Moorefield Girls Basketball broke the Wildcats heart on Valentines’s Day snapping their seven-game winning streak with disciplined defense and consistent offense securing a 49-41 senior night victory.
Avery Townsend scored a game-high 13 points for Pendleton County in the loss, followed by Susan Vincell with 11 points.
Moorefield was paced by CiCi Kump with 12 points, followed by Kerigan Bergdall and Raleigh Kuykendall with 11 points apiece.
The Yellow Jackets honored their seniors with a special ceremony prior to the game: Sadie Crites, Seanna Heavner, Korbin Keplinger, Glorianis Rivera-Gonzalez (statistician) and Sydney Rumer.
Moorefield JV team started the evening’s festivities with a 38-31 win over Keyser.
Parvatee Snyder led the Yellow Jackets JV with 11 points, followed by Elizabeth Williams with 10 points.
The Golden Tornado JV team was paced by Ava Barrick with 11 points.
“[Seniors] They mean everything. We spend so much time with these girls. You spend more time with these girls than your own family during these four months over the winter. I am so happy for these girls. They came out against a really good team and played their hearts out and all of them played well. To get a big win on senior night is always special,” Moorefield coach Jared Wratchford commented.
“I was telling them on my senior night about getting a big win and they will never forget this win. We can play with anybody on our schedule and I’ve told them that but we don’t always do it. We are capable of it. We got ins one foul trouble early, but defensively we did a fantastic job keeping a hand in Avery Townsend’s face. I just told them to contest every shot, you don’t have to be a superhero. If they score over top of you, then shake their hand and go about your business. They can light it up and get hot. We made some shots that hadn’t fallen recently. The ball went our way tonight in the hoop.”
Class A Pendleton County was coming off an upset of second ranked Tucker County, but couldn’t keep the momentum going against Class AA Moorefield.
The Yellow Jackets missed the first two field goals of the game against Pendleton County with rebounds by Korbin Keplinger and Jameigh Miller with the latter leading to a jumper by Jenna Smith giving the Wildcats the lintel lead at 7:06.
Moorefield answered with a jumper by Sadie Crites evening the score at 6:45.
Pendleton County’s Susan Vincell collected an offensive rebound and drew a foul leading to a pair of free throws made.
The Yellow Jackets responded on the ensuing series with a jumper by Seanna Heavner at 6:08.
After a Wildcats turnover, both teams hit the rim before a jump ball gave possession back to Pendleton County and Avery Townsend was sent to the free throw line adding both markers at 4:32 to regain the lead 6-4.
Heavner collected an offensive rebound, then dished to CiCi Kump for a 3-pointer to put the Yellow Jackets ahead 7-6 with 3:56 remaining in the first period.
The Wildcats tied the game on the next possession with a free throw by Miller.
Pendleton County’s Jessica Parker made a steal and Susan Vincell hauled in an offensive rebound before making a jumper for a 9-7 edge at 2:57.
Moorefield’s Kerigan Bergdall made one of two free throws on the following series, then the Wildcats stepped out of bounds.
Sadie Crites garnered a basket just inside the perimeter as the Yellow Jackets regained the lead 10-9 with 2:12 left in the opening frame.
There were a couple missed shots and several jump balls to close out the first period prior to a jumper by Kump in the last second for a 12-9 lead.
A rebound by Vincell led to a jumper by Townsend as the Wildcats commenced the second period closing the gap 12-11.
The Yellow Jackets answered with a layup by Raleigh Kuykendall at 7:07, 14-11.
The Wilcats walked before committing a foul, then Townsend stole the ball and drew a foul on a block attempt from Sydney Rumer and added one foul shot.
Kuytkendall hit a jumper on the ensuing Moorefield possession for a 16-12 edge at 6:25.
A steal by Moorefield’s Kerigan Bergdall led to a jumper by Kuykensall at 5:30.
After a steal by CiCi Kump, Moorefield lost the ball out of play.
Pendleton County’s Jenna Smith knocked down a perimeter basket to close the gap to 18-15 at 4:55.
Kuykendall drew a foul and made both charity stripe buckets on the next series.
The Wildcats responded with a 3-pointer drilled by Miller to make it 20-18.
The Yellow Jackets came back with a jumper from Kump to extend the lead to 22-18 with 3:26 remaining in the first half.
There were a combined nine missed field goals to close out the first half and Moorefield’s Seanna Heavner records a block as the 22-18 lead was preserved entering halftime.
Moorefield extended the lead early in the third period as Rumer dished to Keplinger, 24-18.
Keolinger made a steal, but the ensuing shot was blocked by Vincell.
After a jump ball, the wildcats minded two shots before Townsend scored on a putback at 6:24.
The Yellow Jackets answered with a 3-pointer made by Kump for a 27-20 edge at 6:07.
A steal by Townsend led to an old-fashioned three-point play for the Wildcats about a minute later.
Havner collected an offensive board and was locked up for a jump ball, then Bergdall stole the ball and drew a foul and added one point on the line at 4:36.
Moorefield’s Sadie Crites snatched the rebound and hit a jumper to create a 30-23 lead at 4:30.
The Yellow Jackets forced a turnover, then both teams hit the rim before Bergdall sank a perimeter basket for a 33-23 advantage at 3:18.
