Moorefield Girls Basketball limited Pendleton County to only two field goals in the first half with the rest of the points coming at the free throw line to hold a 20-9 halftime lead en route to a 4-25 victory in the Class A Region II Section 2 semifinals last Tuesday.
“We did enough to win the game. It was nice to have our fans here cheering for us and I hope they will travel with us to the championship games. We need to work hard, protect the ball and make shots to advance. We would like to host the regional championship, but we have to beat a very tough Tucker County team. We gave them everything they could handle the last two times. The last time we went to the state tournament was in 2003,” Moorefield Girls Basketball coach Paul Keplinger stated.
The playoff game’s opening tip-off ricocheted off the Yellow Jackets out of bounds, then Moorefield forced a jump ball and Gianna Fair scored the initial jumper at the 7:33 mark.
Fair snatched a defensive rebound and was tied up for another jump ball, then Pendleton County’s Brooke Walls nailed a bucket tying the game at the 7:10 mark.
A minute and change later, Moorefield’s Madison McGregor garnered a 3-pointer for a 5-2 edge.
The Wildcats lost the ball out of play, then Lindsey Rinker dashed under the hoop and dished to Fair for layup at 5:21 giving the Yellow Jackets a 7-2 lead.
Fair blocked a Pendleton County shot attempt, then Ana Young walked for the Wildcats.
Moorefield had a field goal go awry and bounce out of play, then Remington Hinkle stole the ball and missed the ensuing layup with Pendleton County’s Katelyn Scott collecting the rebound.[private]
Moorefield’s Anna Riggleman snatched a defensive carom and was fouled, then Pendleton County’s Brooke Walls and Ana Young forced a turnover.
Hinkle swiped the ball again before a carrying violation was called on Lexi Gilhuys.
Both teams missed shots before McGregor stole the ball and the Yellow jackets missed four straight baskets with rebounds by Fair and Riggleman.
Walls made two free throws for the Wildcats at the 2:34 mark, then Moorefield’s shot bounced off the rim out of bounds and Pendleton County went back to the charity stripe with Brandy Bowers notching both shots to cut the deficit to 7-6.
Rinker contributed free throws in the first half including a pair at the 1:29 mark for Moorefield.
Young netted a jumper for the Wildcats on the next series.
Rinker was back at the foul line adding two more points with 46 seconds left in the first period as the Yellow Jackets took an 11-8 edge into the second frame.
Moorefield was late getting back on the court after the intermission, so the referee put the ball down and started to count as Gilhuys rushed over to make the inbound pass just in time.
Pendleton County’s Hannah Koontz stole the ball and missed the field goal, then Hinkle hauled in the board.
Gilhuys drilled a 3-pointer for Moorefield on the ensuing possession to take a 14-8 lead.
Rinker added a point after a defensive board by Fair at the 5:23 mark.
Both teams hit the rim, then Fair made a putback giving the Yellow Jackets a 17-8 advantage at 4:12.
In the final minute and change, Fair nailed a jumper and Rinker notched one more free throw for a 20-9 halftime lead.
Commencing the third period, Moorefield’s McGregor and Hinkle sandwiched baskets around one shot by Pendleton County’s Katelyn Scott for a 24-11 score at 6:30.
Riggleman made a defensive board and scored on a layup for the Yellow Jackets at 5:51.
Young blocked McGregor, then Rinker recovered the ball and scored.
Both teams committed turnovers, then Fair collected a defensive rebound and Hinkle was fouled moments later making one free throw.
Fair stole the ball and the next shot hit the rim, but Riggleman drew a foul on the rebound and added two more points at the line for a 31-13 advantage at 4:23.
Rinker, Fair, Riggleman and Gilhuys each connected on field goals in the last four minutes of the third period as the Yellow Jackets went up 41-18 entering the fourth period.
It was a sloppy fourth period with missed shots and turnovers, but Moorefield maintained the lead hitting six free throws which were made by Riggleman, Fair and Gilhuys.
Scott added a jumper and an old-fashioned three-point play for Pendleton County during the fourth period.
Moorefield secured the 47-25 semifinal victory to advance to the section championship against Tucker County.
The Mountain Lions edged Moorefield 36-35 in the title game which means the Yellow Jackets travel to Gilmer County this Wednesday for the Class A Region II Championship and Tucker County will host Doddridge County for a shot at going to the state tournament in Charleston on the line.
The last time Moorefield Girls Basketball reached the state tournament was in the 2003 season.[/PRIVATE]
