The result was a much-needed 50-44 win over visiting Cochranton Friday.

“It’s good to get that win off our back,” Eisenhower coach Ryan Williams said. “We’ve got the tough part of our schedule out of the way. Now we should start to feel more comfortable against our opponents and put a winning streak together.”

The Knights looked fairly comfortable early on against the Cardinals as they raced out to a 14-2 lead through the game’s first five minutes. Jaydon Hayes and Tajah Warren scored all of Eisenhower’s 14 points in the frame, but the duo had to leave late due to foul trouble and the Cardinals took advantage. Cochranton closed out the quarter on a 6-0 run to close the gap to 14-8 after the first eight minutes.

“Those two are our most important players on both sides of the floor,” Williams said. “The other guys have to learn to make plays because they are going to get in foul trouble.”

Cyrus Hazeltine stepped up for Eisenhower in the second quarter, knocking down a pair of threes to push the lead to 25-14.

“Cyrus played well off the bench,” Williams said.

The Knights had what looked like a comfortable 27-18 lead at halftime, but the Cardinals came out more assertive in the second half. Alex McKay and Kohl Bernarding hit a pair of three-pointers to cut the Eisenhower lead to 29-28.

Eisenhower was trying to slow the tempo a bit and run its half court offense in the second half.

“We keep telling the guys it’s Pennsylvania and there’s no shot clock,” Williams said. “Not that we’re trying to stall, but we want to make sure at times that we’re getting a beautiful look before we shoot.”

Cochranton took its first lead of the game just before the quarter expired as a steal led to an easy transition layup.

Hayes opened the fourth quarter with a three-point play to retake the lead for Eisenhower. Both teams struggled to connect from the field, but Hayes continued to drive to the basket and draw fouls. He missed a free throw with Eisenhower up 40-37, Cochranton rebounded, but Warren shot a hand in and poked the ball over to Hazeltine who was promptly fouled. Hazeltine hit both his free throws to give the Knights a 42-37 advantage with just over a minute to go.

“We switched Jaydon’s position and put him in a spot where he could score,” Williams said.

Hayes had a game-high 22 points, while Warren added 11 and Hazeltine 10 for the Knights.

Bernarding was the only Cardinal to hit double figures, scoring 21 points.

The Knights travel to Corry Wednesday and Thursday to take part in the Beavers’ Christmas Tournament.

– – –

COCHRANTON (44)

Bernarding 7-6-10-21, Freyermuth 2-0-0-4, Greenlee 1-1-4-3, McKay 3-0-0-8, Fox 1-2-2-4, Snedeker 1-0-0-2, Miller 0-0-0-0, Sekerski 1-0-0-2, Suder 0-0-2-0

EISENHOWER (50)

Smelko 0-0-0-0, Myer 1-2-2-4, Z. Fincher 1-1-2-3, Warren 5-1-4-11, Venman 0-0-3-0, Hayes 8-6-9-22, Hazeltine 3-2-4-10

By Quarters

Cochranton 8 10 12 14 – 44

Eisenhower 14 13 2 21 – 50

Three-point FGs: Cochranton (3) – Fox (2), Bernarding; Eisenhower (2) – Hazeltine (2)

– – –

JV COCHRANTON 53, EISENHOWER 45

Cochranton defeated Eisenhower, 53-45, in the junior varsity game.

Owen Trumbell led the Knights with nine points. Jared Martone had eight points and Caleb Robinault added seven in the loss.

Alex Jackson led a trio of Cardinals in double figures with 16 points. Jon Gallo had 15 and Justin Wagner had 12 in the win.

– – –

COCHRANTON (53)

Dunn 1-2-6-4, Gallo 6-0-0-15, Jackson 7-2-2-16, Dunleavy 0-0-2-0, Wagner 4-2-5-12, Walker 1-0-0-3, Kenny 1-0-0-3

EISENHOWER (45)

Alexander 3-0-4-6, Smelko 2-1-4-6, Williams 2-1-2-5, Rohlin 1-0-0-2, Trumbell 3-3-3-9, Martone 3-2-2-8, Robinault 3-0-0-7, Beers 1-0-0-2

By Quarters

Cochranton 20 14 12 7 – 53

Eisenhower 18 15 6 6 – 45

Three-point FGs: Cochranton (7) – Gallo (3), Wagner (2), Walker, Kenny; Eisenhower (2) – Smelko, Robinault

– – –

TCCS 50, SHEFFIELD 46

In close games, free throws are often the difference between winning and losing.

