Irish Beat Highlanders Again

For the second time this season, the Class A Notre Dame Fighting Irish of Clarksburg handed the Class AA Webster County Highlander boy's basketball team a frustrating loss, this time by a score of 69 to 65.

Above: Brett Morris has controlled the opening tip off in all 11 of Webster's
games this season.

Unlike the game earlier this season which the Irish won by 26 points, the host Highlanders gave the near capacity home crowd Monday evening a lot to cheer about as they led 20 to 15 at the end of the first quarter. Webster added to that lead and built up an 11 point advantage at halftime at 31 to 20, only to see that lead evaporate in the third quarter, which ended tied at 48.

Well after the game, senior Tyler Anderson best summed up the game and what then transpired during the fourth quarter: "We were tired, they were fresh." The Highlanders had every opportunity in the fourth quarter to win the game, but an obviously tired Webster team came up short. The Irish played much better than their now 4 win, 6 loss record would indicate.

Senior Brett Morris appeared to carry the Highlanders on his back for most of the game. He finished with a season single game high of 34 points. He also had 12 rebounds, 7 blocked shots, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Morris cramped up badly right before halftime and it appeared that strain took its toll on him during the second half as he looked to be on the verge of exhaustion but never gave up.

Senior Hunter Given was the only other Webster player scoring double figures, with 11 points. Given added 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Others playing for Webster on the stat sheet included: Logan Taylor, 7 points, 1 rebound; Dalton Davis, 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot; Robbie Cogar, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal; Guy Cowger, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 1 assist; and Hunter Williams, 2 rebounds.

With the loss, the Highlanders drop to 9 wins, 2 losses on the season. They have little time to recuperate as they entertain the 11 win, 2 loss Roane County Raiders on Tuesday, January 22, 2013.

On a bright note, in the early game, the Lady Highlanders came from behind to beat the Lady Irish in a barn burner. The Lady Highlanders have twice beaten the Lady Irish, and improved their record to 9 wins, 5 losses on the season.