The Shadow
The Glenvar Highlanders (10-3) varsity boys basketball team, are quick, streaky (unanswered scoring runs), and can run past you in a blink of an eye.
Back on December 7th, the Covington Cougars in their second game of the season, saw that all unfold in their game with the Highlanders as the they knocked down 17 three-pointers in a 32 point victory over the Cougars.
So, how do you solve the Highlanders?
The easiest answer is, to slow them down.
Or, keep up with them.
That’s what the Alleghany Mountaineers (7-3) did.
The Mountaineers kept up with the Highlanders for as long as they could, until like they did against the Cougars back in December, got streaky.
Despite a season-high of 18 points from Halen Lowman and a team season-high of 11 three-pointers made, the Mountaineers were unable to get past the Highlanders who won by the final score of 67-58.
In the first quarter, the Mountaineers got a feel of how streaky the Highlanders could get as the team put together two scoring runs of seven unanswered as well as an 8-0 scoring run. The Highlanders led 24-7 after the first quarter.
Ty Boiling who led all scorers with a game-high 21 points for the Highlanders scored 12 of the teams 24 first quarter points as the Highlanders knocked down four of their 12 three-pointers in the first quarter.
Trailing by 17 points after the first quarter against a fast paced, streaky team like the Highlanders, one would think the game is getting away from the Mountaineers.
That was far from the case as the Mountaineers in the second quarter began chipping away at their 17-point deficit thanks to a 14-point Mountaineer second quarter as well the defense holding the Highlanders to five points.
To open the second quarter, the Mountaineers scored seven straight points to cut the lead down to 10 points at 24-14.
After being held scoreless for the first five minutes into the quarter, Aiden Alexander, knocked down one of his five three-pointers to not only end the Highlanders drought, but also the Mountaineers scoring run.
As the first half was coming to a close, Baron Leitch was fouled while shooting as buzzer sounded. Leitch, knocked down both free throws and sent the Mountaineers into the second half down single digits at 29-21.
The third quarter would bring fireworks from both teams.
The Mountaineers came out firing away and scored eight straight points to tie the game at 29-29.
The Mountaineers were on a 22-5 scoring run to get back in the game. The team took a page out of the Highlanders book.
The Mountaineers 8-0 scoring run was highlighted by two of Lowman’s game-high six three-pointers. Chris Harden, tied the game with a put back layup off of a missed shot.
Despite the momentum all on the Mountaineers side, the Highlanders, kept playing Highlander basketball and within just one minute after the Mountaineers had tied the game, the Highlanders grabbed a double digit lead.
The Highlanders scoring run was highlighted by a three-point play by, Stephen Barber, who was fouled while making a layup on a fast-break. Barber finished the three-point play by knocking down his free throw.
The Highlanders closed the third quarter on a 22-6 run to put the team back up 17 points at 51-34.
In the fourth quarter, despite a big 24-point Mountaineer quarter, the Highlanders didn’t allow for a second Mountaineers comeback.
The Mountaineers, made six four quarter three-pointers. Lowman, Leitch, and Anthony Webb, each knocked down two in the quarter.
Late in the fourth quarter with just over a minute left, Leitch connected on his second three-pointer of the quarter and cut the deficit down to just seven points at 65-58. But the Mountaineers late rally, was too late.
In what was a strong and gutsy effort from the Mountaineers, the team held their own despite the streakiness the Highlanders play with. The Highlanders only made one more three-pointer than the Mountaineers, 12-11. The scoring runs the Highlanders have is what ultimately got to the Mountaineers.
Finishing with a season-high 18 points from Lowman, he also had a team-high six rebounds, and two assists.
Leitch, scored 12 points, eight of them coming in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Webb, the MVP of the the JV Mountaineer Invitational Tournament, made his first varsity start and dropped in nine points to go along with two rebounds, and two assists. Webb made three three-pointers.
For the Highlander, Alexander and Barber, combined to score 31 points, 15 from Alexander and 16 from Barber. Barber finished the game also with six rebounds and a game-high eight assists.
The Mountaineers were back on the basketball court last night as the team was on the road against Carroll County. You can read all about that game in Tuesday’s edition.
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ttl
AHS 7 14 13 24 58
GHS 24 5 22 16 67
Mountaineers Statistics
Player Pts Reb Ast Stl
Leitch 12 5 4 –
Lowman 18 6 2 –
Harden 6 2 2 –
Gibson – 2 – –
Webb 9 2 2 –
Entsminger 2 – – –
Via 4 2 1 1
Hayslett – 1 2 1
Caldwell 5 2 – –
Moore 2 1 – –
Middleton – – 1 –
Highlanders Statistics
Player Pts Reb Ast Stl
Alexander 15 4 4 3
Barber 16 6 8 –
Housh 9 4 3 2
Boiling 21 1 2 1
McMahon 4 2 – 1
Carter – – – 1
Veverka 2 – – –
Noel (Minutes Played)
