FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Although each came against one of the top Class AA programs in the state this season, Fairmont Senior had suffered three straight losses ahead of Monday’s rivalry clash with East Fairmont.
In the second half, the Polar Bears played like a team eager to snap a skid as they outscored the Bees 46-25 over the final two quarters to pull away for a 77-53 victory.
“We did a better job in the second half on our closeouts and a better job of stopping dribble penetration,” Polar Bears’ head coach David Retton said. Our defense was strong in the second half. We were able to get transition baskets and get some easy ones to get our confidence.”
Jaelin Johnson, who led the charge offensively throughout the night for FSHS, scored 18 of his game-high 30 points after the intermission.
However, it was the play of reserve guard Jacob Gomolak that ignited the Polar Bears during the third quarter that allowed them to take control. After the Bees (8-10) got a three-pointer from Trey Rogers for the first points of the third to tie the game at 31, Gomolak answered with consecutive triples, the latter of which gave the Polar Bears (7-11) a 38-31 lead at the 5:56 mark.
Johnson’s dunk moments latter upped the lead to nine, and after the Bees got to within seven, the Polar Bears closed the quarter on a 7-0 run that featured Eric Smith’s follow, a Johnson layup and a buzzer-beating three from Trey Washenitz for a 51-37 lead.
Five of East Fairmont’s 14 turnovers came during the third — when a three-point deficit grew to 14.
“We’re trying to do things out there that we’re not capable of doing,” Bees’ head coach Tyrone Asterino said. “In the first half we got some shots and we did execute. We weren’t making uncharacteristic plays. You start doing something different, it’s going to show its ugly head.”
Johnson accounted for Fairmont Senior’s first eight points of the fourth quarter, scoring on four baskets in the paint to help offset a pair of East Fairmont three-pointers.
The Bees got no closer than 12 in the fourth as the Polar Bears completed a regular season sweep.
Johnson made 13-of-19 field goals in the 30-point performance. Washenitz added a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Gomolak scored nine and Smith added eight.
Fairmont Senior made 29-of-52 shots for better than 55 percent shooting.
“When you’re not turning the ball over, you’re getting a shot. And when you’re getting a shot, there’s a 50 percent chance you’re going to make it. It’s pretty simple,” Retton said. “You take care of the basketball and make the right plays, the right things are going to happen. You get shots at the goal and we did that.”
Rogers and Luke Pollock led the Bees with 17 points apiece. Eight of East Fairmont’s 19 field goals were three-pointers.