×

Big Reds end Knights’ season, 50-32

Eisenhower’s Jack Reynolds (0) draws contact under the basket during Friday’s playoff game against West Middlesex at Oil City High School.

OIL CITY — For the second year in a row, Eisenhower’s season was cut short in the District 10 Class 2A quarterfinals.

The Knights were plagued by turnovers in Friday’s 50-32 playoff loss to West Middlesex at Oil City High School. The decisive stretch of the game came in the second quarter, when the Big Reds went on an 11-0 run as Eisenhower struggled to break through the full-court press.

“I think it was more of what we didn’t do than what they did to us,” Ike coach Dave Allenson said of handling the West Middlesex pressure. “We were trying to throw the ball back and forth across the court — we had people down the court that were open, we just didn’t get them the ball.”

West Middlesex’s run took the score from a one-point deficit after the first quarter and stretched it to double digits before Jake Harvey hit a pair of free throws for Ike midway through the second. Several of the Big Reds’ points during that period came from forced turnovers at the front of the press.

“Ask any of them what to do when they catch the ball, they’re supposed to square up and look at the basket,” Allenson said. “We just weren’t doing that. If they had squared and looked at the basket, they might have seen the guy down along the sideline or the guy in the middle that was open. By throwing the ball back and forth, we did exactly what (West Middlesex) wanted us to do.”

Eisenhower’s Jake Harvey (23) dribbles while defended by West Middlesex’s Marshall Murray (5).

Thomas Warren scored on back-to-back possessions to make it a six-point game late in the second quarter, but West Middlesex’s Marshall Murray drew a foul with one second on the clock and hit both shots to send his team into the locker room with a 27-19 advantage.

Chase Staunch scored nine points to lead the Big Reds in the first half while Murray and Zach Long added eight each. Those three shouldered the load throughout the game after leading scorer Jace Burger found himself in early foul trouble.

Burger picked up his third foul 10 seconds into the third quarter and Warren took advantage with a driving layup and an and-one to keep the Knights within striking distance. Eisenhower trailed 39-28 after three, but that was as close as the Knights would get as West Middlesex closed out the win and rode into Tuesday’s semifinal round.

“Take away their foul shots and the easy baskets they got from the press, and I wasn’t totally unhappy with the way we played,” Allenson said. “I bet they had at least eight or nine points in the first half off that press. If you hold them without that they’re at 18, double that is 36 — I’d be happy with that game. It was their defense that made their offense run.”

Staunch finished with 17 points to lead all scorers with Murray and Long adding 12 each. Jaydon Hayes paced Eisenhower with 11 points and Warren chipped in 10.

Eisenhower’s Taj Warren (2) gets ahead of the West Middlesex defense for a breakaway layup during the second half of Friday’s district playoff game in Oil City.

Friday’s loss marked the end of the road for Ike’s three senior starters — Harvey, Warren and Jack Reynolds.

“It’s tough to put into words because I’ve spent a lot of time with all of them,” Allenson said. “Jack being my nephew — I’ve probably got the assist record at Eisenhower rebounding for him alone. And Thomas is Jack’s best friend, so I’ve been watching Thomas play since tee-ball. They’re great teammates, and Jake is just such a nice kid. You hate to lose anybody that has a personality like Jake does, and shoots the ball like he can.”

Regardless of what happens Tuesday, the Big Reds have extended their season to the state playoffs as one of the top four Class 2A teams out of District 10. Top-seeded Rocky Grove earned a 67-48 win over Iroquois in the second game at Oil City High School and will play West Middlesex in the semifinal round.

On the other side of the bracket, Region 3 Champion Cambridge Springs beat Maplewood 45-31 and Wilmington picked up a 65-52 win over Lakeview. Those teams will also meet Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.

D-10 Class 2A Quarterfinal

Jaydon Hayes (11) led Eisenhower with 11 points in Friday’s 50-32 loss to West Middlesex.

Eisenhower vs. West Middlesex

WEST MIDDLESEX (50): Hanahan 0 0-0 0, Staunch 3 10-13 17, Smith 0 0-0 0, C. Mild 2 1-3 5, Murray 3 4-4 12, Hoffman 1 0-0 2, Burger 1 0-0 2, Stasko 0 0-0 0, G. Mild 0 0-0 0, Davano 0 0-0 0, Long 5 2-6 12, Blaze 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 17-26 50.

EISENHOWER (32): Reynolds 0 2-2 2, Myer 0 0-0 0, Ta. Warren 0 2-2 2, Fincher 0 0-0 0, Hayes 4 3-8 11, Hazeltine 0 0-0 0, Johnson 1 0-0 2, Harvey 1 2-2 5, Smelko 0 0-0 0, Th. Warren 4 2-5 10. Totals 10 11-19 32.

West Middlesex 11 16 12 11 — 50

Eisenhower 10 9 9 4 — 32

3-pointers: Staunch (W) 1, Murray (W) 2, Harvey (E) 1.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today