MORGANTOWN – In high school sports, each new season usually means a new group with new challenges, and for the state runners-up, the Morgantown girls basketball team, there have been plenty. Losing six seniors to graduation was expected, but losing Kayli Kellogg, last year’s leader in points, assists, and steals, to an off-season injury certainly was not.
But year in and year out, what remains in place at MHS? Defensive effort, and that constant was constantly on display during last night’s dominating 75-26 win at home against rival Wheeling Park.
And a big part of the Mohigans’ intimidating defensive presence, both in their smothering full-court press and their aggressive, ball-hawking man-to-man, is junior Brenna Nelson, who, along with fellow junior Carper Messerly and lone senior Alyssa Tingler, has led Morgantown (4-0) to a strong start.
And as always at MHS, it has started with defense.
“Defense is kind of what we’re known for,” Nelson explained after Tuesday’s win. “And it really doesn’t matter if we’re pressing or in man, I think we are just as effective if we are all doing our job and hustling. We came out strong tonight (as evidenced by a 13-0 start and 19-2 first quarter lead) and played well as a team, and when we do that, we’ve been pretty successful so far.”
In fact, with a 29-11 turnover advantage that led to numerous transition lay-ins, the Mohigans didn’t have to spend much time running their half-court offense, but coach John Fowkes was still pleased with his team’s execution.
“We stayed balanced and in control very well tonight,” he said. “We don’t have people trying to do too much. Everyone knows their role, and I think that’s the mark of a good team. And Brenna has proved to me and to her teammates and to me that she can be a great defender, a great scorer, a great passer – whatever we need her to do to help us win. She’s a leader by example, and she never stops hustling. There’s no doubt in my mind that she can play at the next level.”
After their strong first-quarter start, MHS wasn’t as crisp in the second quarter – Fowkes chalked it up to youth – but his team knew a better performance was expected, and they delivered, outscoring the Patriots 44-15 in the second half to pull away and remain undefeated in the young season.
Messerly led all scorers with 25 points, while Nelson finished with 13. Karringtyn Miller paced Park with nine.
Moving forward, Nelson has a simple goal for herself and a familiar one for her team.
“I want to get better,” she stated with a simple smile. “I’d love to play college ball at the highest level I can, so I know I need to increase my range and just keep learning and improving. We want to keep getting better, too. We want to get the #1 seed in the Region and get back to the state tournament. That’s always the goal here.”
And despite graduation and attrition, for Nelson and this version of the Mohigans, it’s been so far, so good.
The Mohigans host Southern (Garrett County, MD) on Thursday at 7:30.
Wheeling Park – 2 9 11 4 – 26
Morgantown – 19 12 20 24 – 75
WHEELING PARK (0-4)
Karringtyn Miller 3 2-3 9 Brielle Wells 3 0-0 7 Jalayiah Broomes 1 0-0 2 Italy Schroeder 2 0-2 4 K’Lyn Neider 1 0-0 3 Adriana Moses 0 1-2 1 Totals 10 3-7 26
MORGANTOWN (4-0)
Sydney Deusenberry 3 2-2 8 Brenna Nelson 6 0-0 13 Ana Clinton 2 0-0 4 Josalyn Ammons 2 0-0 5 Carper Messerly 11 1-1 25 Maliyah Young 2 0-1 4 Alyssa Tingler 2 1-2 5 Maddie Ancell 2 2-2 6 Leyton Balderson 2 0-0 5 Totals 32 6-8 75
3pt goals made – WP 3 (Miller, Wells, Neider), MHS 5 (Messerly 2, Nelson, Balderson, Ammons)
