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Hepinger scores career-high 38, Sheffield gets first league win since 2017 at DuBois CC

Sheffield’s Tyler Hepinger shoots a free throw during the first half of Monday’s game against Otto-Eldred. Hepinger finished with a game-high 19 points for the Wolverines.

DuBOIS, Pa. –Sheffield held DuBois Central Catholic to just five fourth quarter points en route to a 67-42 victory.

The win was the Wolverines’ first league win since 2017. Tyler Hepinger had a double-double with 38 points and 10 steals to lead Sheffield.

“We’ve really been coming together lately,” Sheffield coach Mike Knapp said. “This (league win) was long overdue. We played well as a team and shared the ball with each other.”

The Wolverines led by just one at the half, 25-24, but outscored the Cardinals 25-13 in the third and 17-5 in the fourth to put the game away. Hepinger came up big in the fourth quarter.

“He scored everything for us in the fourth,” Knapp said. “They kept fouling him and he made the free throws. They tried to box-and-1 him, but we’ve had him practicing against that all year. When they did take him away, Connor Johnson stepped up and hit a big field goal and a big 3-pointer.”

The offensive outburst put DuBois CC in a bit of a panic mode as the Cardinals started settling for long distance jumpers.

“They got more desperate,” Knapp said. “We were real effective at making them take a lot of tough 2-point shots and didn’t give them extra shots, especially in the fourth quarter.”

Tony Richards had 12 points, including a pair of early threes that kept the Wolverines close. Jake Vinopal had six points and eight rebounds and Lucas McNeal dished out eight assists. Hepinger nearly finished with a triple double with seven rebounds.

Sheffield hosts Johnsonburg Monday.

“They’re one of the best teams in the league,” Knapp said. “But we’re starting to believe we can play with anybody if we play the right way.”

DuBois CC won the junior varsity contest, 40-35. Johnson had 15 points in the loss.

——

Sheffield (67)

Kyler 1-0-0-2, Richards 5-0-0-12, Hepinger 13-8-9-38, M. McNeal 1-0-0-2, L. McNeal 1-0-0-2, Vinopal 3-0-0-6, Johnson 2-0-0-5, Total 26-8-9-67

DuBois CC (42)

Foster 2-2-2-8, Kress 5-0-0-13, Starr 1-1-2-4, Kosko 1-2-4-4, Lorenway 4-1-2-9, Mandic 1-0-0-3, Armanini 0-1-2-1, Total 14-7-12-42

By Quarters

Sheffield 15 10 25 17 – 67

DCC 15 9 13 5 – 42

3-point FGs: Sheffield (7)-Hepinger 4, Richards 2, Johnson. DuBois CC (7)-Kress 3, Foster 2, Mandic 1.

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