Sheffield got out to an early 8-0 lead before Saegertown called a momentum-stalling timeout that allowed the Panthers to regroup. The well-timed decision presented good results for Saegertown as it was able to battle back within three at the end of the first quarter, 17-14.

“We lost a lot of energy coming out of the timeout for sure,” said Sheffield head coach Jordan Copley. “I don’t wanna make excuses, and I’m not making excuses. It’s hard to play one game in a day, let alone two games. Physically they were drained.”

Sheffield started strong again in the second quarter, with a Leihden Wotorson steal and easy layup, a Dylan Hardwick 3, and another Wotorson basket, giving the Wolverines a 24-17 lead. Saegertown was able to fight back and take advantage of some Sheffield errors, to take their first lead of the game, 25-24, with two and a half minutes remaining in the half. The Wolverines were unable to capitalize on several free-throw opportunities in the final two minutes, going into halftime down 31-26.

“I think honestly with physical fatigue comes mental fatigue,” said Copley. “I can tell the amount of turnovers they created on us in the first and second quarters, and even down the stretch made the difference and we weren’t as strong as we should have been.”

Times Observer Photo by Cody Elms Sheffield’s Connor Finch dives for the ball Saturday evening in a 72-56 loss to Saegertown during Sheffield’s annual Tip-Off Tournament.

The third quarter was not kind to the Wolverines, as they gave up 21 points, while only putting up six themselves, all by Connor Finch. Sheffield entered the final quarter down 52-32. The Wolverines pulled within seven after a Lucas McNeal 3 and two hard-fought Hardwick baskets. With just over a minute and a half remaining, Sheffield tried to create rebound opportunities with intentional fouls, but the Wolverines were not able to shorten the lead by anything more than seven, before a litany of free-throw attempts allowed Panthers to pull away. Sheffield outscored Saegertown 24-20 in the fourth.

“We made some mistakes, we had some young guys out there in certain situations, and you gotta expect mistakes when you have young guys out there, but that’s how they’re going to learn and become better as well. Listen, they played great. I can’t ask for anything more. To be down 20, to cut that to seven the way they did was excellent. I can’t ask for more. I’m super proud of them.”

Connor Finch had a monster game with 25 points and 14 rebounds for Sheffield. Saegertown’s Collin Jones put up 18, going 8 of 10 from the line in the fourth quarter. Brady Greco led the Panthers with 21 points.

“It’s easy to lay down, but these kids have heart. They want to win. They want to be in these games. Not every game is going to be easy, they understand that, and in the past we have been known to lay down, but in the foreseeable future these kids don’t have that. They want to win games.”

In Sheffield’s first match up on the day against North Clarion, Leihden Wotorson hit four 3-pointers and led the Wolverines with 16 points. Lucas McNeal put up 11 and Connor Finch scored 10.

Times Observer Photo by Cody Elms Sheffield’s Lucas McNeal goes high during an up-and-down loss to visiting Saegertown.

Sheffield 51, North Clarion 40

SHEFFIELD (51)

Wotorson 2 0-0 16, McNeal 3 2-2 11, Finch 5 0-3 10, Hardwick 2 1-2 5, Eaton 0 0-0 3, Silvis 1 0-0 2, Richards 1 0-0 2, Barr 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 3-7 51.

NORTH CLARION (40)

Hartle 6 1-3 17, Castner 2 4-5 11, Watterson 2 3-4 7, Carll 1 0-1 5. Totals 11 8-13 40.

3-point goals–Wotorson 4, McNeal, Hardwick, Eaton, Hartle, Carll, Castner.

Sheffield 6 17 18 10 — 51

North Clarion 9 13 10 8 — 40

Saegertown 72, Sheffield 51

SAEGERTOWN (72)

Greco 7 1-2 21, Jones 4 10-12 18, Yoder 5 1-1 14, Zirkle 3 1-2 7, Shaffer 2 2-3 6, Huson 1 2-2 4, Wilkinson 0 2-2 2. Totals 22 19-23 72.

SHEFFIELD (51)

Finch 10 5-7 25, McNeal 4 2-2 13, Wotorson 3 3-5 9, Hardwick 2 0-0 7, Silvis 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 10-12 51.

3-point goals–Greco 2, Yoder, McNeal, Hardwick.

Saegertown 14 17 21 20 — 72

Sheffield 17 9 6 24 — 51