Aaron Lundmark's seven 3-pointers keyed an offensive outburst for Eisenhower as the Knights ran away in the second half for a 57-38 win over Union City Friday at Eisenhower High School.
"Lundmark was key (tonight)," said Eisenhower assistant coach Jacoby Curtis. "To have a guy come in and shoot clutch three's, each one shifts the momentum (in our favor)."
Eisenhower (2-2) looked as though it might run away with the game early, getting a 3-pointer from Andrew Onoratti on its opening possession as the Knights grabbed a quick 7-3 lead. The Bears cut it to 7-5 before Eisenhower closed out the quarter on a 14-2 run to lead 21-7.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Brian Hagberg
Seven shooter
Aaron Lundmark puts up one of the seven 3-pointers he made during Eisenhower's basketball game against Union City Friday at Eisenhower High School. Lundmark finished with a game high 25 points.
Lundmark's three with 3:30 left in the half proved to be the only points Eisenhower would get in the quarter as Union City cut the Knights lead to a single point, 24-23, heading into halftime.
"They started to press in the second quarter," Curtis said. "They took us out of our offense and we got away from the 'team concept'."
The Bears took the lead for the first time in the game with a 5-0 run to start the third quarter. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Onoratti and Lundmark gave the Knights a 30-28 lead that they wouldn't relinquish. Lundmark would connect on three 3-pointers in the quarter and Eisenhower held a 40-30 lead heading into the final period.
The Knights got a little more aggressive offensively in the fourth quarter as they drove to the basket and were able to draw some fouls. Up eight, 44-36, with two minutes to play, the Knights closed out the game with a 13-2 run. Onoratti came up with three big blocks during the run.
"We got back to the team game in the second half," Curtis said. "We want to play at our speed, play press defense and contest every shot."
Lundmark finished with a game high 25 points. Onoratti had four blocks to go along with his 15 points and Colin Shine also finished in double digits with 11 points.
Union City won the JV game 31-25. Ricky Zortman led the Knights with nine points.
The Knights will travel to Cambridge Springs on Tuesday.
UNION CITY (38): Burgess 5 2-4 13; Russell 3 0-0 7; Hoban 2 2-4 7; Mahgel 2 0-1 4; Ossa 2 0-0 4; Pituch 1 1-4 3; Maynard 0 0-0 0; Totals 15 5-13 38.
EISENHOWER (57): Aaron Lundmark 7 4-7 25; Andrew Onoratti 5 3-3 15; Colin Shine 4 3-6 11; Josh Deppas 1 2-2 4; Joe Rutsky 1 0-0 2; Carter Farrell 0 0-0 0; Jarrett Johnson 0 0-0 0; Nathan O'Brien 0 0-0 0; Ryan Williams 0 0-0 0; Totals 18 12-18 57.
Union City 7 16 7 8-38
Eisenhower 21 3 16 17-57
3-pointers: U-Burgess, Hoban, Russell. E-Lundmark 7, Shine 2, Onoratti 2.
Junior Varsity Game
UNION CITY (31): Russell 3 2-2 9; Ossa 4 0-1 8; Mahgel 3 2-2 8; Maynard 1 2-3 6; Dagget 0 0-0 0; Schneider 0 0-0 0; Daley 0 0-0 0; Collins 0 0-0 0; Jackson 0 0-0 0; Totals 11 6-8 31.
EISENHOWER (25): Ricky Zortman 4 0-0 9; Carter Farrell 3 0-1 6; Chris Sanders 1 3-6 5; John Potts 0 3-4 3; Kyle Hunt 1 0-2 2; Jarrett Johnson 0 0-0 0; Ben Harvey 0 0-0 0; Totals 9 9-13 25.
Union City 9 5 6 11-31
Eisenhower 7 11 5 2-25
3-pointers: U-Russell. E-Zortman.
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Linesville 54, Youngsville 36
LINESVILLE -Youngsville trailed 20-5 after one quarter and 38-16 by halftime and could not recover.
"We had a slow start, missing 14 shots, and we had eight turnovers, in the first half," said Youngsville coach Ray Neidrick, whose Eagles are 0-3.
"For being down 38-16 at halftime, they played hard in the second half, outscoring Linesville 20-16," he said.
Broc Horn had nine points and six rebounds, and James Frazier had three 3-pointers and 11 total points, for Youngsville. Stephan Martini and Jon Onderko combined for 27 points for Linesville (1-3).
YOUNGSVILLE (36): Broc Horn 4 0-0 9, Tom Chapman 3 0-2 6, Rocco Gatta 2 0-0 4, Coll Dininny 3 0-0 6, James Frazier 4 0-0 11, Dan McLaughlin 0 0-0 0, Collin Lehnen 0 0-0 0, Josh Taydus 0 0-0 0, Levi Ecelberger 0 0-0 0, Ben Frederick 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 0-2 36.
LINESVILLE (54): Schaef 3 0-1 7, Brown 3 0-0 6, Weidner 0 3-4 3, Merritt 3 1-3 7, Martini 4 5-6 14, Benfield 2 0-0 4, Onderko 4 5-8 13. Totals 19 14-22 54.
