By Jeff Richards
BOYS BASKETBALL
McConnellsburg 90, Southern Fulton 29. On Friday, January 17th, the Spartans hosted county rival Southern Fulton Indians in the first of two season conference games. They completely dominated the game from the start. The win tied their season single-game scoring record and their twelfth straight.
The Spartans opened up with a stifling full-court press defense to create havoc, with Indian turnovers turned to Spartans’ steals, rebounds, and opportunities for points, with the first quarter posting a commanding lead of 28-0. Two minutes into the second quarter, the Indians found the net, and the visiting crowd was elated. The Spartans continued to fluster the Indians – holding them to seven points- while posting 35 points, which may be the Spartans’ highest (or near) scoring in one quarter this season. The halftime scoreboard read 63-7.
Starting in the third quarter, the mercy rule applied with a running clock, and the game progressed more rapidly. The Spartans switched to half-court man-on-man defense and held the Indians to just five points to end the quarter at 75-12. In the fourth quarter, the bench players rotated in, giving SF their best opportunity to improve scoring (winning the quarter 17-15), but the game was still well out of reach. The Spartans crushed the night in commanding fashion with a 61-point spread, their second-highest this season.
The Spartans put three players in double figures, headed by junior power forward Brayden Ramsey, leading all with 23. Sophomore guard Hoyt Glenn (21) and junior forward Shaffer Earley posted a double-double night of 14 points and 13 rebounds. This rout continues the Spartans’ (12-1 overall, 4-0 ICC South) imposing performance and season with win stats such as 11th of 10+ points. 7th of 30+ points, 6th of 40+ points, 4th of 50+ points, 2nd of 60+ points.
Spartans’ scoring: Hoyt Glenn 8 0-0 21, Dom Jefferson 3 0-2 7, Brayden Ramsey 9 2-2 23, Shaffer Earley 5 4-5 14, Jake Hann 3 0-1 6, Kohen Hall 1 0-0 2, Galen Clevenger 2 0-0 4, Karson Washabaugh 3 0-0 7, Jace Fletcher 2 0-0 4, Noah Jefferson 1 0-0 2, Totals 36 6-10 90. 3-point shots — 10 (Glenn 5, Ramsey 3, Jefferson 1, Washabaugh 1). FTM% 60%.
Spartans’ stats: Glenn 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 steals, 2 blocks; Earley 13 rebounds, 5 steals, 1 block, 1 charge taken; Ramsey 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals, 1 block; Jefferson 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals; Hann 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks; Carson Washabaugh 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal; Ethan Long 1 assist; Noah Jefferson 3 rebounds. Totals: 37 rebounds (21 offensive, 16 defensive), 18 assists, 23 steals, 3 blocked shots, 6 turnovers, 13 team fouls.
Southern Fulton 0 7 5 17 — 29
McConnellsburg 28 35 12 15 — 90
Next Up: McConnellsburg JV/V travels to county rival Forbes Road for the second of two season conference games on Friday, January 24th at 6 PM. The Spartans won the first game (December 20th) 68-47.
JV: MHS 43, SF 61
