Moorefield played stall ball before a shot was taken and missed with the Lady Mountain Lions getting the board prior to a walk.
Rinker played cat and mouse as Tucker County chased her around the floor before McGregor set an illegal screen for her fifth foul.
Rinker knocked the ball loose, but a simultaneous foul on Hinkle put Kuhn on the line for one free throw.
Rinker scored in the paint with 1:15 remains to create a 57-53 advantage for the Lady Yellow Jackets and drew a foul, but missed the extra shot which was snatched by Kuhn.
Tucker County missed the rim entirely on a perimeter attempt and the ball was fumbled out by Plum.
Gilhuys was fouled under the pressure and made one free throw.
Rinker grabbed a defensive rebound and mad an overhead pass across the lane to Hinkle for basket with 27 seconds to go as Moorefield took a 60-53 lead.
Evans knocked down a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left, then Rinker was fouled during the press and made both free throws with ten seconds remaining.
A perimeter basket with three seconds left by the Lady Mountain Lions sliced the deficit to 62-59 for the final score.
Making history with the milestone and ending the drought against Tucker County was a huge confidence booster for the Lady Yellow Jackets as the season gears up for the playoffs.
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