The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Defensive-minded Huskies hold Huskies' standout Gibson scoreless in first half
* Southern Garrett remains undefeated in conference
* Rams likely to move up to top spot over Bishop Walsh

By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
ACCIDENT, Jan. 21 -- The mood inside the locker room Southern Garrett boys basketball team hardly reflected the Rams' 64-48 win over the north county rival Huskies.

The young men in red and white sat on the bench. Coach Jon Hegeman stood, facing them, and going over the little things that they didn't execute perfectly on Friday against host Northern Garrett.

They have to be perfect. Or at least try to be. After all, this could be the Rams' year. Southern Garrett is expected to move up to the No. 1 spot in the Dispatch's weekly Power Rankings. But even before that happens, Hegeman and his players know that area teams, regardless of record, could make their seasons if they just beat the Rams.

"We have an 'x' on our back ... Because we are No. 1," Hegeman told a quiet locker room full of student-athletes. "That's good. I like that. That'll make us better."

In this case, Hegeman's words in all likelihood weren't just coachspeak. He knows his team will face every opponent's best effort. And he's looking forward to the challenge.

In conference and out, the Rams - who improved to 10-2 overall and remained unbeaten through seven games in the Appalachian Mountain Athletic Conference - are hoping to play their best against everyone else's best. Like Hegeman said - that will make his team even better.

"I thought our defense was very good for 30 minutes of that game," Hegeman said, the remaining two minutes during which "we forgot what we needed to do."

He cautioned his players against overlooking Monday's home game against ninth-ranked Frankfort. But the game the following Friday, against Preston in Kingwood, W.Va. - one of the best teams in all of West Virginia - will remind the Rams of playing at the Igloo in Accident.

"It'll be frantic," Hegeman said. "It'll be like this gym."

But the Rams have their marching orders. Play defense. Score. Win. And they're going about their preparations the same way - regardless of who is next on the schedule.

No. 2 Southern Garrett 64
No. 6 Northern Garrett 48

SOUTHERN (10-2, 7-0 AMAC)
Gangler 3 3-4 9, McBee 4 6-6 18, Kisselovich 4 3-3 11, Rithcnie 3 2-5 10, Shotwell 0 0-1 0, Hilliard 7 2-5 16. Totals 21 16-24 64.

NORTHERN GARRETT 4-7, 1-7)
Rayner 2 1-2 5, Holtschneider 3 1-2 7, Sines 2 0-0 4, Wilt 2 0-0 5, Gibson 8 2-2 19, Doerr 3 0-0 7, Humberson 0 1-2 1. Totals 30 5-8 48.

Southern 16 17 17 14 -- 64
Northern 6 10 16 16 -- 48

3-pointers: Southern Garrett 6 (McBee 4, Ritchie 2). Northern Garrett 3 (Wilt, Gibson, Doerr).

JV--Southern Garrett, 39-26.