The Knights turned an 8-point first quarter into a 60-19 Region 3 win over Saegertown at the John M. Niese Memorial gymnasium.

“We came out like zombies,” Eisenhower coach Ryan Williams said. “We were not ready right away.”

Saegertown (2-8, 1-3 Region 3) came out in a modified zone defense to start the game, and it took most of the first quarter for Eisenhower (4-5, 2-1) to adjust. The teams combined for just five points through the first five minutes of the game.

“We’re not strong against the zone,” Williams said.

Eisenhower’s Cyrus Hazeltine is fouled while driving for a basket during a game against Saegertown at Eisenhower High School, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018. The Knights defeated the Panthers 60-19.

The Knights started creating turnovers late in the period and Taj Warren completed a three-point play to give Eisenhower an 8-3 lead after the first eight minutes.

Alex Fincher opened the second with a layup, but Raif Rhoades quickly answered with a three to cut the lead to 10-6. Ross Venman then turned a steal into a breakaway basket and Jaydon Hayes hit a three to make it 15-6 and the Knights were off and running.

“Our defense leads to our offense,” Williams said. “We finally turned it on (in the second).”

Eisenhower led 25-7 at the half, and came out on fire to start the third quarter. Warren stole the ball at midcourt and raced in for an easy bucket and Zack Fincher followed with a three to push the lead to 30-7 in the first minute. The Knights took advantage of nearly every scoring opportunity they created in the third, scoring 23 points in the frame.

“We woke up a bit,” Williams said. “They just wanted it in the third.”

Hayes had a game-high 24 points, while Warren added 13. Only three Eisenhower players failed to register a point in the game as Williams was able to empty the bench and get young players critical varsity minutes.

“It’s giving some guys confidence. (The young players) need to play against better competition, it’s great for them,” he said.

Eisenhower travels to Union City Friday for another Region 3 matchup.

– – –

SAEGERTOWN (19)

Chess 3-0-1-8, Rhoades 1-0-0-3, Draa 2-2-4-6, Bamer 0-0-1-0, Barnes 0-0-0-0, Siple 0-0-0-0, Sherry 0-0-0-0, Ingram 0-0-0-0, Hayes 0-0-0-0, DeJohn 0-0-0-0, Lilly 0-0-0-0, Jones 0-0-0-0, Cummings 0-0-0-0, Merkel 0-0-0-0, Filley 0-0-0-0, Frazier 0-0-0-0

EISENHOWER (60)

N. Smelko 1-0-0-2, Myer 1-0-0-2, Z. Fincher 1-0-0-3, Warren 5-3-4-13, Venman 1-0-0-2, Hayes 8-6-9-24, Williams 1-0-0-2, A. Fincher 1-0-0-2, Trumbell 0-2-2-2, Hazeltine 1-2-4-4, Martone 0-2-4-2, Robinault 1-0-0-2, Alexander 0-0-0-0, L. Smelko 0-0-0-0, Beers 0-0-0-0

By Quarters

Saegertown 3 4 7 5 – 19

Eisenhower 8 17 23 13 – 60

Three-point FGs: Saegertown (3) – Chess (2), Rhoades; Eisenhower (3) – Hayes (2), Z. Fincher

– – –

JV EISENHOWER 29, SAEGERTOWN 27

The junior varsity contest looked like the team with the final shot would win. Eisenhower inbounded the ball with 10 seconds left and got it to Owen Trumbell under the basket.

Trumbell was unable to get a shot off, but he was fouled with 0.9 seconds remaining and the Knights in the bonus. He stepped to the line and buried both free throws to give Eisenhower a 29-27 win over Saegertown.

Trumbell had a team high 10 points in the win.

– – –

SAEGERTOWN (27)

Barnes 2-0-2-5, Merkel 1-0-0-3, Fuller 5-1-1-15, Ingram 1-0-0-2, Cummings 1-0-0-2, Jones 0-0-0-0, Barner 0-0-0-0, DeJohn 0-0-0-0, Hayes 0-0-0-0, Lilly 0-0-0-0, Frazier 0-0-0-0

EISENHOWER (29)

Alexander 1-0-1-2, L. Smelko 1-0-1-2, Williams 0-0-1-0, Trumbell 2-6-10-10, Martone 2-1-3-5, Robinault 1-0-0-3, Jones 3-0-0-6, Beers 0-1-2-1, Rohlin 0-0-0-0, Pollard 0-0-0-0, Gray 0-0-0-0, Schwanke 0-0-0-0

By Quarters

Saegertown 7 6 10 4 – 27

Eisenhower 5 7 8 9 – 29

Three-point FGs: Saegertown (4) – Fuller (2), Barnes, Merkel; Eisenhower (1) – Robinault

– – –

COCHRANTON 71, YOUNGSVILLE 42

COCHRANTON – Cochranton showed why it will be one of the teams to beat in Region 3 with a 72-41 win over visiting Youngsville Wednesday.

