Ike Nearing came up big when Sheffield needed him the most.
Trailing Elk County Catholic (9-7, 3-3 AML), 59-57, in the second overtime, Nearing stole the ball then hit a 3-pointer from the corner to put Sheffield (11-6, 3-3) up for good as the Wolverines snapped at least a 15-game losing streak against the Crusaders with a 64-60 double overtime win Monday at Sheffield High School.
"Ike's '3' changed the complexion of the game," said Sheffield coach Todd Fitch. "It got them out of the 'stall offense.'"
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Brian Hagberg
Big jump
Sheffield’s Nick Bonavita puts up a jump shot, while teammate Kalil Slaughter (12) tries to get in position for a rebound, with an Elk County Catholic defender’s hand in his face during their AML North basketball game Monday at Sheffield High School.
Elk County overcame a 16-point, fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime. Sheffield held a 23-18 lead at the half, but a 21-8 third quarter had the Wolverines in control heading into the fourth. Or so it seemed.
The Crusaders switched to a press defense to open the fourth quarter and the Wolverines had trouble breaking it. Elk County took advantage of the confusion and turnovers the press created to outscore Sheffield 27-9. The game-tying layup coming as the final horn sounded.
"The press D has been our Achille's Heel all season," Fitch said. "We've got to learn to maintain our composure when we try to break it. We let a big lead slip away."
The Crusaders scored the opening field goal of the first overtime, but Sheffield quickly answered with a field goal of its own. The teams traded possessions, with neither scoring, before Elk County got the ball with just over two minutes left in the overtime. The Crusaders elected to hold the ball for a final shot, literally for a full two minutes, before calling a timeout with 11 seconds remaining.
Elk County was able to push the ball to the inside, but lost control of the ball, giving Sheffield three seconds to try a desperation shot. The shot came up just short and the game moved into a second overtime period.
Again, the teams traded field goals early, but Elk County got another quick bucket and forced a Sheffield turnover. The Crusaders tried to move into the stall offense again with two minutes remaining. Nearing stole the ball with 1:30 left on the clock and hit the 3-pointer to put the Wolverines up 60-59.
Once again, the Crusaders tried to hold for the last shot, but Nearing came up with another steal and was fouled. He went 1-of-2 from the line to make it 61-59. The Wolverines stole the ball again on the ensuing possession and Kalil Slaughter went 1-of-2 from the line to give Sheffield a 3-point edge. Elk County tried to get off a game-tying 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining, but Nearing blocked it, Nick Bonavita gained control and connected on both free throws to put the game away.
"This (win) was a total team effort and I couldn't be more proud of the guys," Fitch said. "Hat's off to (Elk County) for making the comeback, but we dug our heels in and made adjustments."
Nearing led all scorers with 27 points and had seven rebounds. Mark Sprandle had 11 points, while Bonavita had nine markers and George Fitch added eight points and 12 rebounds.
The Wolverines will travel to Brockway Wednesday for another AML matchup.
Sheffield had lost at least 15 straight games to ECC dating back to the 2004-05 season, including the first meeting this season.
Brendan Winslow scored 15 points as the Sheffield junior varsity team dropped a tough 39-36 decision.
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC (60): Housler 3 10-12 19, Schlimm 4 2-2 12, Cappiello 5 0-1 10, Wortman 4 0-0 8, McCullough 1 3-6 5, Jacob 2 1-2 5, Kraus 0 1-2 1, Vallone 0 0-0 0, A. Herzing 0 0-0 0, Cortina 0 0-0 0, Constable 0 0-0 0, Meyer 0 0-0 0, Totals 19 17-25 60.
SHEFFIELD (64): Ike Nearing 12 1-3 27, Mark Sprandle 5 1-2 11, Nick Bonavita 1 7-11 9, George Fitch 4 0-0 8, Kalil Slaughter 2 1-2 5, Josh Anderson 1 0-0 2, Dylan McNeal 1 0-0 2, Totals 26 10-18 64.
Elk County Catholic 10 8 8 27 2 5 -60
Sheffield16 7 21 9 2 9 -64
3-pointers: E-Housler 3, Schlimm 2. S-Nearing 2.
Junior varsity game
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC (39): Jacob 5 0-0 13, Huff 4 2-4 10, Jerko 3 0-0 8, Wortman 2 0-2 4, Lecker 1 0-0 2, Kraus 1 0-0 2, Struble 0 0-0 0, Gebaver 0 0-0 0, Beuscher 0 0-0 0, Werner 0 0-0 0, Totals 16 2-6 39.
SHEFFIELD (36): Brendan Winslow 4 7-9 15, Dylan McNeal 4 1-2 10, Dylan Reynolds 2 1-2 7, Luke McCracken 1 0-0 2, Brandon Kipp 0 0-2 0, Travis Peterson 0 0-0 0, Kwante Johnson 0 0-0 0, Tyler Fitzgerald 0 0-0 0, Totals 12 9-15 36.
Elk County Catholic 11 2 17 9 -39
Sheffield 7 10 14 5 -36
3-pointers: E-Jacob 3, Jerko 2. S-Reynolds 2, McNeal.