Highlanders Stop Warriors' Rally to Win 64 to 51

The Highlanders got more than they bargained for Monday evening as the host Pocahontas Warriors kept the game close until mid-way in the fourth quarter when Webster ran away with the win 64 to 51.

Like they did in their first game against Pocahontas in the season opener, Webster jumped out to a big early lead.  With 3:26 remaining in the first quarter, the Highlanders were rolling along with a 17 to 2 lead, but unlike the first game, the Warriors fought back. The first quarter ended with Webster maintaining a 15 point lead at 26 to 11 (at the end of the first quarter in the season opener, Webster led 28 to 1). 

The Warriors outscored Webster 14 to 11 in the second quarter to trail at halftime 37 to 25. The Warriors inched closer in the third quarter. With 1:16 remaining in the third quarter, Pocahontas closed to within 7 points at 49 to 42 before the Highlanders stretched the lead back to 53 to 42 at the end of the quarter. 

In the fourth quarter, Pocahontas closed to 8 at 53 to 45 with 6:09 remaining in the game. Then, with 3:13 remaining, the Warriors drilled a 3 point shot to close to 7 at 55 to 48.

Webster then literally slammed the door shut on any Warrior comeback hopes when senior Brett Morris delighted the crowd with his second slam dunk of the game. Webster won comfortably 64 to 51, but that was a far cry from the season opening rout score of 94 to 45. 

Morris led a balanced Highlander scoring attack with 19 points. Morris also had 11 rebounds, 9 assists, 8 blocked shots, and 6 steals. Senior Hunter Given had 13 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, and 1 blocked shot to go along with his 12 points. Junior Dalton Davis added 13 points, along with 10 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 blocked shot.

Other Webster players on the stat sheet included: Robbie Cogar, 5 points, 4 steals, 2 rebounds, 2 assists; Jake Thayer, 4 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocked shots; Hunter Williams, 4 points; Tyler Anderson, 3 points; Drew Green, 2 points, 1 assist; and Stephen Cogar, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 assist.

After the game, Pocahontas head coach Tim McClung said his team was working hard and getting better, and they just came off a big win Saturday against Pendleton County. "We know you have a nice team, and we just tried to get up for you," he said. McClung said speaking of Brett Morris that he is very unselfish and "he looks to pass as much as he looks to score. He has a lot of good players around him."  He also said "I wish them the best of luck in the tournament."

As a team, Webster made 29 of 76 shot attempts (38%), including a dismal 4 of 22 from 3 point range (18%). Webster shot only 6 free throws, making only 2 (33%). This is the third game in a row that Webster made less than 40% of its shot attempts.

Entering Monday's game, Webster maintained its ranking in Class AA at 8th in the Associated Press poll after splitting the two games against the Liberty-Raleigh Raiders last week.

With the win, Webster improves to 13 wins, 3 losses on the season. They next travel to play the Greenbrier West Cavaliers on Friday, February 15, 2013. West currently sports a 12 win, 4 loss record and until this week they were ranked within the top ten in Class A (West plays Richwood Tuesday and Meadow Bridge on Wednesday before hosting Webster on Friday).