It hasn't been the greatest of seasons for the Tidioute Community Charter School boys basketball program.
But, on Senior Night, it found a way to go out on top.
According to TCCS coach Dave Manning, "everything finally came together" and the Bulldogs won their first game of the season with a 43-32 victory over Erie First Christian Friday at TCCS.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Allen Seybert
Circle the wagons
Warren County Christian School’s Josh Wagonseller (32) dribbles around a Community Country Day defender as teammate Carson Moore (25) cuts to the basket during a boys basketball contest Friday at WCCS.
It was a remarkable turnaround - TCCS lost 78-25 to Erie First on Jan. 10.
"Everything finally came together," said Manning. "We took care of the ball, we rebounded well and we converted many of foul shots. We were also able to pressure the ball well and force some turnovers on our press."
Helping seniors Kendrick Morrison and Pat Haney finish their home careers with a win was the outstanding performance of freshman guard Brian Faulkner. Faulkner scored a season-high 26 points and was an impressive 14-of-16 from the free throw line.
"Those free throws were huge," said Manning. "If he doesn't knock them down, we may not win that game."
Manning added that Morrison and Haney both had solid outings in their last home games. Haney had seven points and eight assists and Morrison finished with four points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
The Bulldogs also picked up a junior varsity win, winning 37-34 in overtime. Brian Bonner led the winners with 12 points.
TCCS (1-11) finishes its season Wednesday at Conneaut Valley.
ERIE FIRST (32): Zebach 2 0-0 4, Breckner 1 1-3 3, Shi 1 0-0 2, Martin 3 0-2 6, Berger 7 0-2 17, Totals: 14 1-7 32
TCCS (43): Jordan Yeager 3 0-0 6, Brian Faulkner 6 14-16 26, Kendrick Morrison 2 0-0 4, Austyn Marsh 0 0-0 0, Pat Thompson 0 0-0 0, Pat Haney 3 1-9 7, Brian Bonner 0 0-0 0, Todd Breeden 0 0-1 0, Cody Mohrey 0 0-0 0, Lukas Divido 0 0-0 0, Totals: 14 15-26 43
Erie First Christian 11 6 3 12 - 32
TCCS 12 10 7 14 - 43
3-pointers: E- Berger 3; T- None
Junior varsity game
ERIE FIRST (34): Gernovich 2 0-0 4, Zebach 4 2-5 10, Crossman 0 0-2 0, Martin 4 3-8 11, Li 3 0-3 6, Evliano 1 1-2 3, Totals: 14 6-20 34
TCCS (37): Alex Marsh 1 0-0 2, Austyn Marsh 1 4-6 6, Brian Bonner 4 0-0 12, Lukas Divido 1 0-0 2, Pat Thompson 3 0-0 6, Todd Breeden 1 0-0 2, Jordan Yeager 2 3-4 7, Cody Mohrey 0 0-0 0, Totals: 13 7-10 37
Erie First Christian 6 9 10 6 3 - 34
TCCS 5 3 6 17 6 - 37
3-pointers: E- None; T- Bonner 4
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Saegertown 73, Youngsville 43
SAEGERTOWN - Youngsville finished with three players in double figures, but it wasn't enough for the Eagles to earn their first victory, dropping a 73-43 decision to the Saegertown Panthers Friday at Saegertown High School.
The loss drops the Eagles to 0-16 overall this season and 0-6 in Region 4. Saegertown is 6-1 in region play and 10-10 overall.
Broc Horn again led the Eagles in scoring, finishing with 12 points. Tom Chapman and Coll Dininny chipped in 10 points each. Dininny had 12 rebounds and Chapman added 10 as both finished with double-doubles.
Saegertown finished with 16 different players having scored points.
Saegertown downed Youngsville in the junior varsity game, 53-16.
The Eagles will try to win their first game of the season Tuesday when they host Cambridge Springs.
YOUNGSVILLE (43): Broc Horn 4 4-4 12, Tom Chapman 3 4-8 10, Rocco Gatta 2 0-0 4, Coll Dininny 5 0-0 10, Dan McLaughlin 0 0-0 0, Colin Lehnen 0 5-8 5, Nick Barrett 0 1-2 1, Dacoda Buchanan 0 1-2 1, Totals: 14 15-22 43
SAEGERTOWN (73): Truitt 1 0-2 2, Wood 1 0-0 2, Brodie 0 2-4 2, Carter 1 0-0 2, Siple 0 1-2 1, Shoop 1 0-0 2, Scere 4 1-4 9, Marvin 0 3-4 3, Wise 4 0-0 9, Mattocks 1 1-2 3, Pavlik 2 3-4 7, Rigby 2 7-7 11, Sada 1 0-0 2, Mondi 4 4-4 13, Rumsey 1 0-0 2, Lang 1 1-2 3, Totals: 24 23-33 73
Youngsville 14 9 9 11 - 43
Saegertown 16 12 18 27 - 73
3-pointers: Y- None; S- Wise, Mondi
Junior varsity game
YOUNGSVILLE (16): Trevor Flinn 0 0-0 0, Ben Fredrick 1 0-0 2, Dustin Jesson 0 0-0 0, Dacoda Buchanan 2 2-2 6, Levi Ecelberger 1 0-0 2, Brandon Lake 0 0-0 0, Zach Sanford 0 0-0 0, Andrew Tyers 0 0-0 0, Austin Norman 0 0-0 0, Josh Taydus 0 3-4 3, Dan McLaughlin 1 1-2 3, Corey Jones 0 0-0 0, Totals: 5 6-8 16
SAEGERTOWN (53): Brodie 2 0-0 4, DeRosa 3 4-4 10, Lang 5 1-2 11, Shoop 1 0-0 2, Sada 1 2-2 4, Barclay 0 1-4 1, Rumsey 3 0-0 6, Siple 1 0-0 2, Wood 3 0-0 6, Wise 3 1-1 7, Totals: 22 9-13 53
Youngsville 3 3 8 2 - 16
Saegertown 16 22 9 6 - 53
3-pointers: None
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DuBois Central Catholic 54, Sheffield 38
DUBOIS - Sheffield finished its regular season 13-9 after a 54-38 loss to DuBois Central Catholic Friday in DuBois. No additional information, including a box score, was reported to the Times Observer.
