Top Ranked Martinsburg Downs Morgantown

Two of Class AAA’s better teams battled in the eastern panhandle Tuesday night and the Bulldogs of Martinsburg stayed undefeated as they knocked off Morgantown 75-62.

 
Martinsburg came into the game with a 12-0 record and a number 1 ranking in the MetroNews Power Index while Morgantown came into the matchup with a 9-1 record and ranked #4 in the latest edition of the PI. The Mohigans have played one of the toughest schedules in the state and the only loss they had coming into Tuesday’s game was against undefeated Fairmont Sr. 

 

Martinsburg got off to a good start with the outside shots falling for Jalen Lewis, Addy Gilmore and Denzel Cole as the trio connected on five three point field goals in the first quarter and Martinsburg jumped out to a 22-13 lead after the first eight minutes.  Morgantown was led by Austin Agnew as the 6’3 junior scored 4 points in the first quarter. Martinsburg continued its hot three point shooting in the second quarter as the Bulldogs extended the lead to 14 at 40-26 at the half. Morgantown actually shot the ball from the floor better than Martinsburg in the first half as the Mohigans went 11 for 21 from the floor in the first half and 2 for 4 from three point range. Martinsburg finished the first half 13 for 26 from the floor but were 8 for 14 from three point range. Martinsburg’s pressure defense caused Morgantown to turn the ball over 12 times in the first half and they held Morgantown’s Nathan Adrian in check limiting the youngster to 7 points and 5 rebounds. Martinsburg was led in the first Half by Jalen Lewis with 13 points.

 

The third quarter started out as the first half ended for the Bulldogs as Martinsburg outscored Morgantown 22-12 in the quarter and opened up a 62-38 lead after three quarters. Martinsburg was led in the third quarter by Jordan Robinson who scored 9 points. Morgantown’s Nicolas Colasente started to hit some outside shots in the fourth quarter, as the Mohigans were able to cut into the Martinsburg lead.  Along with Morgantown reserve Mark Johnson, Colasente and his teammates cut the lead down to 12 points with around 3 minutes left in the game but ran out of time as Martinsburg was able to make free throws down the stretch and held on for the 13 point victory.

 

For the game, Martinsburg and Morgantown were identical in shooting stats as both teams went 25 for 55 from the floor for 45 percent. Morgantown went 9 for 21 from three point range while Martinsburg went 10 for 21 from beyond the arc. Morgantown committed 21 turnovers in the game while Martinsburg turned the ball over 12 times. Martinsburg was led by the 22 points from Jalen Lewis and Jordan Robinson scored 14, Brandon Ashenfelter scored 11 off the bench and Addy Gilmore added 10 points. Morgantown was led by Nicolas Colasente who scored 17 points, Nathan Adrian scored 11, and Austin Agnew scored 10 points.

 

Martinsburg improves to 13-0 on the season and will be back in action on Friday night as they travel to South Berkeley to take on Musselman. Morgantown is now 9-2 on the year and will be back in action as well on Friday Night as they take on Rival University.