Fort Hill defeats Allegany 53-38 in defensive battle

No. 2 Fort Hill's stifling defense holds No. 4 Allegany to just 8 points in the final 12 minutes to secure victory

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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In a matchup of top-ranked local rivals, No. 2 Fort Hill defeated No. 4 Allegany 53-38 behind a dominant defensive effort. After Allegany cut the deficit to one point in the third quarter, Fort Hill's defense clamped down, holding their opponent to just 5 points in the fourth quarter to secure the win. Jameson Powell-Morris led Fort Hill with 21 points and 8 rebounds, while Liam Hamilton added 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the defensive intensity and rebounding prowess of Fort Hill, who have now won 11 of their last 12 games. Allegany's high-scoring guard Chris Manherz was limited to just 15 points, as Fort Hill's defense focused on taking him out of the game. The win also keeps Fort Hill firmly in the hunt for the Western Maryland Athletic Conference title.

The details

Fort Hill's stifling defense held Allegany to just 8 points over the final 12 minutes and 14 seconds of the game, including a scoreless drought of over 4 minutes to start the fourth quarter. The Sentinels dominated the boards 37-21 and forced Allegany into tough shots throughout the game.

  • Fort Hill defeated Allegany 45-41 in the junior varsity game earlier in the evening.
  • Allegany received a forfeit victory over Bishop Walsh for a game originally scheduled for Monday.

The players

Jameson Powell-Morris

Led Fort Hill with 21 points and 8 rebounds.

Liam Hamilton

Added 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for Fort Hill.

Chris Manherz

Allegany's leading scorer, averaging over 23 points per game, was limited to just 15 points.

Thad Burner

Head coach of Fort Hill, praised his team's defensive effort and composure.

Brandon Reed

Head coach of Allegany, cited his team's struggles with rebounding and scoring consistency.

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What they’re saying

“We played a hard game for four quarters. I thought we wore them down a little bit there in the fourth quarter. … They cut it to one, and we just challenged the kids. After that, I thought we were pretty good.”

— Thad Burner, Fort Hill head coach (cnhi.com)

“I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but it's just not being able to rebound the basketball, not being able to score it. When we're in the moment, we feel pretty good about the shots the guys are getting, and we're just not making them.”

— Brandon Reed, Allegany head coach (cnhi.com)

What’s next

Fort Hill welcomes unbeaten McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania (21-0) to Cumberland on Tuesday at 7 p.m. for another tough matchup.

The takeaway

Fort Hill's defensive intensity and rebounding dominance were the keys to this victory over their crosstown rival. The Sentinels have now won 11 of their last 12 games, establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the Western Maryland Athletic Conference.