MORGANTOWN – It wasn’t pretty, but the University High girls basketball team came away with a one-possession victory over visiting Wheeling Park on Tuesday night on Baker’s Ridge, 39-37.
The Patriots had a chance to win the game at the final buzzer on a three-pointer by Italy Schroeder, but her attempt fell off the side of the rim.
The Hawks were led by junior Whitney Cox, who scored 14 points, added five rebounds, and recorded an assist. Every player who saw the flood for UHS recorded at least one assist and one steal.
Tuesday’s win was the ninth of the campaign for the Hawks, who have won five of their last six contests. UHS will host Buckhannon-Upshur on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
“The good thing about tonight’s game is that we got the win and that we play against Thursday,” first-year UHS head coach Sammy Lusk said. “When you play your worst game of the season and still win, you’ll take it. As a coach, you’re not super happy, but you have to be pleased with a win no matter what. The best thing about basketball is that you get to do it again, and we will be better on Thursday.”
The low-scoring pace of the game was set early, as the Patriots led only 4-3 midway through the opening quarter. UHS eventually found some offense and took a one-point lead into the second.
Despite the offensive struggles, the Hawks complemented that with a strong defensive effort, including holding Wheeling Park to just four points in the second frame.
“We were better tonight about picking up our game in other areas when we aren’t making shots,” Lusk said. “They didn’t shoot the ball very well either, but we held them to 37 points, so we were doing some things correctly.”
The Patriots opened the second half with a quick 5-0 run to cut the lead to 21-19, but UHS found a pair of triples from Cox (who was 0 of 5 before her first made three) and took a six-point lead into the final quarter.
Triples were traded back and forth to open the fourth quarter, as Taylor Vanscoy and Cox nailed one, but Schroeder answered both times with two of her own.
UHS took a 39-34 lead with 3:10 left to play. Neither team would score for nearly two minutes until Schroeder nailed her third of the quarter to cut the lead to two.
The Hawks came up empty on four consecutive free throws and gave Wheeling Park the ball back with less than ten seconds left in the game.
The Patriots called a timeout and drew up a play, but their effort was unsuccessful as the Hawks came up with a stop to end the game.
“I heard a coach say one time that you’re never as bad as you think, and you’re never as good as you think,” Lusk said. “This is one of those nights where you come away with it, and you’re looking at the box score like, how did that happen? I do think we were strong mentally tonight, which is something some of our girls have been working on. The best thing is we get to turn around and play a game on Thursday and get better.”
BOX SCORE
University 39, Wheeling Park 37
WP 10 4 11 12 – 37
UHS 11 10 10 8 – 39
Wheeling Park (1-9) – Schroeder 4 0-0 12 Broomes 5 1-4 11 Miller 2 4-7 8 Neider 1 0-0 2 Wells 1 0-0 2 Moses 0 2-4 2
University (9-3) – Cox 5 1-3 14 Fox 3 0-0 6 Bishoff 2 0-0 6 Vanscoy 2 0-0 5 Hall 2 0-0 4 Campbell 2 0-2 4
