Warren played well for over 35 minutes of its 36-minute overtime contest with McDowell Tuesday at Warren Area High School.
Those few seconds where it faltered made all the difference.
Class AAAA McDowell tied the game late with a three-pointer and made more plays in overtime, handing the Dragons a 52-50 non-region defeat.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Allen Seybert
McHacked
Warren’s Preston McMeans, left, is fouled by McDowell’s Carson Lewis during the second quarter of Tuesday’s basketball game between the schools at Warren Area High School. The Dragons dropped an overtime thriller, 52-50.
"When you're playing good teams you've got to put a full 32 minutes together," said Warren boys coach Jeff Berdine. "We had a couple of chances to put a dagger in them late in the fourth quarter and we didn't get the job done."
The game was physical from the onset and points came at a premium - especially in the first half. Warren led 8-6 after the opening stanza and extended that lead by a bucket in the second, taking a 16-12 advantage into halftime.
In the third, the Dragons extended the lead to as many as eight points. However, the hot shooting of McDowell guard Mike Beck kept the Trojans close and Warren saw its lead dwindle to a single point as the third quarter came to a close.
The Trojans came out firing in the fourth and built a 38-35 lead with 4:48 to play. The Trojans' first three makes of the fourth were three-pointers - two from Jarrett Koper and another from Carson Lewis.
The Dragons refused to go away and tied the game with 3:07 remaining on the strength of Preston McMeans' third trifecta of the game.
Still, the Trojans managed to pull back ahead and led 43-41 with 1:12 to play in regulation. At that point, Austin Jerman was fouled going to the bucket and received two freebies. The junior converted on both, tying the game at 43-43.
With 0:51 remaining, Hank Morrison was fouled and connected on one of two free throws to put Warren up 44-43. McDowell took possession of the ball looking for the go-ahead bucket, but all it found was a resounding block from Warren big man Mark Davis.
Jerman corralled the ball and was fouled with just 0:15 left in the game. Cool, calm and collected, Jerman sank both free throws and McDowell called a timeout, trailing 46-43.
"During the timeout, we talked about fouling and sending them to the line for a one-and-one," said Berdine. "The idea was to not even let them get a three-point shot off."
That didn't happen.
McDowell's Lewis took the inbound pass and fell to the floor, maintaining his dribble throughout. Jerman hopped on the floor, attempting to create a dual possession, but Lewis got up and Warren's help defense failed to react in time.
The result was an open three for Lewis and his shot was right on the money, tying the game with seven seconds left.
"(Lewis) just made a heck of a play," said Berdine. "I wasn't pleased with our execution on that play. Our help defense didn't get there in time and the result was a wide open look."
Berdine called timeout to set up a final play and McMeans nearly banked in a deep three at the buzzer. Instead, the shot fell to the floor and the teams readied for overtime.
McDowell's Josh Santillan scored the first bucket of overtime, but Matt Sandberg followed with a jumper of his own. After a pair of free throws by Santillan made it 50-48, Sandberg was fouled and rewarded with two free throws. However, both shots met an unkind rim and McDowell grabbed the rebound.
Again, Santillan was fouled and - again - he made both free throws, giving the Trojans a 52-48 lead with 26 seconds left.
Warren got several good looks at shots during its next possession, but each one missed. Finally, Morrison was able to convert on a layup with just three seconds left to make it 52-50.
However, with the clock running, McDowell never had to inbound the ball and time ran out, giving the Trojans a two-point win.
"It was a physical game and certainly a nice test for us," said Berdine. "This is the type of game that will make us better when we get back into region play."
The Dragons (11-4) get back into region action Friday, hosting Harbor Creek.
Morrison and McMeans led the Dragons with 14 points apiece. Sandberg added eight points and Davis and Jerman had six each. Davis and Morrison had five boards each.
McDowell won the junior varsity game, 50-40. Collin Fantaskey scored nine points to lead the Dragons.
