Breaks 68-year-old record set by Jay Jacobs in 1956
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — A record that stood for 68 years has finally been broken as Morgantown High School senior guard Sharron Young surpassed Jay Jacobs’ mark of 1,268 career points in a 94-41 victory over Greenbrier East in the Battle for the Springhouse at The Greenbrier Resort on Friday night.
Young entered the contest needing 19 points to take over the top spot and completed the task in the first half, calmly bringing the ball across halfcourt and nailing a three-pointer just before the buzzer to reach 20 points.
He finished with 30 points to lead be the game’s leading scorer, shooting 11 for 16 from the field with six triples and now stands alone atop the mountain of Morgantown High School boys basketball.
“This is a huge blessing, I want to thank God for allowing me to have the ability to do everything I do,” Young said. “I was just letting the game come to me, you can’t rush the game. Coach (Dave Tallman) told me when I needed two more points and drew up a perfect play for me.”
MHS head coach Dave Tallman said he knew early in the game that Young may get it done in the first half.
“He was on fire and I was thinking let’s just get this thing done in the first half,” Tallman said. “I’m just so proud of him, he is such a hard worker and deserves everything that comes his way. What a record, Jay Jacobs is a wonderful man, and breaking a record after 68 years is a remarkable thing. It was great the way it worked out to celebrate it like that. He is like a second son to me and just a special kid. I love him to death and feel so blessed to be able to have him as a player on my team. He is the best teammate and friend and person you could ask to be.”
Jacobs, who is set to work his final game before retirement as an on-air analyst for the WVU men’s basketball team tonight, set the Morgantown High scoring record when he graduated in 1956. That was 30 years before the implementation of the three-point line. Jacobs went on to play college basketball alongside Jerry West at WVU before moving on to coaching and, eventually, broadcasting.
The Mohigans (15-1) opened the game well on Friday, giving the Spartans (4-12) fits with full-court pressure. With just a five-point lead midway through the first quarter, MHS got to work.
The Mohigans ended the quarter on an 11-4 run that saw Greenbrier East go scoreless across the final 2:31.
Young finished the first quarter with five points but quickly got to work in the second matching that total in the first minute with a layup and a trey. He continued to take control throughout the second quarter, bringing his scoring total to 15 and helping his team extend a 25-point lead with 4:19 left to play in the first half, 38-13.
Young added another layup before hitting the triple to break the scoring record to end the first half and MHS enjoyed a 49-24 lead going into the locker room.
“He didn’t even want to know how close he was and he was passing the ball for about two straight minutes,” Tallman said. “Eventually I just told him to go get a bucket. He came down and pulled up for that three and shot it very well. The kid is a must-watch.”
MHS continued its dominance to begin the second half, outscoring the Spartans 30 to 11 in the frame. Junior forward Brady Savage came alive in the third with consecutive baskets and some strong rebounding. He finished 7 for 8 from the field with 15 points. Senior Izzy Everett also scored in double-figures with 19 points, including three triples.
“I was telling the guys at halftime that they are just as much a part of this because of the way they play so well with Sharron,” Tallman said. “All of these guys are just great. I think the precedence that has been set in our program from all the great players we’ve had through the years is one that our guys take pride in and work hard to maintain.”
Young said despite the record being achieved he still has more work to do.
“We want to get one percent better every day and know that the job isn’t done,” he said. “All we can do is focus on the now and not look too far ahead into the future. You can’t think back, you can’t think ahead, just think about the moment and what you can control now.”
The Mohigans will move on to the championship game at the Greenbrier today against Huntington at 5:00 p.m.
BOX SCORE
Morgantown 94, Greenbrier East 41
MHS 23 26 30 15 – 94
GE 11 13 11 6 – 41
Morgantown — Young 11 2-2 30; Everett 7 2-2 19; Savage 7 1-1 15; King 2 3-4 7; Shrewsberry 1 0-0 3; M. Johnson 2 1-2 5; Colistra 3 0-0 6; Frey 1 0-0 3; A. Johnson 1 0-2 2; Goins 2 0-2 4.
Greenbrier East — Penn 1 0-0 2; Hamric 1 2-2 4; Dehaven 0 3-4 3; Patton 3 0-0 6; Lambert 5 1-4 12; Muraw 1 1-2 3; Dixon 2 0-0 5; Tomlinson 1 4-5 6.
3-Pt Goals — Morgantown 11 (Young 6, Everett 3, Frey 1, Shrewsberry 1). Greenbrier East 2 (Lambert 1, Dixon 1).
