HAGERSTOWN – North Hagerstown and South Hagerstown agreed on one thing when the two schools got together to continue their basketball rivalry on Friday.
Neither boys basketball program would be where they are today without the influence of Kevin Naylor.
Naylor, the former head coach at both schools, was honored before Friday’s game at South for his contributions both on and off the court as a coach, a leader and a mentor.
He was presented with a certificate of appreciation in a short ceremony. The plaque was presented by Shane Santell, South’s current basketball coach (right) and was joined by his wife Elizabeth and son Nate Naylor, the current North boys coach and former coach of South’s girls team.
Nate Naylor took over the North program after Kevin stepped down for health reasons last summer.
The presentation coincided with the first step of celebrating South Hagerstown’s legacy of sports excellence. A sports banner listing all of South’s championships and state tournament appearances, the first of a series of commemorations that will be created for each of the school’s sports that will hang in the gym.
Naylor’s fingerprints can be found on the banner.
Naylor compiled a record of 147-91, including three MVAL (Monocacy Valley Athletic League) championships, a Class 3A West region championship and a state tournament appearance in his 10 seasons (2007-17) with the Rebels. He ranks as South’s third winningest coach, following Nick Scallion (180) and Bob Starkey (151).
He returned to the bench, accepting the North Hagerstown job in 2022, compiling a 43-31 record in three seasons.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Shepherd 86, Mansfield 72
MANSFIELD, Pa. – Sophomore Elwyne Wordlaw scored 18 points to lead five players in double figures as Shepherd University won its seventh straight game with an 86-72 win over Mansfield in PSAC East matchup.
Joining Wordlaw in double figures were sophomore Daouda Traore with 17 points and seven rebounds, sophomore Brody Davis with 15 points and seven boards. Sophomore Favor Okigweh added 14 points and 12 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. Freshman Colby White also added 14 points for the Rams (16-8, 12-5).
Shepherd led 45-29 at halftime as White (10), Okigweh (10), Wordlaw (9), and Traore (9) combined for 38 first-half points.
Mansfield rallied to within eight points at 80-72 with 1:34 left in regulation before Shepherd closed the game on a 6-0 run to ice the game.
Sterling Scott had 18 points and nine rebounds to pace the Mountaineers. (2-22, 1-17).
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Shepherd 76, Mansfield 62
MANSFIELD, Pa. – Junior Kara Wehner scored a career-high 29 points to lead Shepherd University past Mansfield in PSAC East game as the Rams claimed their fourth straight win.
Wehner hit 9-of-14 shots, including 5-of-9 from three-point range to go with eight rebounds, three assists and one steal.
Sophomore Lamaria Estridge had 20 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and a steal for her fourth double-double outing of the season. Sophomore guard Trinity Turner added 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists for the Rams (9-13, 7-10).
Shepherd outscored Mansfield, 24-9, in the second quarter to take a 42-28 lead into the break.
The Mountaineers closed to within 63-56 in the fourth quarter, but Shepherd ran off a 13-6 rally to close out the win.
Kate Sheeler scored 26 points to pace the Mountaineers (3-22, 1-17).
