Mustangs crush Scotties, 82-39
Southmoreland was in the bonus in the first quarter and Laurel Highlands had starters Kaleb Ramsey, Mike Iannamorelli and John Shull on the bench in the second quarter with two fouls each, but it was Mustangs who pulled away instead on their way to an easy 82-39 Section 3-AAA victory Friday at home. The Scotties trailed by five points at the end of the first quarter, but the deficit increased to 16 at the half at a time when Southmoreland coach Harry Bowser felt his team had an opportunity to make a run.
“We were shooting the bonus in the first quarter. Instead of being tough and aggressive, we became soft and backed away,” said Bowser. “The offense was opening things up, but we weren’t making the pass or we missed the passes.”
The numbers bear Bowser out. After making 5-of-6 free throws in the first quarter, Southmoreland shot only two in the second stanza, missing both opportunities.
With the trio of Mustangs on the bench in the second quarter, three able bodies filled the gap to score 17 of the 19 points in the quarter. Ron Fudala and Jonathan Eicher both scored six with starting guard Brian Grady adding five more.
The second quarter demonstrated the dilemma Laurel Highlands coach Rick Hauger has had to deal with.
“Obviously, Kaleb is a very good player. He has to develop the realization that he’s a lot more valuable to us on the court than he is on the bench by me,” said Hauger. “We’re digging ourselves into a hole with early fouls that could be avoided by playing defense we should be.
“But, (the early foul trouble) builds up your depth. We’re playing a lot of young kids who have competed well and done a nice job. We want to establish a 7-, 8-, 9-man rotation we could utilize. We want to make the moves we can make, not that we have to make.”
Ramsey and Iannamorelli returned in the third quarter, and didn’t miss a beat. Ramsey scored eight points while Iannamorelli added seven. Eicher had another 6-point quarter while Shull accounted for the last four points of the 25-point quarter.
The Scotties (1-4, 4-5) had their best scoring quarter of the game with 14, but fell further behind at 62-35 after three quarters.
Both coaches began to empty their benches for the fourth quarter, and the Mustangs finished the game as they started with a 20-4 advantage.
Eicher led the way for the Mustangs with 14 points. Ramsey scored 12 while Ron Fudala and Nick Thomas adding 10 apiece. Billy Geyer led Southmoreland with 18 points.
Laurel Highlands improved to 2-3 in the section and 2-6 overall while the Scotties fell to 1-4 in the section and 4-5 overall.
Bowser felt the Mustangs are better than their record would indicate.
“I knew Laurel Highlands would not stay winless all year. They don’t have a bad team,” said Bowser. “This season has been a roller coaster ride, and I’m seasick.”
Hauger complemented the competition, as well.
“They’re aggressive players. Their three bigger guys were aggressive to the boards. We have to learn to put a body on someone,” said Hauger. “I can see the improvement game-by-game, but I can still see a great deal of improvements we need to realize to be consistent.”