By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
Moorefield and Pocahontas County were deadlocked at halftime 20-all, then the Yellow Jackets defense stifled the Warriors allowing just one second half field goal and buzzed to a 42-27 victory last Tuesday in the Hive.
“We just played really good defense the whole night. We gave up one field goal in the second half. We rebounded the ball well tonight. We had some steals and run outs that got us going in the third quarter. They came out and played us in a zone and we struggled at first, then we got the ball moving and to the inside which helped some. It is good to get a win. Our defense has been good all year. Our whole team helped get the win. It was nice getting out here and getting the win,” Moorefield coach Scott Stutter remarked.
Moorefield’s Shawn Reed knocked the ball loose and made a leaping save to start the game, but the pass was intercepted by Pocahontas County’s Denton Brock who was fouled and made both free throws.
The Yellow Jackets responded with a jumper by Reed at 6:32 to tie the game.
Pocahontas County answered with a perimeter bucket from Devon Burgess to gain the lead 5-2.
After a miss by Moorefield, Trenton Brock scored in the paint for the Warriors.
Guyan Kahangirwe netted a putback for the Yellow Jackets at 4:53, 7-4.
Moorefield’s Diego Taylor stole the ball and the ensuing shot hit the rim, but Kahangirwe corralled the carrot and dished to Reed for a basket, 7-6.
The Warriors missed a dunk and the ricochet went out of play.
Burgess collected a defensive rebound, then Pocahontas County’s Brock hit a jumper.
Cyrus Kump executed a putback for the Yellow Jackets at 2:32, down 9-8.
The Warriors’ Dillon Dunz notched a free throw and Brock grabbed the rebound and made the putback for a 12-8 lead at 2:06.
There were turnovers in both directions, then Dunz drew a foul and added one shot.
Moorefield answered with a 3-pointer by Jackson Helmick to close the gap 14-11 with 50 seconds left in the first period.
Both teams missed opportunities to close out the frame and Dunz recorded a block.
Burgess snatched a defensive board to start the second period and the Warriors’ Brock added two free throws.
Both teams drew iron, then the Yellow Jackets fumbled the ball out of bounds.
Helmick stole the ball and scored on a breakaway layup as Moorefield cut the deficit to 16-13 at 5:28.
Pocahontas County walked, then the Yellow Jackets hit the rim and the Warriors corralled the board before Taylor swiped the ball and netted a layup at 4:35.
There were a handful of bricked shots over the next two minutes before two free throws by Brock.
Kahangirwe drilled a game-tying perimeter bucket for the Yellow Jackets at 2:17, 18-all.
Kump blocked the ensuing Warriors attempt.
Kump collected an offensive rebound and found Helmick for a long range jumper putting Moorefield ahead 20-18 with 50 seconds left in the half.
The Warriors’ Cash Beers created a steal and hauled in a rebound before Matthew McQuain scored with eight seconds remaining to tie the contest at 20-all entering the break.
The Yellow Jackets buzzed loudly in the third period outscoring Pocahontas County 16-4, commencing with two free throws by Kyle Molen at 7:38.
Pocahontas County tied the game with a jumper by Dunz on the ensuing possession.
Moorefield responded with a 10-nil run over the next four minutes to build a 32-22 lead.
Kump and Kahangirwe scattered a free throw apiece in a span of a minute.
The Warriors lost the ball rolling out, then Reed dished to Kump on an inbound scoring sequence at 4:56, 26-22.
Taylor and McQuain traded steals, but the Warriors failed to connect and Kahangirwe snatched the board.
After a block by Dunz, Kump netted a putback and Helmick swiped the ball for a layup to extend the Yellow Jackets advantage to 30-22 at 3:53.
Reed made a layup at 3:06 for the 32-22 lead.
Brock made two free throws for the Warriors on the next series at 2:51.
A minute and change later after a bunch of missed shots, Reed recorded a putback.
Reed added two free throws in the final second of the third frame to put the Yellow Jackets up 36-24.
Moorefield’s Diego Taylor made three steals in the first two minutes of the final stanza, but no points came to fruition with one shot blocked by Dunz.
Brock netted three free throws in a span of 46 seconds to close the gap to 36-27 with 4:25 left.
A steal by Molen led to a basket by Kahangirwe on an assist from Kail Greenwalt at 2:32.
The Yellow Jackets forced another turnover an Kahangirwe dished to Molen for a layup at 1:50
Kump swiped the ball and found Greenwalt for a jumper as Moorefield extended the lead to 42-27 with 1:15 to go and kept that score for the final victory.
Pocahontas County missed three field goals in the final minute and Helmick made a last second block sealing the 42-27 win.
Shawn Reed scored a game-high 18 points for the Yellow Jackets, followed by Jackson Helmick with nine points.
Pocahontas County was guided by Trenton Brock with 17 points.
In JV action, Pocahontas County beat the Yellow Jackets 37-29.
The Warriors were led by Camden Gregory with 11 points.
Moorefield JV was paced by Law Sherman with 10 points.