The Cardinals (8-4, 3-1 Region 3) turned a seven point halftime lead into a 20-point advantage by the end of the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

Youngsville (1-8, 0-3) kept pace with their hosts through the first half, limiting the high-powered Cardinal offense to just 28 points. The Eagles were unable to contain the Cardinals in the second half, yielding 46 points over the final 16 minutes.

“We are improving,” Youngsville coach Jesse DeLoof said. “The biggest thing right now is that we need to play with the same focus and effort for 32 minutes.”

Kohl Bernarding led a trio of Cardinals in double figures with a game-high 22 points. Colton Greenlee and Tanner Fox added 12 points each in the win.

Gage Hendrickson was the only Youngsville player to reach double digits with 12 points. Joe Mack added nine and Timber Bower had eight for the Eagles.

Youngsville hosts Iroquois Friday.

– – –

YOUNGSVILLE (41)

Mack 4-0-0-9, Hendrickson 5-2-2-12, Bower 3-2-2-8, McAvoy 1-0-0-2, Procter 1-0-0-2, Myers 2-0-0-4, Ecelberger 2-0-0-4, Peterson 0-0-0-0, Olewine 0-0-0-0, Dell 0-0-0-0, Mercado 0-0-0-0, Wilson 0-0-0-0

COCHRANTON (72)

Bernarding 8-5-9-22, Freyermuth 3-0-0-6, Greenlee 5-2-3-12, Fox 4-1-2-12, Snedeker 1-0-0-3, Miller 2-2-3-6, Sekerski 4-0-0-8, Gallo 1-0-0-2, Suder 0-1-2-1, Walker 0-0-0-0, Kenney 0-0-0-0, Morris 0-0-0-0, Dunn 0-0-0-0, Wagner 0-0-0-0 Duleavy 0-0-0-0

By Quarters

Youngsville 7 14 12 8 – 41

Cochranton 8 20 25 19 – 72

Three-point FGs: Youngsville (1) – Mack; Cochranton (5) – Fox (3), Berna

rding, Snedeker

– – –

BROOKVILLE 63,

SHEFFIELD 51

Sheffield stepped out of AML play for a non-league battle with Brookville and dropped a 63-51 decision to the Raiders on Wednesday.

The free throw line proved to be a big difference in the game, as the Raiders scored 14 points from the line compared to just three for Sheffield.

“We knew they were going to be tough,” said Sheffield coach Mike Knapp. “They’re big. We came out and played well. The kids have worked really hard on the things we’ve been stressing in practice.”

Aaron Park led four players in double figures for Sheffield with 19 points.

Cale Albaugh paced Sheffield with 13 points, while Matt Dunham had nine points, six assists and three steals and Luke Davidson seven points and 10 rebounds.

“They continue to play hard and respond positively to what we’re teaching them,” noted Knapp.

Sheffield returns to action on Saturday at Oswayo Valley.

– – –

BROOKVILLE (63)

Park 8-3-4-19, Dworek 4-3-4-11, Gihouben 5-0-0-11, Caylor 4-5-5-14, Keth 0-1-2-1, Krug 2-0-0-4, Baughman 0-0-0-0, Byerly 0-1-4-1, Cable 1-1-2-3

SHEFFIELD (51)

Dunham 4-0-0-9, Albaugh 6-0-0-13, Davidson 3-1-1-7, Camp 3-0-0-8, Kyler 2-0-0-6, Hepinger 2-2-2-6, Filegar 1-0-0-2,

By Quarters

Brookville 20 10 16 17 – 63

Sheffield 13 11 13 14 – 51

– – –

VENANGO CHRISTIAN 49,

TIDIOUTE 32

OIL CITY – Venango Christian shut out Tidioute Charter in the fourth quarter on its way to a 49-32 win Wednesday.

VC only had a 36-32 lead heading into the final frame.

“We were a step behind the whole game,” Tidioute coach Terry Cotterman said. “We got to the fourth and just couldn’t get shots to go at all.”

Jared Veasey had a double-double for the Bulldogs with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Patrick Shields had eight rebounds and five blocks while Ryan Williams added 10 points in the loss.

The Bulldogs travel to Union Monday.

– – –

TCCS (32)

Gillenwater 2-0-0-6, Williams 4-0-0-10, Veasey 7-2-2-16

VENANGO CHRISTIAN (49)

Puleo 6-6-6-18, Girillist 2-1-1-5, Black 5-3-3-17, Birday 2-0-0-6, Fink 0-1-1-1, Crockett 1-0-0-2

By Quarters

TCCS 10 6 16 0 – 32

VC 11 14 11 13 – 49

Three-point FGs: TCCS (4) – Gillenwater (2), Williams (2); VC (6) – Black (4), Birday (2)

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