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Mohigans Hand Polar Bears First Loss, 60-52
BYNICK CAMMUSO TIMES WEST VIRGINIAN
FAIRMONT — The perfect start is history.
The Fairmont Senior boys’ basketball team suffered its first loss of the season Saturday night, dropping a 60-52 home decision to Morgantown at the Woody Williams Armory.
And, if you listen to Polar Bears’ coach David Retton, it wasn’t because the team played much of the third quarter without three starters. Or that the Mohigans were coming off a big win over Marion (Ohio) Franklin the day before in the Prime Time shootout.
“We battled, we just lost the game,” he said. “We’re not happy with the last two and a half to three minutes. Not that we played bad, we just missed a few shots and they made a few shots.
“I don’t think there’s a lot really to analyze. We missed a few and they made more than we did.”
That was the case late. Ryan Sevier’s three-point attempt rolled out with just under two minutes remaining and the team down 54-52. The Polar Bears added misses on their next three trips down floor, and Morgantown (7-2, 4-1 NCAC) quickly closed the game out.
Michael Keffer hit a cutting layup underneath, and the Mohigans hit their last four free throws to set the final.
Fairmont Senior ’s bench help kept it close. With reserves seeing heavy minutes — starter Ty Garrison had three fouls in the first half and three starters sat for much of the third period — the Polar Bears held a 21-14, third-period scoring edge.
The Polar Bears trailed by just two, 46-44, after three.
“They did a great job stepping in there and contributing,” Retton said of the bench.
Sevier paced Fairmont Senior (8-1, 3-1) with 19 points. Garrison added 11 and hit three 3-pointers. Andrew Marra chipped in nine, and Logan Moore had eight.
Taylor Runner had 17 for Morgantown, while Ryan Parsons had 10.
Fairmont Senior is back in action Monday when it visits Buckhannon-Upshur.
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