MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Parkersburg scored 20 of the game’s last 22 points over the final 5:30 to pull away from Morgantown, 56-38 in a battle of 2025 state tournament teams.
With the game tied at 36 early in the fourth quarter, Parkersburg yielded only one field goal the rest of the way and they did not allow a point in the final four minutes.
“I just thought eventually if we could get enough stops, get in transition and create some space, we could convert some of those opportunities,” said Parkersburg head coach Chris Murray.
“Credit to Morgantown. I thought they played really good defense. That was probably our best defensive effort we have had all year. We really buckled down on that side. Obviously, they were missing Brenna [Nelson] tonight and Kayli [Kellogg] has been out. But they have played really good.”
Nelson, a starting guard for Morgantown, was injured in Saturday’s 70-52 win over Nitro and she did not play against the Big Reds.
Parkersburg (6-1) led 6-5 after the first quarter and 17-15 at halftime. PHS went on an 11-1 run in the second quarter. A buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Morgantown’s Ava Clinton to end the third quarter pulled the Mohigans within a basket at 30-28.
Parkersburg senior Kennedy Porter scored 12 of her game-high 18 points in the second half.
“We thought we could rotate the ball and get her opportunities. She is a hard person to guard. She has done it for so long. We just wanted to keep getting the ball inside. It would create opportunities. If they double, we would kick it out.”
Frances Guice added a dozen points for the Big Reds.
Parkersburg held Morgantown to a season-low point total against an in-state opponent.
“That was the goal — make them make contested jump shots. I thought we did a really good job of that.”
The Big Reds, Class AAAA quarterfinalists in 2025, will face Morgantown again in the Battle for the Springhouse semifinals at The Greenbrier on January 30.
“We consider ourselves to be one of the best teams in the state. They as well do. These games should be played. It only makes us better. That’s good film for both of us to go back and watch, evaluate and see where we can get better. You don’t really get better when you play teams that aren’t at that level and you win by 40. These are the games that you really learn how to get better in. You just want to keep building on it. What can you do to improve? That’s the goal. You don’t want to get complacent. Just keep building and keep working.”
Madison Ancell led Morgantown (7-3) with 14 points while Sydney Deuesenberry added 13.