Tidioute was able to connect on four free throws late in the fourth quarter to seal a 50-46 win over Sheffield Friday.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 13-5 lead in the first quarter and held a 33-23 advantage at the half. The Wolverines regrouped at halftime and closed the gap to 40-37 after three periods of play.

“We started real well, started strong,” Tidioute coach Terry Cotterman. “They made some adjustments (at halftime).”

Tidioute’s defensive game plan was to shut down Sheffield’s Cale Albaugh. The Bulldogs essentially did just that, holding the senior forward to just nine points on the night.

Tidioute, meanwhile, had a strong three-point shooting performance, knocking down eight shots from behind the arc.

“We tried to get the ball inside,” Cotterman said. “It wasn’t there and they kicked the ball out to the guards and they were stepping up and hitting.”

Julian Gillenwater and Patrick Shield each connected on three three-pointers. Gillenwater had a game-high 17 points, while Shield had nine points, seven rebounds and six blocks.

Luke Davidson led Sheffield with 13 points and Matt Dunham added eight.

TCCS is off until after the new year.

Sheffield hosts its annual Christmas Tournament Wednesday and Thursday.

– – –

SHEFFIELD (46)

Dunham 4-0-0-8, Albaugh 4-1-1-9, Davidson 4-5-13, Hepinger 0-2-2-2, McGraw 1-3-3-5, McNeal 0-2-2-2, Kyler 3-0-0-7

TCCS (50)

Kennedy 1-1-3, Williams 3-2-2-10, Sheild 3-0-0-9, Beasey 4-3-11, Gillenwater 6-2-17

By Quarters

Sheffield 5 18 14 9 – 46

TCCS 13 20 7 10 – 50

Three-point FGs: Sheffield (1) – Kyler; TCCS (8) – Williams (2), Sheild (3), Gillenwater (3)

– – –

JV TCCS 34, SHEFFIELD 31

Tidioute defeated Sheffield, 34-31, in the junior varsity contest.

– – –

SHEFFIELD (31)

Johnson 3-0-0-6, Tyler 5-2-13, Vinopal 1-0-3, McNeal 3-3-9

TCCS (34)

Belou 2-0-5, Klos 4-0-0-11, Altman 1-0-0-2, Magva 4-1-9, Kennedy 1-0-0-2, Reese 1-1-3, Smith 1-0-0-2

By Quarters

Sheffield 12 2 9 8 – 31

TCCS 9 5 7 13 – 34

Three-point FGs: Sheffield (2) – Kyler, Vinopal; TCCS (4) – Belou, Klos (3)

CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS 76, YOUNGSVILLE 34

CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS – Youngsville fell to Region 3 powerhouse Cambridge Springs 76-34 on Friday.

Brady Olewine led the Eagles with seven points.

– – –

YOUNGSVILLE (34)

Mack 1-0-0-2, McAvoy 0-0-2-0, Bower 1-0-0-3, Peterson 1-0-2-3, Hendrickson 2-1-1-5, Myers 1-0-0-2, Ecelberger 1-0-0-2, Wilson 0-0-0-0, Olewine 3-0-0-7, Dell 0-0-0-0, Mercado 1-0-0-2, Proctor 2-1-1-6

CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS (76)

Taylor 8-1-2-17, Turner 0-0-0-0, Welker 7-1-1-15, Babb 2-0-0-4, Kurt 1-3-4-7, Reisnauer 5-0-1-11, Shinsky 1-0-0-2, Wheeler 2-0-0-4, Eakin 3-2-2-8

By Quarters

Youngsville 7 5 8 14 – 34

Cambridge Springs 28 22 17 9 – 76

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