KEYSER, W.Va. — Autumn Kerchner had a Senior Night to remember, scoring a game-high 25 points and leading No. 2 Keyser to a 60-38 victory against visiting Petersburg on Friday.
Kerchner added 12 rebounds, two steals and a block for a double-double for the Golden Tornado (16-4).
“Her sophomore year what stands out to me is the game over at Romney (Hampshire),” Keyser head coach Josh Blowe said. “It was a playoff game and she scored 23 over there. She’s been All-State two years in a row, she’ll be a third-year this year. She was a beast inside tonight for us. It’s great that it happened on Senior Night.”
Neither team led by more than three in the first quarter.
After an over the back foul was called on Keyser, Ella Markwell set up Karlie DiBenedetto for a 3-pointer that put the Vikings (10-11) in front 12-9 after one.
“I thought that we came out and played a pretty good first quarter,” Petersburg head coach Jon Webster said. “We moved the ball well, we took care of it pretty well. That allowed us to play some pretty good half-court defense.”
The Tornado took command in the second quarter, opening on a 20-2 run led by Kerchner’s 10 points and Rooney Urice’s six.
Urice finished with 10 points, four assists and a steal.
Petersburg did not score until the 1:50 mark on a layup from Ayden Mayfield.
“Offensively, it was just move the basketball, keep attacking the paint,” Blowe said. “Look for our one-on-one opportunities and try to get two people to guard one and make a good pass. Try to drive, cause help and dish it to the open person.”
Keyser led 31-14 at halftime and shot 7 of 10 (70%) from the field in the second quarter while holding the Vikings to 1 of 9 (11%).
“I thought they were really physical defensively, we just didn’t adjust to it,” Webster said. “It led to some turnovers and those turnovers led straight to points on the other end. That was a killer for us.”
Kiya Kesner scored six of her 10 points in the third quarter, adding three assists and a steal for the Tornado who led 47-25 after three.
Miley Tingler led Petersburg with 12 points, a steal and a block.
Kerchner, Abby Delsignore and Parker Vaughn were recognized pregame for Senior Night.
Kerchner and Delsignore were on the 2022 and 2024 squads that played in the state tournament.
“We really want to get them back there, to be the first class in school history to make it to states three times would be something that’d be hard to beat,” Blowe said.
The Vikings won the junior varsity game 30-23 led by Abi Nettles’ 14 points while Carlee Staggs paced Keyser with eight.
After ending the regular season at Elkins on Monday at 5:45 p.m., the Golden Tornado will open the Class AAA, Region II playoffs Friday at home against Berkeley Springs.
This was Keyser’s second game without Bibs Felton who was third in the area with 18.8 points per game as of Wednesday’s rankings.
Blowe said she’s day to day and questionable with a leg injury suffered in Tuesday’s loss to Southern.
“I like where we’re at, not playing with Bibs is not something any team wants to go through,” Blowe said. “I said I thought she’s the best player in our area last game, and I stand behind that. But it’s really good that we can have a dominant win like tonight without her, so all the other girls are stepping up. I think we put a lot of people on notice tonight that our team’s not just one player.”
The Vikings will host Moorefield (7-11) in the Class AA, Region II playoff opener on Friday.
“We’re learning, we’re getting better and I’m happy with the progress we’ve made throughout the year,” Webster said. “But there’s definitely times where our youth shows. I thought there were times tonight we didn’t handle some things as well as I’d like for us too.”