Youngsville 5 11 10 10 - 36
Linesville 20 18 10 6 - 54
3-pointers: Y-Horn, Frazier 3; L-Schaef, Martini.
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Johnsonburg 72, Sheffield 47
JOHNSONBURG - Sheffield is 3-2 after a 72-47 loss at Johnsonburg on Friday.
"They are a quick team out front with super guard play and, tonight, we didn't handle the pressure," said Sheffield coach Todd Fitch, whose Wolverines trailed 23-10 after one and 45-19 at halftime. "We dug ourselves a hole and never got out of it."
Ike Nearing led Sheffield with 12 points, and George Fitch had seven points and 10 rebounds.
Noah Heeter had 14 points in the junior varsity team's 53-21 win.
SHEFFIELD (47): Ike Nearing 5 1-1 12, Mark Sprandle 3 0-0 8, Brendan Winslow 1 2-4 4, Kalil Slaughter 4 0-1 8, Chris Pedersen 0 0-0 0, Dylan McNeal 1 0-0 3, Nick Bonavita 0 2-2 2, Josh Anderson 1 1-2 3, Dylan Reynolds 0 0-0 0, George Fitch 2 2-4 7, Totals 17 8-14 47.
JOHNSONBURG (72): Gromley 3 6-7 13, Sheldon 5 1-1 11, Luhr 7 3-5 18, Peterson 6 2-3 14, Holmberg 1 1-4 3, Kocjancic 3 1-3 7, Shuey 3 0-3 6. Totals 28 14-26 72
Sheffield 10 9 15 13 - 47
Johnsonburg 23 22 19 8 - 72
3-pointers: S-Sprandle 2, McNeal, Fitch; J-Gromley, Luhr.
Junior varsity game
SHEFFIELD (53): Nic Confer 1 1-2 3, Luke McCracken 1 0-0 3, Brendan Winslow 2 0-0 4, Noah Heeter 7 0-4 14, Chris Pedersen 1 1-2 3, Dylan McNeal 4 1-1 9, Dylan Reynolds 2 0-0 5, Brandon Kipp 0 0-0 0, Travis Peterson 3 0-0 6, Tyler Fitzgerald 3 0-1 6, Totals 24 3-10 53.
JOHNSONBURG (21): Cherry 4 0-1 8, Fields 0 2-3 2, Feronti 2 1-2 5, Anderson 1 0-0 2, Servidea 2 0-0 4, Totals 9 3-6 21.
Sheffield 14 12 13 14 - 53
Johnsonburg 9 8 0 4 - 21
3-pointers: S-McCracken, Reynolds; J-None.
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East Forest 56, TCCS 25
Tidioute Community Charter School struggled with a stifling East Forest full court pressure defense all first half and never got out of the blocks during a 56-25 loss to the Bears Friday at TCCS.
"Turnovers and rebounding killed us tonight," said TCCS coach Dave Manning. "That was the difference in the ball game. If you don't take care of the ball and keep from turning it over, it's going to be pretty hard to score enough points to win."
East Forest got several easy buckets off backcourt steals and led 37-9 at halftime. The second half was more competitive, but the Bulldogs (0-2) were never able to seriously challenge the visitors.
Kendrick Morrison led the TCCS effort with 10 points and teammate Calvin Marsh added six points. Brian Faulkner added five points and Jordan Yeager four points in the loss.
TCCS dropped the junior varsity contest, 60-9. Todd Breeden led the Bulldogs with four points.
TCCS is back in action Wednesday, hosting West Forest.
EAST FOREST (56): Toski 4 0-2 9, DiCorpo 3 0-0 7, Dittman 2 0-0 4, Harriger 1 0-0 2, Popolio 3 0-0 6, Snyder 3 0-0 8, Andrews 2 0-0 4, Rini 6 4-11 16, Totals: 24 4-13 56
TCCS (25): Jordan Yeager 2 0-0 4, Brian Faulkner 2 1-4 5, Kendrick Morrison 5 0-2 10, Pat Thompson 0 0-0 0, Calvin Marsh 2 2-9 6, Pat Haney 0 0-0 0, Brian Bonner 0 0-0 0, Totals: 11 3-15 25
East Forest 16 21 13 6 - 56
TCCS 4 5 5 11 - 25
3-pointers: E- Toski, DiCorpo, Snyder 2; T- None.
Junior varsity game
EAST FOREST (60): Dittman 14 1-2 30, Harriger 4 0-0 8, Popolio 7 0-1 14, Dahner 1 0-0 2, Jackowich 3 0-0 6, Totals: 29 1-3 60
TCCS (9): Alex Marsh 0 0-0 0, Austyn Marsh 1 0-0 2, Brian Bonner 0 0-0 0, Lucas Divido 0 0-0 0, Chance Klos 0 0-0 0, Todd Breeden 2 0-0 4, Pat Thompson 0 3-5 3, Totals: 3 3-5 9
East Forest 16 20 12 12 - 60
TCCS 4 0 2 3 - 9
3-pointers: E- Dittman; T- None