McDOWELL (52): Lewis 4 3-4 13, Koper 5 0-0 13, Beck 6 1-5 13, Santillan 2 5-8 9, Wolf 2 0-0 4, Totals: 19 9-17 52
WARREN (50): Mark Davis 1 4-6 6, Austin Jerman 0 6-6 6, Matt Sandberg 3 2-4 8, Kory Thomas 1 0-0 2, Hank Morrison 5 4-6 14, Preston McMeans 4 3-4 14, Jack Daley 0 0-0 0, Totals: 14 19-26 50
McDowell 6 6 17 17 6 - 52
Warren 8 8 14 16 4 - 50
3-pointers: M- Koper 3, Lewis 2; W- McMeans 3
Junior varsity game
McDOWELL (50): Hansen 4 1-2 9, Stromenger 7 3-4 20, Lewis 1 2-2 4, Iavarone 3 0-1 6, Orinick 1 0-0 2, Achille 2 0-1 4, Flatley 1 0-0 2, Molnar 0 3-5 3, Totals: 19 9-15 50
WARREN (40): Grayson Foley 0 0-0 0, Derek Hanlin 0 0-0 0, Austin Schwanke 2 2-2 7, Ryan Gustafson 3 0-0 7, Collin Fantaskey 3 3-3 9, Cody McGraw 0 0-0 0, Andrew Hammersley 2 1-2 5, Jacoby Passmore 2 0-1 4, Tanner Stanz 3 2-2 8, Totals: 15 8-11 40
McDowell 9 11 16 14 - 50
Warren 4 9 9 18 - 40
3-pointers: M- Stromenger 3; W- Gustafson, Schwanke
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Cambridge Springs 64, Youngsville 22
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS - Youngsville trailed 16-5 after one quarter and lost to Region 4 first-place Cambridge Springs, 64-22, on the road on Tuesday.
"Nothing went in the whole night," said Youngsville coach Ray Neidrick, whose winless Eagles (0-13) were 5-of-36 shooting from the field in the game, and 2-of-12 from 3-point land.
Youngsville is 0-3 in Region 4; Cambridge is 11-3 overall and 3-0 in region.
Trevor Flinn had 14 of Youngsville's 22 points in a 48-22 junior varsity loss.
YOUNGSVILLE (22): Broc Horn 0 0-0 0, Tom Chapman 1 2-6 4, Rocco Gatta 1 2-2 4, Coll Dininny 1 2-2 4, James Frazier 2 0-0 6, Dan McLaughlin 0 0-0 0, Collin Lehnen 1 0-0 2, Josh Taydus 1 0-1 2, Corey Jones 0 0-0 0, Nick Barrett 0 0-0 0, Ben Frederick 0 0-0 0, Dacoda Buchanan 0 0-0 0. Totals 7 6-11 22.
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS (64): M. Palmero 7 1-2 19, Huff 2 1-1 5, Hockenberry 1 0-0 2, Drake 1 0-0 2, Merry 2 0-0 4 Ferris 2 0-0 4, M. Palmero 3 2-2 8, Porter 2 6-6 10, Duda 2 0-1 4, Filey 0 1-1 1, VanWinkle 2 1-1 5. Totals 24 12-14 64.
Youngsville 5 2 11 6 - 22
Cambridge Springs 16 5 14 11 - 64
3-pointers: Y-Frazier 2; C-Palmeiro 4.
Junior varsity game
YOUNGSVILLE (22): Trevor Flinn 4 2-2 14, Dacoda Buchanan 1 0-0 2, Josh Taydus 2 0-0 4, Collin Lehnen 1 0-0 2. Totals 8 2-2 22.
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS (48): Huff 1 0-0 3, Hockenberry 0 2-2 2, Drake 1 0-0 2, Niemeyer 2 2-2 7, Ferris 1 0-0 2, Moyer 0 2-2 2, Duda 4 2-3 10, Spence 1 4-4 6, O'Malley 0 4-6 4, Galford 1 0-0 2, Filey 3 2-2 8. Totals 14 18-21 48.
Youngsville 4 2 8 8 - 22
Cambridge Springs 13 13 11 11 - 48
3-pointers: Y-Flinn 4; C-Huff, Niemeyer.
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Cochranton 53, Eisenhower 38
COCHRANTON - Cochranton won a battle for first place in Region 3 on the strength of an 18-7 fourth quarter.
"It was a matter of taking care of the basketball," said Eisenhower assistant coach Jacoby Curtis. "Plus, they really hit the boards, and we need to do a better job rebounding."
Curtis said the Knights (8-6 overall and 2-1 in the region) can play with Cochranton, and they did through three quarters.
The Knights trailed by four points entering the fourth.
EISENHOWER (38): Josh Deppas 4 0-0 9, Aaron Lundmark 2 0-0 5, Colin Shine 3 2-4 8, Nathan O'Brien 3 0-0 6, Andrew Onoratti 2 0-0 4, Ryan Williams 3 0-0 6, Joe Rutsky 0 0-0 0, Totals 17 2-4 38.
