65 48
Class AA Region II Championship
The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
Phone: 301-264-3147
Email: [email protected]
P.O. Box 651
Mount Savage, MD 21545
Fertig's hot shooting leads Keyser to state tournament
Golden Tornado play Magnolia on March 17 at
9:30 p.m. in state quarterfinal at Charleston Civic Center
By Kevin Spradlin
PhDispatch.com
NEW CREEK, W.Va., March 9 - The Keyser boys basketball team defeated visiting Braxton County 65-48 on Wednesday for the team's second consecutive Class AA Region II title and third in four years.
The Golden Tornado advance to the quarterfinals of the state tournament, which begins March 17 at the Charleston Civic Center.
The Eagles' Yanniek Yewawe hit a 3-pointer with five minutes and 23 seconds left in the third quarter to pull Braxton County within 30-24. But Keyser, which had early spells of untimely turnovers and missed opportunities, got hot. Dustin Fertig hit the second of five 3-pointers about 35 seconds later and hit two more over the next two minutes.
Fertig's hot shooting spurred Keyser's 26-4 run over a stretch of nearly eight minutes, lasting until there was only 4:50 left in the fourth period. By then, the Golden Tornado led 56-28 and liberally substituted to close out the game.
Other than a back-and-forth in the first quarter, Keyser dominated underneath the rim on both ends of the court by talling 42 rebounds compared to the Eagles' 19.
Damon Thorne scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter to help put the Eagles away. Peyton Hartman added 11 points along with 16 rebounds, six blocked shots and two steals. Fertig had four assists.
Thorne added 11 rebounds and point guard Wes Washington contributed seven points, six assists, five steals and four rebounds. Dylan Evans had five rebounds in the win.
No. 1 Keyser 65
Braxton County 48
BRAXTON COUNTY (14-11)
Coen 1 0-0 3, Lacy 2 5-6 9, Harper 2 0-0 6, Rhodes 1 2-2 4, Hutton 1 0-0 3, Yewawa 2 0-0 5, Bailey 6 2-7 15, Wilfong 1 1-2 3. Totals 16 10-17 48.
KEYSER (20-4)
Jones 3 0-0 6, Garland 0 0-1 0, Fertig 5 0-0 15, Thorne 6 0-0 12, Hartman 5 1-1 11, LaRue 2 1-2 5, Washington 2 2-4 7, Evans 3 3-5 9. Totals 26 7-13 65.
Braxton County 7 11 12 20 48
Keyser 13 14 17 21 65
3-point goals Braxton County 6 (Coen, Harper 2, Hutton, Yewawa, Bailey). Keyser 6 (Fertig 5, Washington).
ReboundsKeyser 42, Braxton County 19.