H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL: Schuylkill Haven outlasts Marian to move on to District 11 2A Championship
· Yahoo Sports
ORWIGSBURG — Schuylkill Haven fought off a late rally from Marian Catholic and squeaked out a 62-57 District 11 Class 2A boys’ basketball playoff win at Blue Mountain on Wednesday.
Max Heim blocked a pair of shots and finished the game at the free throw line alongside Justin Watcher as the pair combined for 14 points in the second half for Schuylkill Haven’s (16-8) five-point win.
Visit lej.life for more information.
“I’m the biggest guy out there on the court so you’ve got to have a presence,” Heim said. “I take pride in people knowing I play the game the right way.”
The Hurricanes advance to the District 11 2A Championship to take on Tri-Valley on Saturday at Martz Hall at 2:30 p.m.
Marian (10-13) took a 49-48 lead on a Gregory Tirpak three not long into the fourth quarter before Heim stepped up with his pair of blocks and Watcher closed the game at the free throw line for the win.
“It’s hard to beat a team three times in a season and we just knew we wanted to get out to a hot start,” Schuylkill Haven coach Fran Murphy said. “We have more than two guys you have to key in on.”
Watcher led the Hurricanes offense with 17 points while Brayden Diehl scored 15 points, Heim scored 11 points and Alan Evans scored 10. Heim led Schuylkill Haven on the boards with eight rebounds.
James Cannon banked in a layup to give Marian a 5-0 lead two minutes into the game. The Hurricanes then went on a 14-2 scoring run, started by a Diehl three as well as a Brady Kelly three for the 14-7 lead.
“In the first half I thought we did a great job of getting to the basket and building the lead,” Murphy said. “He (Heim) was a horse out there for us.”
Tirpak hit a three to bring Marian within a 16-16 knotted score over a minute into the second quarter. The Hurricanes surged to a 14-2 scoring run, led by Kelly and Heim layups, for the 30-18 lead.
Diehl hit a three and Schuylkill Haven took a 33-24 halftime lead.
“We play fast which forces other teams to play fast and make bad decisions and get quick turnovers and that’s what we thrived off all year,” Heim said. “When we go on these winning streaks we have really good defensive games.”
Marian dashed to a 10-2 scoring run to start the second half and were led by Jacob and Justin De La Cruz three-pointers as well as Tirpak and Cannon threes for a 38-35 lead.
“We build leads and give them back and we don’t always have to be settling for perimeter shots especially when you have a good lead,” Murphy said. “It sunk in during the second half.”
The Colts didn’t slow down as Tirpak hit a three to bring Marian back within a 47-43 deficit at the end of the third quarter.
Tirpak then opened the fourth quarter with a pair of three’s to put Marian ahead 49-48 not long into the fourth.
Diehl countered with a three for Schuylkill Haven and a layup for the 57-51 lead before Heim turned up for two blocks to keep it a six-point lead.
“We have five kids out there who can score and that’s really important in these kind of games,” Murphy said. “We’re a young team and all five guys can find ways to score.”
Jacob De La Cruz turned up for a steal and full court layup before Cannon knocked down a pair of free throws to knot it at 57-57. The Hurricanes finished the game on a 5-0 scoring run when Watcher got to the basket and drew fouls for the 62-57 win.
Tirpak led Marian with 20 points while Jacob De La Cruz and Cannon each scored 14 points. Tirpak brought in a team-high nine rebounds for the Colts.
MARIAN (57)— Tom 0 0-0 0, Justin De La Cruz 3 0-0 7, Jacob De La Cruz 6 0-0 14, Tirpak 7 1-2 20, Cannon 4 5-5 14, Shigo 0 0-0 0, Nunez 0 0-0 0, Paulino 0 0-0 0, Acosta 0 0-0 0, Rodino 0 0-0 0, Knock 0 2-2 2. Totals 20 8-9 57.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (62) — Evans 3 4-4 10, Diehl 6 0-2 15, Kelly 4 0-0 9, Watcher 4 8-11 17, Heim 4 3-6 11, Shafe 0 0-0 0, Lucas 0 0-0 0, Tracey 0 0-0 0, Shappell 0 0-0 0, Krammes 0 0-0 0, Bayer 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 15-24 62.
MAR (10-13) 12 12 19 19 — 57
SH (16-8) 16 17 14 10 — 62
3-FG: Jus. De La Cruz, Jac. De La Cruz 2, Tirpak 5, Cannon, Diehl 3, Kelly, Watcher