ROMNEY, W.Va. — Hampshire responded to Keyser's early runs to take a lead in the decider, but the Tornado's final push proved too daunting to overcome.
In the end, No. 2 Keyser's 1-2-1-1 press took its toll on Hampshire in the form of a 19-3 fourth-quarter run, as the Golden Tornado outmaneuvered Hampshire, 58-45, on Friday night behind a game-high 23 points from Bibs Felton. "Effort and energy," Keyser head coach Josh Blowe said of the difference in the fourth.
"What we had in the first quarter, we did not have in the second quarter. For whatever reason, our energy level dipped way down. Credit to them.
They hit some shots. ..
. But I loved the way our energy was in the fourth quarter." The victory was Keyser's fifth in a row and pushed the Tornado's record to 6-1.
Hampshire (5-4) saw its four-game winning streak end. Felton was the lone Keyser player in double figures. Rooney Urice added nine points, and Abby Delsignore and Kiya Kesner added eight points apiece.
Kesner hit two 3-pointers, and Delsignore was 6 for 6 from the line. Keyser was 16 for 22 from the foul line as a team, and Hampshire made 6 of 11 tries. It appeared as if Keyser was primed to run away with a lopsided triumph over the regional rival early.
The Golden Tornado jumped out to a 22-9 lead in the second period, but Hampshire responded with an 11-0 run. Keyser, leading 23-20 at the half, scored the first two buckets of the third quarter, and Hampshire again answered, this time with a 9-1 flurry. A Bri Cos.