Keyser keeps its cool to knock off North Marion in Class AA

CHARLESTON, W.Va. No. 6 Keyser used a late run to retake the lead and upset third-seeded North Marion 63-57 in the Class AA quarterfinals on Wednesday morning.

The win was the school’s first at the state tournament since 1919.

After surrendering the lead for the first time with 5:55 to go, the Golden Tornado (24-2) responded with a 13-2 spurt to end the game.

“I called timeout when we were down five in the fourth quarter and told the girls we’ve been here before,” Keyser coach Josh Blowe said. “These girls never quit. They fought hard and I’m very proud of them.”

Keyser was led by Lexi Taylor’s game-high 19 points and nine rebounds. Katie Hoban added 12 points and eight rebounds, while Lexi Carr registered a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.

The Golden Tornado improved to 5-1 in games decided by three points or less.

“In practice every day we work on scenarios—tie game two minutes left, down by two 45 seconds left—and we really are a team,” Hoban said. “I was confident that we would pull together.”

The Huskies (20-4) were led by Anna Marie Moscufo’s double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Presley Tuttle chipped in 14 points including three 3-pointers, along with pulling down eight rebounds.

“When we played with energy we played pretty good, when we got out there and stood around we looked pretty bad,” North Marion coach Michael Parrish said. “We’ve been talking all year about playing 32 minutes, we played well for four or five minutes, and that’s when we went on our run.”

Keyser shot 40 percent from the field and went 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. North Marion was held to just 30 percent from the field (21-of-70), going 3-of-18 from 3. The Huskies held the rebounding advantage 48-41, including 24 offensive rebounds that they turned into 21 second-chance points.

“We got it inside for good looks and didn’t  force much, but when you come down here you have to put the ball in the basket,” Parrish said.

Keyser moves on to play the winner of the Westside-Scott matchup on Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. in the Class AA semifinals. Keyser guard Katlynn Tichnell, who scored all 11 of her points in the third quarter, left the game in the fourth with an ankle injury. Blowe hopes 48 hours of rest and treatment will allow her to return for the next round.

“I told the girls we could celebrate this one tonight, but tomorrow its back to practice, because there’s still two games to be had for us down here,” Blowe said.





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