FROSTBURG — Keyser got off to the faster start and controlled most of the game, leading to a 70-51 road win over No. 3 Mountain Ridge Friday in the Coal Mine.
“That’s our best game, most complete game, all four quarters,” Keyser head coach Scott Furey said. “It’s what we knew we had in us. I’m super glad that happened, on the road it’s tough anyway. We got a big road stretch coming up, we’re not home again until February. So we gotta get used to playing on the road and playing in tough conditions.”
After seven lead changes through the game’s opening three-and-half minutes, the Golden Tornado (4-6) took the lead for good with 3:36 left in the first quarter.
Grayson Lambka recorded a steal which turned into a Cam Owens’ 3-pointer to put Keyser ahead 10-9.
The Tornado ended the quarter on a 15-6 run led by Braylon McGreevy’s 11 points, taking a 25-15 lead after one.
“We weren’t ready to play to the level of Keyser brought to us tonight,” Mountain Ridge head coach Tim Nightengale said. “Keyser brought everything they had and they kicked us for four quarters. They punched us in the mouth and kept punching us and we didn’t take it. We didn’t get any fire lit under us, and we’re gonna work on fixing that tomorrow morning.”
Keyser’s McGreevy scored 12 points in the first quarter and finished with a game-high 27 and a block.
“I thought Braylon getting that hot start and attacking things inside was really the key to the whole night,” Furey said.
The Miners (4-3) got within seven points at 28-21 with 4:46 left in the first half.
Kris Washington recorded a steal and hit a triple off of an assist from John Delaney.
Washington finished with 14 points and four steals.
Keyser ended the first half on a 10-3 run and led 38-24 at halftime.
“We didn’t play good defense, we didn’t execute offense, we didn’t get loose balls,” Nightengale said. “Destroyed on the boards, offensively and defensively. Just every aspect of the game, we were poor tonight.”
The Tornado forced 12 turnovers in the half while committing seven.
Keyser outscored Mountain Ridge 17-12 in the third quarter and led 55-36, then each team scored 15 points in the fourth.
“The last two games, we shot 25% from the field in both games, against Fort Hill and Berkeley Springs,” Furey said. “Amazingly, we were able to pull out the Berkeley win just because we played pretty good defense and it’s what we talked about.”
Cameron Breighner led the Miners with 16 points and a block. Trey Dawson scored 13 points with seven assists and five steals.
Mountain Ridge heads to No. 2 Allegany (7-2) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
“We weren’t ready to play, I’m guessing the players took Keyser lightly,” Nightengale said. “They wanted to come in here and punch us in the mouth, and they did. Keyser shot the lights out, they shot the ball really well.”
Keyser continues a seven-game stretch away from home including six true road games when it travels to Hampshire (0-10) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Keyser won the first meeting 47-35 at home on Dec. 23.
“The biggest thing is you can’t assume anything,” Furey said. “Coach (Danny) Alkire is a good coach and he’s been to the state tournament recently. He’s gonna have his kids ready to play. You can’t go over to Hampshire and think anything other than the level of play that we brought tonight or you’re gonna end up having a bad outcome.”