Warren's boys basketball team looked to lock up the second seed out of Region 7 entering next week's District 10 Class AAA playoffs.
The Dragons ran out to a big lead late in the third quarter en route to an impressive 85-63 victory Friday on Senior Night at Warren Area High School.
"In the first half, defensively, we did not execute our game plan, plain and simple," said Warren coach Jeff Berdine.
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Times Observer photo by Allen Seybert
To the rim
Youngsville’s Collin Lehnen attempts a shot over a Union City defender during the third quarter of Friday’s Region 4 boys basketball game at Youngsville High School. The Bears defeated the Eagles, 67-47.
Corry went 7-of-11 from 3-point in the first half.
"Our communication and teamwork were not there," said Berdine.
But Warren was ready to run in the first quarter. Corry came out in a 3-2 zone, but Warren had little trouble getting open looks.
On defense, Mark Davis held down the front line. He had four of his 11 blocks in the quarter.
While the Beavers had trouble scoring in the paint, they had little trouble from outside the arc. Right when Warren was pulling away, Corry would hit a "3" to stay in the game.
The Beavers got to within five points early in the second quarter when Preston McMeans got a steal and dished to Matt Sandberg for one of is six assists.
Corry came right back with a 3-pointer to cut the score to 29-25 Warren. Warren would respond and push the lead to ten to end the first half winning 45-35.
Warren got a surge to start the third quarter. Davis had a big block, McMeans hit a 3-pointer and a layup, and Hank Morrison finished an alley-oop on successive possessions.
"I told them at halftime, if we are patient we would get good looks," said Berdine.
Warren pushed the lead to 13, but Corry had yet another 3-pointer to get within 10. After the most recent three by the Beavers, Warren elevated its effort on both ends.
The Dragons finished the quarter on a 14-3 run.
The Dragons kept the game out of reach after their impressive run to end the third quarter. They dealt with the comeback attempt by the Beavers and cruised to a crucial region victory.
With a loss to first-place General McLane by Central Tech on Thursday, the Dragons locked up the No. seed out of Region 7 at 11-3 in the region. Central Tech is third at 10-4.
Warren plays at home Monday night against non-region opponent Oil City to end its regular season. The Dragons (16-5 overall) should know by then who they will play in the first round of the District 10 Class AAA playoffs. This is the first time Warren has made the playoffs since the 2006-07 team went to states.
Corry finishes 3-19 overall.
Davis had a monster game with 17 points, 11 blocks, and seven rebounds. McMeans also had a big game - a career-high with 34 points and now has 1,047 for his high school career. Morrison finished with 13 points and Sandberg 11.
Warren used a 19-point fourth quarter to defeat Corry in the J.V. game, 55-44.
CORRY (63): Rougeau 1 0-0 2, Volz 3 0-0 7, Sheets 7 2-3 17, Taydus 9 2-2 23, Burrows 5 4-6 14. Totals 25 8-11 63
WARREN (85): Mark Davis 7 3-5 17, Grayson Foley 0 0-0 0, Austin Jerman 1 0-0 2, Matt Sandberg 5 1-1 11, Collin Fantaskey 1 0-0 3, Kory Thomas 1 2-2 5, Hank Morrison 6 1-2 13, Preston McMeans 11 6-6 34, Jack Daley 0 0-0 0. Totals 32 13-22 85.
Corry 18 17 12 16 -63
Warren 26 19 23 17 -85
3-pointers: C-Taydus 3, Volz 1, Sheets 1. W-Preston McMeans 6, Collin Fantaskey 1, Kory Thomas 1.
Junior varsity game
CORRY (44): Dennis 4 0-0 9, Eck 2 0-2 5, Haenel 2 0-0 5, Shrecengost 2 7-10 12, Volz 3 0-2 6, Wood 2 0-0 5. Totals 15 9-18 44
WARREN (55): Grayson Foley 0 4-6 4, Derrick Hanlin 0 0-0 0, Austin Schwanke 1 4-4 7, Ryan Gustafson 0 0-0 0, Collin Fantaskey 7 0-0 16, Cody McGraw 0 0-0 0, Andrew Hammersley 1 0-0 2, Jacoby Passmore 5 2-2 12, Nick Rosenquist 0 0-0 0, Tanner Stanz 2 1-2 5, Andrew Stanton 0 0-0 0, Jack Daley 4 0-0 9. Totals 20 11-14 55
Corry 10 11 13 10 -44
Warren 7 15 14 19 -55
3-pointers: C-Wood 1, Dennis 1, Eck 1, Haenel 1, Shrecengost 1. W-Austin Schwanke 1, Collin Fantaskey 2, Jack Daley 1.
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Eisenhower 45, Linesville 34
LINESVILLE - It was a playoff atmosphere, and Eisenhower's boys basketball team stepped up its game.
The Knights outscored Linesville 22-10 in the fourth quarter en route to a 45-34 Region 3 win on Friday at Linesville High School.
