Hoops Signees Tshiebwe and McBride Claim State Titles
March 25, 2019 10:24 AM | Men's Basketball, Blog
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – There's some more good news for Bob Huggins' West Virginia University men's basketball program.
Not only his young Mountaineer playing much better (and still alive playing games in the CBI) but both recruits in this year's signing class recently played on teams that won state championships.
Guard Miles McBride scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds and handed out three assists to help Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller to its second-straight Ohio Division I championship Saturday night at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Twelve of McBride's 16 points came in the second half to turn a deadlocked game at halftime into a Moeller 52-44 victory over Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.
It was Moeller's second straight title and its fifth in school history. Moeller lost just one game during McBride's final three seasons playing there. It was also the first time an Ohio Division I team posted an undefeated season since Zanesville did it in 1995.
"In Ohio, Moeller is one of the teams you know year in and year out you are going to have to beat if you want to win a championship," Huggins said.
Huggins knows the Moeller program well from his days coaching at Cincinnati. One of his Bearcat players, forward Bobby Brannen, is a Moeller graduate.
McBride, a first team All-Ohio choice, was once a touted quarterback prospect for the Crusaders with some Power 5 interest before giving up the sport to concentrate solely on basketball.
Over in Pennsylvania, Oscar Tshiebwe's Kennedy Catholic Golden Eagles held off Pennridge in overtime in the Pa state finals at the Giant Center in Hershey Saturday night.
Tshiebwe, one of the nation's top recruits, played a key role in Kennedy Catholic's fourth state title by scoring 16 points, grabbing 21 rebounds, handing out five assists and blocking three shots in the 64-62 victory.
Twice his blocks saved the game for the Golden Eagles, once to force overtime and a second time at the buzzer in overtime to win it.
Tshiebwe is just the second WVU signee to earn an invitation to play in the prestigious McDonald's All-American Game taking place Wednesday night at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Tshiebwe is one of three Division I signees on Kennedy Catholic's roster this year. The Golden Eagles recently made the jump from the smallest division in Pennsylvania to the largest.
"Kennedy Catholic has been a power at the small level in Pennsylvania basketball and they stepped up to the top level and that's a big jump from where they were to where they are," Huggins noted. "They're still playing for championships so that says a lot about Oscar and their program."
Current Mountaineer Sagaba Konate is also a Kennedy Catholic alum.
According to published reports, Huggins was in Columbus on Friday night to watch McBride's team defeat Lakewood St. Edward in the semifinals and was in Hershey on Saturday to watch Kennedy Catholic's victory.
Having two incoming players on state championship teams bodes well for a young WVU hoop program that is starting to develop some chemistry with its players.
Not only his young Mountaineer playing much better (and still alive playing games in the CBI) but both recruits in this year's signing class recently played on teams that won state championships.
Guard Miles McBride scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds and handed out three assists to help Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller to its second-straight Ohio Division I championship Saturday night at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Twelve of McBride's 16 points came in the second half to turn a deadlocked game at halftime into a Moeller 52-44 victory over Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.
Congrats to Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller on winning back-to-back Division I state titles! ?? pic.twitter.com/PJjpUUn4VD
— Ohio High School Athletic Association (@OHSAASports) March 24, 2019
It was Moeller's second straight title and its fifth in school history. Moeller lost just one game during McBride's final three seasons playing there. It was also the first time an Ohio Division I team posted an undefeated season since Zanesville did it in 1995.
"In Ohio, Moeller is one of the teams you know year in and year out you are going to have to beat if you want to win a championship," Huggins said.
Huggins knows the Moeller program well from his days coaching at Cincinnati. One of his Bearcat players, forward Bobby Brannen, is a Moeller graduate.
McBride, a first team All-Ohio choice, was once a touted quarterback prospect for the Crusaders with some Power 5 interest before giving up the sport to concentrate solely on basketball.
Over in Pennsylvania, Oscar Tshiebwe's Kennedy Catholic Golden Eagles held off Pennridge in overtime in the Pa state finals at the Giant Center in Hershey Saturday night.
Tshiebwe, one of the nation's top recruits, played a key role in Kennedy Catholic's fourth state title by scoring 16 points, grabbing 21 rebounds, handing out five assists and blocking three shots in the 64-62 victory.
Twice his blocks saved the game for the Golden Eagles, once to force overtime and a second time at the buzzer in overtime to win it.
Kennedy up two and this block by - who else - Oscar with just two seconds left in OT. https://t.co/gdiaeNupfH
— Mike White (@mwhiteburgh) March 24, 2019
Tshiebwe is just the second WVU signee to earn an invitation to play in the prestigious McDonald's All-American Game taking place Wednesday night at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Tshiebwe is one of three Division I signees on Kennedy Catholic's roster this year. The Golden Eagles recently made the jump from the smallest division in Pennsylvania to the largest.
"Kennedy Catholic has been a power at the small level in Pennsylvania basketball and they stepped up to the top level and that's a big jump from where they were to where they are," Huggins noted. "They're still playing for championships so that says a lot about Oscar and their program."
Current Mountaineer Sagaba Konate is also a Kennedy Catholic alum.
According to published reports, Huggins was in Columbus on Friday night to watch McBride's team defeat Lakewood St. Edward in the semifinals and was in Hershey on Saturday to watch Kennedy Catholic's victory.
Having two incoming players on state championship teams bodes well for a young WVU hoop program that is starting to develop some chemistry with its players.
Players Mentioned
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