Park Bounces Back From OVAC Defeat
Vargo has 20 points, 15 boards in beating Musselman
WHEELING — The best thing to do after a tough loss in a big game is to get back on the court as quickly as possible.
Wheeling Park, which fell to University in Saturday’s OVAC Class 5A championship game waited all of 36 hours or so before it got back to action.
The Patriots — despite a stiff challenge from a formidable Musselman squad — got back to their winning ways with a hard-earned 69-58 victory against the Applemen.
“It was nice to come back two days after that game (against University) rather than having to wait three or four days,” Wheeling Park coach Michael Jebbia said.
Getting back to the court quickly is one thing, but Park had to do it against a quality foe. Musselman, which made the more than four-hour trip from the Mountain State’s Eastern Panhandle, was in the Class AAA state semifinals last season.
“Musselman has been in the state tournament the last four years and have both of their top guards back, so we knew it was going to be a challenge,” Jebbia said. “This was the first time we’ve ever played them, but we’ll return the trip next year.”
It actually took the better part of two-and-a-half quarters before Park could finally gain any separation. The game was tied at 33-33 at halftime, but a 14-3 run gave Park 49-39 lead.
“I thought, in the first half, we were a little sped up on offense and took some settled shots,” Jebbia said. “Plus they were 6 of 10 from the 3 in the first half and then made their first 3 in the second half.”
Fueling that spurt was the Patriots’ dynamic duo of junior Alex Vargo and senior Keondre King. Both went for seven in the third.
King had a huge second half. He scored 19 of his game-high 25 in the third and fourth quarters. There was a stretch in the fourth where he scored 10 consecutive points for his team, too.
“We got on Keondre a little bit at halftime, and I thought he responded really well,” Jebbia said.
Park played without the services of senior point guard Jack Stakem because of an injury he sustained in the OVAC final.
“Without Jack, there’s a little bit of disorientation out there, especially with our ball handling,” Jebbia said. “The wrong guys end up with the ball at times, which led to some turnovers.”
Stakem’s absence was felt late in the game when Musselman turned up the heat and double teamed Vargo, who turned in another big game with 20 points and 15 rebounds. The Applemen, who will play at Linsly this evening, were able to get as close as five in the fourth at 62-57, but Park continued to knock down foul shots.
In the fourth, the Patriots meshed 9 of 11 from the line. They finished 25 of 33.
Complementing King and Vargo’s production was DeVaughn McWhorter’s 14. He scored 10 in the first quarter.
Musselman was led by all-state junior guard Taralle Hayden’s 20. Senior Kane Settles added 13.
Park (13-6) returns to the home court Wednesday to take on East Fairmont for Senior Night.
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