The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Hartman, Washington can't put
Golden Tornado past No. 1 Oak Hill
* This season expected to be coach Liston's last

By Nathan Hayes
PhDispatch.com
CHARLESTON, W.Va., March 18 - Keyser boys basketball coach said after Thursday's quarterfinal win against Magnolia that the Golden Tornado didn't fear anyone.

Liston, finishing up what is expected to be his final year in coaching, wasn't trying to offend anyone. Instead, he stood solidly behind the confidence, talent and ability of his Keyser squad. And for all but a few seconds on Friday, Keyser demonstrated just why Liston was so confident.

Against top-seeded Oak Hill in a West Virginia Class AA semifinal, Liston saw what a bit more talent can do. His team came up just shy of an upset, losing a heartbreaker 66-65. The loss ends a banner season for Liston and eight varsity seniors with a 21-5 record including only one loss to a AA team all year.

Keyser had spectacular efforts from their two senior leaders, Wes Washington and Peyton Hartman. Washington led Keyser with 24 points and dished out eight assists while Hartman recorded a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds despite having to sit for eight minutes of the game due to foul trouble.

“Guys played hard, we have a a great group of seniors,” Liston said.

“I give a lot of credit to Keyser,” Oak Hill coach Fred Ferri said. “Those kids played very hard.”

Keyser came out of the gates strong scoring 20 points in the opening period leading to a 20-17 edge after one. Hartman along with Damon Thorne were the stand outs of the first quarter with nine points for Hartman including back-to-back three pointers to give Keyser its first lead three minutes into the game.

Thorne scored Keyser's final six points of the quarter to aid the three-point advantage.

Keyser suffered a huge blow with 5:31 remaining in the second quarter when, leading 22-19, Hartman picked up his third foul and was sent to the bench for the remainder of the half.

Hartman was matched up with Oak Hill's stud Kalif Wright, who is commited to NCAA tournament qualifier Hampton next season. Wright scored Oak Hill's first 11 points and had 22 in the first half while not being tagged with a foul despite very physical play with Hartman and Thorne in the paint.

Keyser battled hard with Hartman sidelined and after six more points from Thorne and a jumper from Washington, Keyser had the score tied with 1:55 to go in the half.

Oak Hill would surge in the final minutes though scoring six unanswered points, including four from Wright, to head into halftime with a 36-30 lead. Thorne was Keyser's leading scorer at the half with all of his 13 points. Hartman had nine points and seven rebounds in just over a quarter of play.

For Keyser, the second half turned into the "Wes Washington" show. Washington scored 11 of the Tornado's 15 points in the third period and carried his team through a critical stretch after Hartman was saddled with his fourth foul at the 3:24 mark. Despite their center's foul issues, Keyser played Oak Hill to a draw for the quarter and entered the fourth only down six, 51-45.

The Keyser defense did an excellent defensive job from late in the third quarter to early in the fourth, holding Oak Hill to just four points and zero field goals over a five-minute stretch.

Washington continued to carry the team in the fourth scoring the Tornado's first six points. Then after a Washington lay up with 2:36 left to make it 57-51 Oak Hill, Liston went to a full court press and forced a steal. Hartman finished off the steal with a basket plus a foul. After the free throw, Keyser was within three points with just over two minutes remaining.

Wright and Dylan Evans exchanged quick scores then it was up to Oak Hill to make their foul shots and they did going 7-for-8 in the final 1:04 and despite Hartman and Washington, who hit a three with four seconds left, Tornado would get no closer than the final one point margin. Washington scored 20 of his 24 points in the second half.

“I got to give (Washington) credit, he hit a lot of shots you usually don't make,” Ferri said of Keyser's squad.

The season ends with Keyser reaching the semifinals for the first time since 2003 when they suffered a two point defeat to Magnolia. With Keyser's quarterfinal win last night it snaps a five-game losing streak in the state tournament for the Tornado. Washington was playing in his third state tournament in four years of varsity basketball which is believed to be a first in school history.