COCHRANTON (53): Kenny 7 2-4 18, Oertly 4 6-8 14, Troutner 1 0-0 2, Adams 1 0-0 2, Dickson 3 0-0 7, Herzberger 5 0-0 10. Totals 21 8-14 53.
Eisenhower 11 7 13 7 - 38
Cochranton 9 13 13 18 - 53
3-pointers: E-Deppas, Lundmark; C-Kenny 2, Dickson.
Junior varsity game
EISENHOWER (11): Carter Farrell 1 0-0 2, Jarrett Johnson 1 0-0 2, John Potts 0 0-0 0, Chris Sanders 1 1-5 3, Kyle Hunt 1 2-4 4, Ben Harvey 0 0-0 0, Ricky Zortman 0 0-0 0. Totals 4 3-9 11.
COCHRANTON (42): Saunier 3 3-4 9, Bridge 4 0-0 9, Buchan 1 0-0 2, Custead 4 0-2 8, Vanderhoff 4 0-0 10, Wagner 1 2-4 4. Totals 17 5-10 42.
Eisenhower 0 5 6 0 - 11
Cochranton 12 8 12 10 - 42
3-pointers: E-None; C-Bridge, Vanderhoff 2.
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Johnsonburg 71, Sheffield 42
The Wolverines ran into trouble against first-place Johnsonburg at home Tuesday night.
Sheffield (9-6 overall and 1-3 in the Allegheny Mountain League North) could not match the quickness of the Rams (10-3, 4-0) through three quarters.
Johnsonburg came out in a disruptive full-court press to start the game. Sheffield had trouble getting into its half-court sets all game long against the press. George Fitch and Kalil Slaughter had all six of Sheffield's points in the first quarter, but the Wolverines trailed 22-6.
Turnovers gave the visitors easy buckets throughout the first half; Sheffield ended up with 21 turnovers for the game. The Wolverines switched to zone defense late in the half and managed to slow down Johnsonburg a bit, but Sheffield didn't score a field goal in the second quarter.
Overall, Sheffield shot 14-of-46 from the field for the game.
In the final period, Sheffield battled to the end, hitting a few 3's late to make the final score a little closer.
One positive was that Sheffield was impressive from the free throw line going 10-of-12.
The Wolverines are away at Kane Friday night.
The Sheffield boys won their junior varsity game, 55-29, on Tuesday. Kwante Johnson had 13 points and nine rebounds.
JOHNSONBURG (71): Grumley 3 0-1 6, Sheldon 1 3-4 5, Luhr 3 4-6 11, Peterson 9 4-5 23, Holmberg 5 0-1 10, Kocjancic 3 1-2 7, Shuey 1 2-2 4, Tucker 1 0-0 3. Totals 27 14-21 71
SHEFFIELD (42): Ike Nearing 1 5-6 7, Mark Sprandle 1 0-0 2, Nick Bonavita 3 0-0 8, Josh Anderson 1 0-0 2, George Fitch 2 2-2 8, Kalil Slaughter 2 1-2 5, Brendan Winslow 1 0-0 2, Dylan McNeal 0 2-2 2, Dylan Reynolds 0 0-0 0, Tyler Fitzgerald 3 0-0 6. Totals 14 10-12 42
Johnsonburg 22 20 14 15 -71
Sheffield 6 4 11 21 -42
3-pointers. J-Luhr 1, Peterson 1, Tucker 1. Nick Bonavita 2, George Fitch 2.
Junior varsity game
JOHNSONBURG (29): Cherry 3 0-2 6, Walters 4 0-0 8, Fields 2 1-2 5, Moore 4 2-4 10, Tucker 0 0-2 0. Totals 13 3-10 29
SHEFFIELD (55): Nic Confer 2 0-0 4, Luke McCracken 1 0-0 3, Kwante Johnson 6 0-0 13, Noah Heeter 5 0-2 10, Dylan McNeal 1 1-2 3, Dylan Reynolds 1 0-0 2, Brandon Kipp 3 0-2 6, Chris Peterson 3 0-0 6, Tyler Fitzgerald 4 0-0 8. Totals 26 1-6 55
Johnsonburg 7 4 6 12 -29
Sheffield 15 12 18 10 -55
3-pointers. J-None. S-Kwante Johnson 1, Luke McCracken 1.