The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Wharton heats up in third quarter as Campers to conference win over Miners
Senior guard scores 18 of 21 points in second half

By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
FROSTBURG, Jan. 3 - It almost went unnoticed.

But upon further review, it's clear Brooke Wharton hesitated when asked what she and her fellow Allegany Campers girls basketball team had as a goal for the season. The question was posed after second-ranked Allegany blasted No. 5 Mountain Ridge, 58-37, in an Appalachian Mountain Athletic Conference matchup.

According to published reports, when Wharton shifted her gaze to the left, the act engaged something remembered. Yes, the senior guard toed the party line when asked what the team's ultimate goal was for the 2010-11 season.

"To win the next game," said Wharton, with a sly smile to go along with her shifted gaze.

It's clear that Wharton has listened to coach Jim O'Neal and given the appropriate response. It's also clear that O'Neal and the Campers, who have gone to the Class 1A West Region final each of the past four years, have something bigger planned than just Wednesday's next home game against Southern.

And, if Wharton's body language is being misinterpreted, then there is no mistaking O'Neal's change in approach. Against Hampshire on Dec. 11 in the Campers' second game of the year, most of the team's regular starters played as much as possible to help put the Trojans away, 51-44.

Starting in the team's holiday tournament last week in Williamsport, however, O'Neal began playing his reserve players much more often.

It's in preparation for bigger things to come, O'Neal said.

"The whole goal of every game is to get better," O'Neal said. "There's no doubt we're playing better now than we were (against Hampshire)."

After Allegany's 52-47 loss to Northern Garrett nine days later, however, O'Neal realized his bench would have to be nearly as strong as his starting five if the Campers are to advance further into the state tournament.

It all begins at practice, O'Neal said. He said his players earn their minutes in a game each day after school on the court, when no one else is watching.

"If I see it in practice, they'll earn it in the game," he said.

What Wharton saw early on in the game wasn't to her satisfaction.

"We started out a little bit ... a little bit timid," said the 5-foot, 4-inch guard who finished with 21 points, three steals and one block. "We tend to start out our games like that. We get better as we go."

That certainly was the case, both on offense and defense. In the first half, Allegany's defense forced 15 turnovers against a young Miners squad playing without floor leader Madi Nightengale. She's missed four straight games due to illness but is expected back Friday at home against Keyser.

The Campers led 12-6 after eight minutes and held a 24-17 halftime advantage. But it wasn't good enough for the Campers. During the intermission, Allegany regrouped.

Then the offense - led by Wharton - caught fire. She opened up the third period with the second of five 3-pointers in the game to put the Campers up 27-19. The Miners' Carlie Lewis hit a jumper 33 seconds later to pull within 27-21.

Mountain Ridge didn't hit a field goal for the next 9 minutes and 36 seconds. During that period, the Campers outscored the Miners 23-6. Wharton had 13 of those 23 points.

More than the Campers' three-game winning streak, Wharton said, was the five-point loss to Northern Garrett - which took over the No. 1 ranking from Allegany in the Week 2 Power Rankings.

"I feel like the loss actually helped us," Wharton said. "it motivated us to practice harder, play better (and) work towards a bigger goal."

There's that word again - goal. And the Campers seem to have their sights set on much more than this week's schedule.