The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Though stats say otherwise, Keyser squeaks
out 55-51 win over Allegany in AMAC nailbiter
* Both teams held to 5 points each in second quarter
* Golden Tornado shoot 20 of 28 from free throw line

By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
CUMBERLAND, Jan. 25 - Statistically, there is little support for Keyser's 55-51 win over Allegany.

It's a game that, quite frankly, might have been best left to a draw. But the Golden Tornado's Wes Washington hit the second of two free throws with 25.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give fourth-ranked Keyser the last point it needed to beat No. 3 Allegany on Tuesday in Cumberland.

Both teams scored just 10 points - combined - in the second period. Heading into the fourth quarter, Keyser held a 41-32 lead. In the final eight minutes, the visitors managed just a single field goal.

Allegany, meanwhile, made eight field goals, including 3-pointers from Brady Ellsworth and Drew O'Neal and another three buckets by Jake Shade. In any ordinary event, that would be enough to overcome the nine-point deficit.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the free throw line. Or maybe what was comical was how many times Keyser (20 of 28) compared to host Allegany (4 of 7).

Campers coach Tedd Eirich called the contrast "mind-blowing."

"Keyser gets ahead, we fight back ... They worked their butts off to get back in the game," Eirich said.

In those final eight minutes, though, Keyser went 11-of-12 from the foul line that helped neutralize Allegany's efficiency from the field. When the Campers' Tylor Jessie hit a fadeaway jumper with 29.8 seconds left to go to tie the game - and drew a foul from Keyser's Dustin Fertig in the process - momentum had official shifted to the home team.

It lasted for 4.1 seconds.

A controversial foul on Allegany center Aaron Murphy - Eirich called it good defense - sent Washington to the foul line with 25.7 seconds to go and Allegany in front, 51-50. On the night, Washington made 13 of 16 shots from the charity stripe. The 13 points alone were more than than the point totals for five of the six players who scored for the Campers.

"We're not a very good free throw (shooting) team," said Keyser coach Gary Liston, "but tonight, we made them when we needed them."

Liston quickly figured the Golden Tornado are no better than 50 percent from the foul line on the season. On Tuesday, it worked to their advantage to shoot like someone else. The team shot slightly better than 71 percent.

Keyser led 17-10 after the first quarter. Washington had seven of those points, including a 3-pointer that increased his team's lead from two points to five. In fact, his were Keyser's last seven points of the quarter.

Fertig hit a jumper 15 seconds into the second quarter that stretched Keyser's lead to 19-10. Just as Allegany might get down, the Campers got even. This time, it came in the form of a 3-pointer from Hunter Marrale.

Shade, who was in foul trouble himself after picking up his third in the closing seconds of the third quarter, made his only two free throws of the game to pull the Campers within four points. Washington's second 3-pointer with 4:36 left in the half gave Golden Tornado a 22-15 lead that they would take into the locker room at intermission.

Shade tied the game for Allegany before the first two minutes were up in the third quarter. He hit his only 3-pointer of the game 58 seconds into the period to pull within 22-18. Shade hit two more field goals in the next 115 seconds to knot the score 22-22.

Keyser went ahead 26-22 on field goals by Washington and Kurt Amtower. But the next two baskets belonged to Allegany. Keyser then went ahead 33-26 and led after three quarter 41-32.

Jessie opened the four quarter with a bucket just 25 seconds in to cut the deficit to seven points. Peyton Hartman - held without a field goal for the first time this season - made two free throws but the Campers scored the next seven points - including a 3-pointer by Ellsworth and another fastbreak basket by Shade - to pull within 43-41.

Keyser later held leads of 46-41 and 50-45 before the game entered its final 82 seconds, which started when Drew O'Neal's 3-pointer made it a two-point game. O'Neal said the play was designed by Eirich but it was a long time coming. O'Neal was forced off the court for an injury timeout due to blood from his left elbow. When he tried to return, game officials said he was still bleeding and Eirich was forced to substitute Marrale.

Washington hit the second of two free throws for the 50-45 lead but no more damage was done before O'Neal was back on the court. After his tre, Jessie - who later fouled out - hit his highlight reel-worthy fadeaway jumper with the bonus free throw for a 51-50 Allegany lead with 29.8 seconds left on the clock.