Webster Beats Pikeview; Playoff Picture Set

In their final away game of the regular season, the Webster County Highlanders played a strong fourth quarter to put away the pesky PikeView Panthers 60 to 52 Monday evening in Mercer County.

Prior to the game, the Highlanders received some good news. Of the five teams in their Section, Webster was ranked number one, which gives them the home court advantage during the sectional and regional playoffs provided they win their playoff games.  On Tuesday, February 26, 2013, with tip off at 7:00 p.m., the Highlanders will host the winner of the "play-in" game between Braxton County and Ravenswood (that game will be played at Ravenswood on Monday, February 25, 2013).

If the Highlanders win that opening round sectional playoff, they would then host the Region 1, Section 2 Championship game on Friday, March 1, 2013, at 7:00 p.m., against the winner of the Roane County and Ritchie County game. The winner of that Sectional Championship will then host a Regional Championship game the following week against the loser of the other Sectional Championship in Region 1.

Above: Brett Morris with one of his patented slam dunks.

Against PikeView, the Highlanders started out slow in the first half, but only trailed at the end of the first quarter 20 to 17 thanks to a buzzer beating 3 point shot by Brett Morris. In the second quarter, Webster inched closer, outscoring PikeView 10 to 9, and at halftime, the Panthers led 29 to 27.

Webster finally took the lead for good in the third quarter, outscoring PikeView 16 to 12, to lead 43 to 39 going into the final stanza.

The fourth quarter was dominated by the Highlanders. If the Panthers had any thought of mounting a comeback, Morris slammed the door on that thought with a one-handed dunk that gave the Highlanders a 12 point lead with 2:30 remaining.

Morris led a balanced Highlander attack with 17 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 blocked shots. Hunter Given had 12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and Dalton Davis had 11 points and 6 rebounds.

Other Webster players on the state sheet included: Robbie Cogar, 6 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal; Hunter Williams, 6 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal; Jake Thayer, 4 points; Guy Cowger, 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist; Drew Green, 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal; Logan Taylor, 2 rebounds; Tyler Anderson, 1 rebound.

As a team, Webster made 26 of 53 shots (49%), including only 1 of 10 from 3 point range (10%). Webster made 7 of 11 free throws (63%).

With the win, the Highlanders improved to 15 wins, 3 losses on the season. Webster returns home for two final regular season games. They host Class AAA Shady Spring on Tuesday and Midland Trail on Thursday.

The Highlanders remained ranked 8th in the Associated Press poll released on Monday.