MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The University girls’ basketball team knew exactly what is had to do to beat John Marshall on Tuesday night in order to get back to the state tournament for the second-straight year.
With a clear size difference in favor of the Hawks, defense was key as UHS executed it to perfection, especially in the first half to earn the 72-46 win over the Monarchs to claim the Class AAA Region I championship.
“We used our size because we knew we were bigger than them,” senior Abbie Coen said. “Every time we were able to turn them over, we threw it down the court to get some easy transition baskets.”
The first two quarters were a defensive clinic by the Hawks. John Marshall (10-15) scored just two baskets in the first 16 minutes — a banked in 3-pointer by Abby Blake and a lay-up with 20 seconds to go in the second quarter by Catherine Hunnell.
UHS (18-7) turned defense to offense as it went into the locker room with a 30-point lead at 37-7.
“I felt like they were delaying at the beginning, but we went to a jump-man (defense),” Hawks coach David Price said. “We got into passing lanes, sped them up, got the game going. Seven points in any half, that’s playing about as good of defense as you can. I’m really proud of that.”
Stellar defensive halves are becoming a staple for UHS. In the sectional championship last Thursday against Morgantown, the Hawks allowed just eight second-half points to knock off the Mohigans.
Coen led the Hawks in scoring with 19 points, followed closely by fellow seniors Ashten Boggs and Mallory Napolillo with 17 each. Those seniors, along with Bella Bowers and Kassidy Wolfe, are looking to redeem themselves after a memorable run last season that ended with a loss in the state championship game to Parkersburg.
“It feels great — we worked so hard this season to get to this point,” Coen said.
It didn’t look like the Hawks were going to repeat after a mediocre start at 3-3, but have won 15 of their last 19 to finish.
“It’s a big deal to our girls and I’m really proud of them,” Price said. “Hopefully, we go down there with something to prove. I do feel like we’re playing our basketball at the right time. Who can say, though? That’s why you have to play them.”
Seedings for the state tournament were released Tuesday night with UHS coming in at the No. 5 slot. It will face No. 4 Cabell Midland at 11:15 a.m. March 12 in the quarterfinals at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.
John Marshall (10-15)
Hunnell 4 2-2 11; Lucey 3 1-2 7; An. Blake 1 1-2 4; Groves 2 1-3 7; Ab. Blake3 0-1 7; Whorton 1 0-0 3; Helms 1 0-0 2; Walker 0 0-0 0; Fincham 0 0-0 0; Willis 1 0-0 2. Totals: 15 5-10 46.
University (18-7)
Boggs 8 1-3 17; Napolillo 3 11-13 17; Coen 8 2-3 19; Dean 1 4-4 6; Bowers 0 0-0 0; Sharkey 2 0-0 6; McClurg 0 1-1 1; Boateng 1 0-0 2; Cordray 1 1-2 3; Argabrite 0 0-0 0. Totals:24 19-25 72.
JMHS 4 3 23 16 – 46
UHS 18 19 22 13 – 72
3-pointers: JMHS 6 (Hunnell, An. Blake; Groves 2, Ab. Blake, Whorton); UHS 3 (Sharkey 2, Coen).
Class AAA seedings
- Parkersburg (19-5)
- Woodrow Wilson (19-5)
- Greenbrier East (21-4)
- Cabell Midland (18-6)
- University (18-7)
- Martinsburg (18-5)
- Morgantown (14-11)
- Spring Mills (11-14)
Wednesday, March 11:
Game 1 – No. 2 Woodrow Wilson vs. No. 7 Morgantown, 11:15 a.m.
Game 2 – No. 1 Parkersburg vs. No. 8 Spring Mills, 7:15 p.m.
Thursday, March 12:
Game 3 – No. 4 Cabell Midland vs. No. 5 University, 11:15 a.m.
Game 4 – No. 3 Greenbrier East vs. No. 6 Martinsburg, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, March 13:
Game 5 – Game 2 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 6 – Game 1 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 14:
Game 7 – Championship, 7:15 p.m.
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