Highlanders Drop Fifth Straight

After playing a decent first half of basketball, the Webster County Highlanders boys' team fell behind by as many as 18 points in the second half and lost 69 to 59 to the host Gilmer County Titans on Thursday.

This loss is the fifth straight for Webster, evening their season record at 6 wins, 6 losses.  They next play at home on Tuesday, January 24, against Calhoun County, a team they easily beat in Grantsville earlier this season.

Webster trailed 15 to 14 at the end of the first quarter, and 30 to 27 at halftime, giving fans hope they could stay in the game.  The third quarter was, frankly, a disaster for the Highlanders as Gilmer went on a 20 to 6 run to blow the game open.

If there was one bright spot for the team, it was again the play of Billy Wilson.  While he had by no means a perfect game, he appeared to be the only player willing to take a charge while playing defense.  This is not intended to be critical of the other players, but is noted for the point that good defense requires players to take charges rather than let the other players run to the hoop unabated.  

Seems like these three have been at recent Webster games.

Wilson forced three charges against Gilmer, and could easily have tallied two more but for questionable officiating.  In addition, on one of his three point shots, all three blind mice (i.e., the referees) were looking at whether the ball went in the hoop, rather than seeing the Gilmer player flatten Wilson to the floor after the ball left Wilson's hands.  Like the fans, the Webster coaching staff was in disbelief at the non-call.  

On a positive note, the Webster JV team remained unbeaten this season in a convincing win over the Gilmer JV team.  JV coach Eddie Mazzella has the team playing what looks like a successful version of WVU's "Press Virginia" on defense, leading to countless turnovers by the opposing teams.  In addition, the JV team runs a fast paced offense with almost all players looking for the assist rather than the points.  This formula has produced a perfect record thus far and there is no reason it should not continue.