Preston’s Defense Smothers Elkins; UHS, MHS Edged

By The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.

Feb. 5–KINGWOOD — It’s becoming a well-known fact you can’t beat the Preston High boys’ basketball team at home. Apparently, you can’t score on the Knights, either. Preston ran its home record to 8-0 on the season Saturday with a 48-26 victory against Elkins. Even more impressive: The Knights (11-5) held the Tigers (4-9) to single digits in all four quarters.

“It was just a great overall team effort on defense,” Preston coach Barry Sanders said. “The boys did a terrific job.” Major Myers led the Knights’ offense with 19 points, connecting on four 3-pointers, while Josh Adams added 13 points and six rebounds. But the defense stood out. Elkins’ leading scorer, Roy Schneider, was held to zero points. “We suffocated him on defense,” Sanders said. “We knew where he was at and we had guys in his face all night.” MASONTOWN, Pa. — Jake Magerko hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer in regulation to send the game into overtime and Albert Gallatin won it with 11 free throws in the extra period, 74-73, against No. 6 University High. It was the second consecutive season Albert Gallatin beat the Hawks in overtime. “Magerko hit that last 3 [in regulation] with three guys in his face,” UHS coach Bruce Clinton said. “We couldn’t have guarded him any better unless we fouled him.” Jedd Gyorko nailed four 3-pointers and scored 22 points to lead the Hawks (12-3), who play East Fairmont and Morgantown High next week. L.C. Jefferson added 14 points, Ryan Nehlen 13, Ryan Michael 12 and Grant Meadows 10. Jawaan Alston led Albert Gallatin with 23 points and Justin King added 20. WHEELING — Morgantown’s Jeff Lindsay saw his last-second shot fall short and Wheeling Park held on for a 66-64 victory against the No. 7 Mohigans. Lindsay scored 18 points for MHS (12-4). Cameron Taylor and Jamie Karraker each added 12 points. “Hopefully, it was a coming-out party for Cameron Taylor,” MHS coach Tom Yester said. “We had much better offense from a number of players, which is what we needed, and Cameron was one of them.” The Patriots held a 15-9 lead after a quarter and had two different leads of 11 points, but Yester said the Mohigans wouldn’t quit. “We didn’t fold up the tents,” Yester said. “We continued to play hard and that’s what you like to see as a coach.” The Mohigans nailed six 3-pointers for the game, but shot just 34 percent overall (24-of-70). They were able to stay in it with defense and by forcing turnovers. While Wheeling Park (7-10) shot 53 percent, the Patriots were able to get off just 47 shots. “You never like to lose,” Yester said, “but I saw a lot of progress in the game.” Girls’ basketball OAKLAND, Md. — Kendra McLaughen scored 20 points and Southern Garrett (16-1), ranked No. 1 in its class in Maryland, raced to a 22-6 lead after a quarter and held on to defeat Preston, 58-41. The Knights stayed with Southern the rest of the way, occasionally cutting the lead to single digits, but couldn’t make up the early deficit. Jenny Zinn had 11 points to lead Preston. Middle school boys’ basketball Ryan Parsons scored 12 points and Jeff Allen added 10 as Suncrest 8s defeated Central Preston, 52-32. Ethan Hayes led Central, with 14. College track and field Nancy Regalbuto won the high jump with a leap of 1.74 meters and Susan Davis won the mile run (5:03.62) late Friday, at the State Farm Shell Games, at the WVU Shell Building. College tennis COLUMBUS, Ohio — WVU’s women’s team lost to Missouri, 6-1, Saturday. The Mountaineers return home to take on Cincinnati starting at 10 a.m. today.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.

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