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Conneaut Valley 49, Eisenhower 46
CONNEAUTVILLE - A stinging defeat.
A 23-12 fourth quarter deficit wiped out a nine-point Eisenhower lead and sent the Knights to a 49-46 Region 3 defeat on Friday night at Conneaut Valley.
Eisenhower had built a 34-26 lead after three, limiting Conneaut Valley to five third-quarter points, but the Indians exploded in the fourth to secure the win.
"We were turning the ball over. We need to do a better job of limiting our turnovers," Eisenhower assistant coach Jacoby Curtis said. "We need better shot selection as well. We were taking some bad shots."
Josh Deppas led the Knights with 11 points. Aaron Lundmark finished with eight points and Nathan O'Brien chilled in seven.
Eisenhower drops to 12-8 overall, 3-3 in region play and still fighting for a Class A playoff berth. The regular season doesn't end easily. The Knights host first-place Cochranton (6-0 in region) on Tuesday and visit Linesville (also 3-3 in region) on Friday.
EISENHOWER(46): Josh Deppas 4 0-0 11, Aaron Lundmark 3 1-2 8, Colin Shine 3 0-2 6, Nathan O'Brien 3 1-2 7, Andrew Onoratti 2 0-0 4, Ryan Williams 1 0-0 2, Joe Rutsky 4 0-1 8. Totals: 20 2-7 46.
CONNEAUT VALLEY (49): Voree 6 2-3 16, Lash 3 2-4 8, Smith 3 6-8 13, Voree 2 0-0 5, Braden 2 0-2 4, Beil 1 1-2 3. Totals: 17 11-19 49.
Eisenhower 7 14 13 12 - 46
Conneaut Valley 11 10 5 23 - 49
3-pointers: E - Deppas 2, Lundmark. CV - Voree, Voree, Smith.
Junior varsity game
EISENHOWER (29): Carter Farrell 3 0-0 6, Johnson 1 0-0 2, John Potts 0 0-0 0, Chris Sanders 4 4-5 12, Kyle Hunt 1 0-0 3, Ben Harvey 1 2-4 4, Ricky Zortman 1 0-0 2. Totals: 11 6-9 29.
CONNEAUT VALLEY (20): Braden 1 0-1 2, Manross 2 1-2 5, Mccauley 1 0-1 2, Frawley 3 0-2 6, King 0 4-4 4, Payne 0 1-2 1. Totals: 7 6-12 20.
Eisenhower 6 10 3 10 - 29
Conneaut Valley 4 6 5 5 - 20
3-pointers: E - Hunt. CV - none.
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CCD 45, WCCS 42
Warren County Christian School's boys basketball team finished the regular season on Friday with a close loss, 45-42, to Community Country Day.
WCCS opens the New Penn Christian Conference Playoff Tournament at 5-9 overall and as the No. 5 seed - at No. 4 Jamestown Bethel on Tuesday.
WCCS led 14-8 after one quarter on Friday.
"We were playing good enough to win," said WCCS coach Steve Zwald. "They put pressure on us, and we became discombobulated. The wheels came off just enough in a close game."
WCCS had an opportunity to tie the game with seconds left but couldn't convert.
Josh Wagonseller had 19 points, Carson Moore finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks, and Andrew Laird nine rebounds for WCCS.
The Lady Lions are also a '5 seed' to open the New Penn Tournament - at Meadville Calvary Baptist on Monday.
CCD (45): Torres 5 2-2 12, DeLeon 0 1-2 1, Timbrough 0 1-2 1, Jordan 4 0-0 8, Ramirez 1 0-0 3, Baker 9 2-3 20. Totals 19 6-11 45.
WCCS (42): Andrew Laird 3 0-0 6, Josh Carpenter 7 3-5 19, Carson Moore 6 0-2 12, Josh Wagonseller 2 0-0 5, Eric Sorenson 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 3-7 42.
CCD 8 13 14 10 - 45
WCCS 14 10 7 11 - 42
3-pointers: C-Ramirez; W-Capenter 2, Wagonseller.