MORGANTOWN — University High School senior Eli Karpinski and his team got the 2025-2026 season under way in scorching fashion, defeating visiting Parkersburg 94-61 on Baker’s Ridge in a season-opening victory.
Karpinski scored a game-high 30 points going 11/14 from the field with four three-pointers against the Big Reds, adding five rebounds and five assists as well.
UHS junior Kaleil Lewis contributed a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, including three thunderous dunks and a pair of triples. The Hawks dished out 18 assists on 36 made field goals.
Chandler Jackson scored 28 points to lead Parkersburg with six triples.
“I was pleasantly surprised by how well we shot the ball,” UHS head coach Joe Schmidle said. “We hadn’t shot the ball well during our two scrimmages and honestly, most of these guys haven’t had a ball in their hands for too long.”
He refers to the fact that half of the Hawks’ varsity roster (including four starters) are members of the football team that made a run to the state semifinals only two weeks ago.
“I was very proud of the effort and how hard we played,” Schmidle said. “We still have some guys that are getting into shape coming from injuries and things, but our bench also stepped up and played well tonight.”
Parkersburg was the side to get the scoring started with an early 8-3 lead with a pair of threes by Jackson. But Lewis and Karpinski nailed their first triples of the contest in response, cutting the lead to one.
“You can’t cheat the game, and Eli doesn’t cheat the game,” Schmidle said. “He has put in as much, or more, work than anyone in the program. He’s a basketball player and dedicated himself to getting better in the offseason. He’s been crucial to our team.”
The Hawks took the lead for good, 12-10, on a huge fast break alley-oop from Glenn Brown to Lewis, and they wouldn’t look back, ending the first quarter on a 16-5 run to lead 24-15 entering the second.
UHS amped up the defensive pressure in the second, outscoring Parkersburg 23-5 in the frame to pull away at halftime by 27 points (47-20).
The Big Reds came out strong in the third with 23 points, but UHS kept the lead extended throughout the second half en route to its first victory of the new campaign.
“I scored a lot off of assists tonight, which is all credit to my teammates,” Karpinski said. “Shots were falling off the catch from all over the court. We all play for each other and want to win first so it doesn’t matter if it’s me or anyone else scoring, as long as we get the win.”
The Hawks will return to host Fort Hill (Md.) on Baker’s Ridge on Tuesday for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
Box score
PHS 15 5 23 18 – 61
UHS 24 23 21 26 – 94
Parkersburg (0-1) – Jackson 10 2-2 28 Wilson 4 0-0 9 Thomas 2 0-0 5 Williams 3 1-1 8 Gooch 3 0-0 6 Co. Jackson 1 0-0 2 Smith 1 0-0 3
University (1-0) – Karpinski 11 4-4 30 K. Lewis 7 1-2 17 Barnes 4 2-2 12 L Byrer 2 1-2 5 J Byrer 2 2-2 6 Brown 3 0-0 7 Weaver 1 0-0 2 Metheny 1 0-0 2 Helbig 2 0-0 4 A. Lewis 1 0-0 3 Pierson 2 0-0 6
3pt goals made: Parkersburg 10 (Jackson 6 Wilson 1 Thomas 1 Williams 1 Smith 1); University 12 (Karpinski 4 K. Lewis 2 Barnes 2 Pierson 2 Brown 1 A. Lewis 1).