The Wildcats made one of four free throws in a span of seven seconds.
Bergdall completed an old-fashioned three-point play to put the Yellow Jackets ahead 36-24 with 2:33 left in the third frame.
Bergdall and Keplinger created a steal before a jump ball.
Both teams hit the rim with the latter carom collected by Kump along with a fifth team foul by the Wildcats.
Kump netted one free throw to give Moorefield its largest lead of the game 37-24 with 1:49 to go in the period.
Both teams committed turnovers, then Pendleton County’s Jessica Parker made two free throws and hauled in a defensive rebound leading to an old-fashioned three-point play by Vincell cutting the deficit to 37-29.
“We had been on a hot streak winning 10-out-of-11. We made some mistakes and let them get some easy shots defensively. Foul shooting is usually our strength, but we were 15-of-26 from the foul line tonight. We got into some serious foul trouble and they were mental mistake fouls. This happens in basketball every once in a while. The end of the season is fast approaching. We had a big win over Tucker County on Monday and in all my years coaching you usually have a huge letdown after a big win. They did a good job on Avery and she is averaging 25 points per game and it wasn’t near that tonight. We missed some easy shots and they made some shots. This happens in basketball, but the good thing about basketball you Olay again in a couple days and do it all over again,” Pendleton County coach Donnie Kopp noted.
Townsend snatched an offensive rebound and found Vincell for a jumper as the Wildcats closed the gap to 37-31 at the 7:41 mark of the final stanza.
After a turnover, Moorefield’s Sydney Rumer blocked a shot.
Heavner drew a foul and made one foul shot for the Yellow Jacket on the next series.
Pendleton County hit the rim twice, the Rumer nailed a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 41-31 at 5:38.
Miller and Kuykendall traded jumpers over the following minute.
Vincell recorded two free throws as the Wildcats cut the deficit to 43-35 with 4:34 remaining.
Pendleton County forced a turnover, but failed to convert and Kump grabbed the rebound.
Bergdall added one red throw for Moorefield at 4:12.
Julia Mongold notched a field goal for Pendleton County with 3:42 to go.
Moorefield called a second timeout under pressure trying to make an inbound pass, then lost the ball out of play moments later.
Pendleton County hit the rim twice, then Heavner got the carom before a Moorefield walk.
Crites collared a defensive rebound and the Yellow Jackets stalled the game before a swatted ball was tracked down by Crites and foul made.
Miller made a steal and drew a foul with one point added at the line for the Wildcats with 1:34 left, 44-38.
Moorefield missed at the line, then the Wildcats came up empty with Bergdall snatching the board.
Kump was fouled and made one free throw to put the Yellow Jackets up 45-38 with 1:10 remaining.
Crites collected a defensvie rebound and was fouled, then added one free throw.
Keplinger made a saving rebound but the pass was intercepted by Smith, then Townsend missed two free throws and Parker grabbed the rebound and immediately drew a foul with one point added with 45 seconds left to make it 46-39.
Kuykendlal added one free throw for Mooreield five scorns later.
Both teams committed turnovers with the latter a steal by Townsend reusing in a layup for the Wilcats with 23 seconds to go, 47-41.
Pendleton County fouled Bergdall with 21 seconds to go and she added one free throw.
Kuykendall grabbed a defensive rebound and passed to Bergdall, who was fouled with seven seconds remaining and added an insurance free throw for the final score of 49-41 as the last shot was off the mark for the Wildcats and Moorefield’s CiCi Kump collected the last rebound for the win.
Moorefield Girls Basketball seniors shared their activities and pans for the future:
Glorianis Rivera-Gonzalez has been the team statistician for two seasons and is a member of the student council, National Honor Society and FCCLA officer.
Rivera-Gonzalez is a two-time FCCLA national silver medalist and was chosen for the MHS Characteristic award and a CTE completer.
Rivera-Gonzalez plans to attend college to become a pediatrician.
Korbin Keplinger is a three-sport athlete for four years in volleyball, basketball and softball.
Keplinger has been to the state volleyball tournament twice and lettered in each sport all four years.
Keolinger is the NHS historian and a Future Farmers of America member.
Keplinger was named to the Eastern WVCT Fall Dean’s List.
Keplinger plans to major in nursing at Potomac State College.
Sadie Crites has played and lettered in basketball for four years.
Crites is a member of the student council, NHS and FFA officer.
Crites is a member of the Barn Crew Livestock 4-H Club.
Crites is a CTE completer, and earned the FFA chapter and state degrees along with a green hand degree.
Crites plans to attend the Morgantown Beauty School.
Seanna Heavner is a three-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball and softball.
Heavner is a member of the NHS and Riverside Church youth group.
Heavner was named the WHSV Student Athlete of the Week and went to the state volleyball tournament.
Heavner plans to attend Potomac State College and major in business administration.
Sydney Rumer is a three-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball and track.
Rumer has been to the state track meet thrice and the state volleyball tournament once.
Rumer is the MHS student council treasurer and NHS vice president.
Rumer was selected as the 2024 Miss Moorefield.
Rumer plans to attend Pierpont Community and Technical College to become a radiologist technician.
The Yellow Jackets have a talented group of seniors helping the team to finish the season’s journey before paving a new path in the future.
