By Rich Stevens
Cover photos by Ashley Calvert Photography for RSN Sports
The Morgantown High School girls basketball team won its third consecutive West Virginia Class AAA championship on Saturday night, receiving 25 points and nine rebounds from Sydney Holloway in a 61-56 victory over Huntington at the Charleston Civic Center.
The Mohigans (24-1) became the state’s fifth big school program on record to win three straight titles, matching Wheeling (1920-22), George Washington (1979-81), Parkersburg (1987-89) and North Marion (2009-10).
The bulk of Holloway’s points came from the free throw line, where she was 15-of-17 — making four fewer free throws than Huntington attempted.
Huntington’s pressure defense forced 27 Morgantown turnovers, but it also led to 25 fouls. Ericka Budd fouled out, while Lexi Sheffield, Dazha Congleton, Jordyn Dawson and Josslyn Almonte finished with four apiece.
“When you get in a game where somebody goes to the line 40 times, you’re not going to win,” Huntington coach Lonnie Lucas said. “That was the difference in the ballgame.”
Experience likely played a role, considering the Mohigans were winning their third straight championship with only six losses since the 2012-13 season.
Conversely, the Highlanders (25-2) have lost in the championship game for the fourth time since winning the 2000 title, dropping three straight — Morgantown in 2007, Parkersburg South in 2008 and North Marion in 2010.
Morgantown’s Holloway, Paige Poffenberger and Lydia Adrian finished the game with four fouls each, and while the Mohigans shot 21 more free throws, Huntington missed 10 of its 19 attempts from the line.
Congleton had 25 points for Huntington, but missed half of her 16 attempts from the line. Dawson added 19 points. Adrian contributed 15 points for Morgantown.
