Laurel Highlands knocks off Yough
Now that Laurel Highlands has wrapped up victory No. 1, a playoff berth can’t be too far behind, right? Even the most hopeful person might not venture that far, but Mustangs coach Rick Hauger will wade as deep as possible into the sea of optimism without appearing all wet.
Laurel Highlands knocked off Yough, 69-52, Tuesday night in Section 3-AAA action at Harold “Horse” Taylor Memorial Gymnasium, and the Mustangs’ performance was enough to help Hauger forget the team’s 0-6 start, if just for a moment.
“We still have to play the games one at a time, but the reality of our section is that after Greensburg Salem, there’s a lot of parody from top to bottom,” Hauger said.
Junior Kaleb Ramsey tossed in a game-high 35 points, all but 10 coming in the first half.
It was with Ramsey on the bench, however, that Laurel Highlands took control of the game midway through the third quarter.
With the score knotted at 39 at halftime, the Mustangs opened the third period with an 8-2 run, and after a Ramsey eight-foot bank shot gave LH a 47-41 lead, Yough coach Ed Marko called a timeout with 4:18 left in the quarter.
Hauger decided to sit Ramsey, who had three fouls, but Laurel Highlands continued to roll, outscoring the Cougars, 11-1, over the next 3:47.
“Kaleb draws everybody’s attention; he’s the focal point, that’s for sure,” Hauger said. “Sometimes that’s good, sometimes it’s not. He was in a little foul trouble, but our kids moved the ball around better and we were a little more aggressive with the ball to the hoop.
“We also got the ball out on the break and created some positive situations for ourselves. While there’s no question the kids did a good job tonight, it’s not a situation we want to get into too often.”
Laurel Highlands guard Eric Fudala didn’t play Tuesday night, and is out for the season after tearing an ACL against Mount Pleasant last Friday.
Hauger did receive very encouraging news earlier this month concerning Ramsey. The 6-foot-4 forward was once slated to end his season early to have surgery on his right shoulder, but according to Hauger, Ramsey will now wait until the Mustangs finish their season to have the operation.
Ramsey scored 14 points in the first quarter, as Laurel Highlands led by as many as 10 points before Yough stormed back to tie the game at 19. With the Cougars leading 32-27 midway through the second period, Ramsey scored the Mustangs’ next nine points to cut LH’s deficit to 37-36.
Brian Grady’s three-pointer put Laurel Highlands ahead, 39-37, with 27 seconds left in the half, before Andrew McCauley tied the game with a pair of free throws with 13 seconds to go.
McCauley paced Yough with 18 points, followed by Craig Sedunov’s 16.
Nick Thomas added 11 for LH.
Marko declined to comment on the game, instead saying, “go talk to their (LH) coach and their two officials.”
For the game, Yough shot 31 free throws to Laurel Highlands’ 11.
“Basketball is a difficult game to officiate,” Hauger said. “I’m quite sure if we shot 20 more foul shots than the other team … I’ll accept that any day.”
Laurel Highlands hosts Southmoreland Friday before taking a break from section play.