By Jeff Richards

McConnellsburg overtakes Southern Fulton

BOYS BASKETBALL

McConnellsburg 65, Southern Fulton 36.  On February 6, the Spartans hosted county rival Southern Fulton (SF) Indians to the second ICC game, with a packed house, and put up an early 10-point first quarter lead, adding seven in the third, and 12 with five-fold scoring in the final quarter to breeze past the Indians to extend their winning streak to 21. 

The Spartans led 31-21 at halftime after both teams battled equally and scored 11 points in the second quarter.  Early in the third, the Indians cut the lead to six, but back-to-back threes from Brayden Ramsey and his steal pushed the lead to 40-25, and SF called a timeout with 5 min to go.  The Spartans outscored the Indians 19-12.  A strong start in the first three minutes of the fourth extended the Spartan lead to 30 triggering the running clock and sealing the win.

McConnellsburg (21-0, 8-0 ICC-S) was led to victory by Brayden Ramsey and Hoyt Glenn.  Ramsey ramped up his performance and went 8-for-13 en route to 24 points, nearly doubling his season average. Glenn posted 23 points along with eight steals and six assists.  Glenn’s extended his scoring streak to ten games with at least 17 points. Shaffer Earley was another key player, putting up six points and eight boards, and reached the 500 career rebounds milestone in the third quarter.  

McConnellsburg smashed the offensive glass and finished with 18 offensive boards marking their 30th straight game with at least nine.  The Spartans have won 18 games by 21 or more points this season, outscoring opponents 68.7 to 33.4 on average, a 35.3 average point win margin.  Defensively, they held the top three Indian scorers to 23 points, well below their combined 34.7 average.

Southern Fulton lost despite a true team, ten-player contribution, effort on offense.  The best among them was Gavin Mellott with nine points, six rebounds and three steals. Then Dayton Carpenter with eight points and six rebounds, and Trentin Cain with eight points and four rebounds.  Teagan Ritz contributed with six points and six boards.

MCCONNELLSBURG (65)

Glenn 9 4-4 23, Earley 3 0-0 6, Hann 0 2-4 2, Ramsey 8 3-4 24, Fletcher 2 0-0 4, Sipes 1 0-0 2, Marpoe 0 2-2 2, Garlock 0 0-0 0, Washabaugh 1 0-0 2, Totals 24 11-14 65.  3-point goals = 6 (Ramsey 5, Glenn).  Totals: 35 rebounds (17 off/18 def), 16 assists, 16 steals, 3 block, 8 turnovers, 11 fouls, 2FG% 40%, 3FG% 29%, FTM% 79%

SOUTHERN FULTON (36)

Cain 3 1-2 8, Ritz 2 2-3 6, Mellott 4 0-2 9, Carpenter 4 0-0 8, Dressel 1 0-0 2, Ah Loe 1 0-0 3, Truax 0 0-0 0, Oakman 0 0-0 0, Mann 0 0-0 0, Totals 15 3-7 36.  3-point goals = 3 (Cain, Mellott, Ah Loe), Totals: 28 reb, 8 ast, 6 stl, 2 blk, 22 to, 11 f, 2FG% 38%, 3FG% 25%, FTM% 43%.

Southern Fulton .…. 10    11    12      3   —   36

McConnellsburg ….  20    11    19    15   —   65

JV: McC 41 SF 31

Next up: for the last season game, McConnellsburg JV/Varsity visits Fort Hill (MD) for non-league games on February 10 starting at 5:30 p.m. 

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McConnellsburg drops series to Southern Fulton 

GIRLS BASKETBALL

McConnellsburg 32, Southern Fulton 43.  The Lady Spartans visited the Southern Fulton Lady Indians for their final conference game on February 5, anxious to break the string of seasonal losses.  After flying high against Fannett Metal on Tuesday, McConnellsburg hit solid ground.  The Spartans (11-9, 4-3 ICC-S) took a hit to the loss column and came up short this third time against the Indians.

Despite the result, the Spartans’ Sydney Buterbaugh performed mightily and with interest, posting nine points and eight rebounds.  Syd continues to improve, besting her previous point total in each of the last three games played.  The other starters were held to a total of 14 points, well below average.  Turnovers were the demise of the offense as the Spartans were beset with a team high 32, along with 20 personal fouls sending the Indians to the line for 25 attempts.

The Spartans lost momentum from their previous win, struggling with ball control, poor shooting, and few second-chance points.  The main squad lacked conviction and earlier-season results, consequently the bench worked to contain the Indian advance where thankfully their shooting percentage was poor or the score would have been more lopsided.  The Spartans were down 17 at end of third quarter, 39-22.  They improved in the last quarter, shooting 4-8 and holding the Indians to four points, but those four second quarter points hurt terribly as they shot 2-11 and had 11 turnovers.

The teams shot relatively equally with field goal attempts, makes and percentages, including rebounding.  However, the Indians captured more steals, emitted less turnovers and fouls, and had more free throw opportunities to make the difference in the win. 

Bailey Hull recorded a double-double for Southern Fulton (13-5, 5-2 ICC-S), contributing 21 points, six rebounds, and six steals.  This game marked Hull’s 18th consecutive appearance with no fewer than 16 points scored.  Senior honoree Kamryn Pittman, another key player, put up 10 points, and seven boards, with four steals.  Kennedy Hixon added six.

MCCONNELLSBURG (32)

Jefferson 2 3-4 7, Rengifo 2 2-2 7, DeShong 1 0-0 2, Gelvin 0 0-0 0, Buterbaugh 4 0-0 9, Clevenger 0 0-0 0, Washabaugh 2 1-1 5, Newman 0 0-1 1, Pistner 0 0-0 0, Hendershot 1 0-0 2, Totals 12 6-8 32.  3-point goals = 2 (Rengifo, Buterbaugh).  Totals: 27 rebounds (8 off/19 def), 6 assists, 9 steals, 2 blocks, 32 turnovers, 20 fouls, 2FG% 32%, 3FG% 12%, FTM% 75%.

SOUTHERN FULTON (43)

Hull 6 4-5 18, Pittman 2 6-12 10, Hoopengardner 2 0-2 4, Smith 0 2-6 2, Hixon 2 1-2 6, MacKinley 0 0-0 0, Totals 12 13-25 43.  3-point goals = 1 (Hixon).  Ttls: 27 reb (10 o/17 d), 4 ast, 17 stl, 4 blk, 26 to, 15 f, 2FG% 33%, 3FG% 71%, FTM% 52%.

McConnellsburg …   9     4       9    10  —  32

Southern Fulton …  11    13    15      4  —  43

No JV.  JH: McC 13, SF 41

Next up: McConnellsburg hosts Forbes Road for a varsity-only conference game on February 9 at 7:15 p.m.