The win puts Eisenhower and Linesville in a tie for second place in the region, both with 4-4 record behind region champ Cochranton.
How that plays out in the District 10 Class A playoffs will be determined later this weekend, but both teams are all but in a probable six-team playoff format.
"We wanted to go in thinking it was a must-win game," said Eisenhower assistant coach Jacoby Curtis. The Knights lost to Linesville, 54-47, earlier this season at Eisenhower High School.
This time, it was defense all the way.
"We kept up the defensive intensity the entire game," said Curtis.
Eisenhower jumped out to an 11-2 first-quarter lead, but trailed 24-23 after three quarters.
Curtis said "(Aaron) Lundmark hit some big shots down the stretch."
Lundmark had eight fourth-quarter points, including two 3-pointers, and finished with 18 points for the game. Josh Deppas added another big 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, in which Eisenhower took control midway through the stanza. Deppas and Colin Shine scored eight points each in the win.
Eisenhower (13-9 overall) will find out its first-round playoff opponent by Sunday night. Linesville is 11-11 overall.
EISENHOWER (45): Josh Deppas 2 2-5 8, Aaron Lundmark 5 6-10 18, Colin Shine 2 3-4 8, Nate O'Brien 1 2-4 4, Andrew Onoratti 0 2-2 2, Ryan Williams 1 1-2 3, Joe Rutsky 1 0-0 2, Totals 12 16-27 45.
LINESVILLE (34): Schaef 3 5-8 11, Uplinger 4 4-6 12, Merritt 2 0-0 4, Martini 1 2-3 4, Benfield 1 0-2 3. Totals 11 11-22 34.
Eisenhower 11 3 9 22 -45
Linesville 2 10 12 10 - 34
3-pointers: E-Deppas 2, Lundmark 2, Shine; L-Benfield.
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Union City 67, Youngsville 47
Youngsville's season finale against Union City Friday at Youngsville High School ended like every other boys basketball game this season.
With a loss.
Despite a valiant effort while playing shorthanded, the Eagles completed the campaign at 0-19 after a 67-47 loss to the Bears. Dating back to December 29, 2010, the Eagles have now dropped 34 consecutive games and 48 of 49.
"It was a tremendous effort," said Youngsville coach Ray Neidrick whose team played without usual starters Tom Chapman and James Frazier. "It was a great crowd and we love the support we've gotten all season. I just wish we could've pulled this one out."
Union City stretched the lead to 10 points late in the second quarter, but the Eagles closed the half on a 6-0 run. Broc Horn's 3-pointer just before the final buzzer got the Eagles within four at 30-26 at halftime.
However, the third quarter was again a killer for the Eagles.
Union City knocked down three 3-pointers, the Eagles turned the ball over on six straight possessions and the Bears turned the four-point edge into a 47-32 lead.
Horn led the Eagles with 19 points and Coll Dininny joined him in double figures with 12 points. Dan McLaughlin added a career-best six points and Rocco Gatta and Collin Lehnen added five points each.
Youngsville also dropped the junior varsity game, 56-17. Dacoda Buchanan led the Eagles with six points.
UNION CITY (67): Burgess 7 4-5 18, Mangol 3 2-2 8, Hoben 6 5-6 22, Pituch 1 4-4 6, Russell 0 2-5 2, Ossa 4 3-8 11, Totals: 21 20-30 67
YOUNGSVILLE (47): Broc Horn 6 4-6 19, Rocco Gatta 2 0-0 5, Coll Dininny 6 0-0 12, Dan McLaughlin 3 0-2 6, Collin Lehnen 2 0-0 5, Corey Jones 0 0-0 0, Nick Barrett 0 0-0 0, Dacoda Buchanan 0 0-0 0, Trevor Flinn 0 0-0 0, Levi Ecelberger 0 0-0 0, Totals: 19 4-8 47
Union City 19 11 17 20 - 67
Youngsville 10 16 6 15 - 47
3-pointers: U- Hoben 5; Y- Horn 3, Gatta, Lehnen
Junior varsity game
UNION CITY (56): Daggett 3 1-2 8, Schneider 0 0-3 0, Daley 5 0-1 10, Maynard 2 1-1 5, Jackson 1 0-2 2, Ossa 7 2-4 17, Rogers 2 4-9 8, Pituch 1 4-8 6, Totals: 21 12-30 56
YOUNGSVILLE (17): Trevor Flinn 1 0-0 3, Ben Frederick 0 0-0 0, Dacoda Buchanan 2 2-5 6, Jeremy Niemeyer 0 0-0 0, Levi Ecelberger 1 0-1 2, Brandon Lake 0 0-2 0, Zack Sanford 0 3-5 3, Andrew Tyers 1 0-0 2, Austin Norman 0 0-0 0, Dan McLaughlin 0 0-0 0, Corey Jones 0 0-0 0, Totals: 5 6-14 17
Union City 14 16 13 13 - 56
Youngsville 1 9 3 4 - 17
3-pointers: U- Daggett, Ossa; Y- Flinn