Scotties come up short in semis
ALVERTON – A shot at another berth in the WPIAL Class AA Track & Field Team Championship was on the line Wednesday afternoon when the opening runners of the 1,600 relay, the final event on the track, toed the starting line at Southmoreland. With all of the ifs and buts out of the way, Scotties needed to beat both Deer Lakes and Washington for tight victories over both teams and a spot in next week’s final. It was not to be for Southmoreland with both Deer Lakes and Washington finishing ahead of the Scotties.
Washington advances to the finals after defeating Southmoreland, 78-73, and Deer Lakes, 84-68. Deer Lakes salvaged a split with a 77-73 victory over the Scotties.
“I felt if we could give Dan Huygens in the anchor a chance, we’d have won it,” said Southmoreland boys coach Bill Schrecengost. “It was three evenly-matched teams. It seemed to be similar teams with similar overall strengths. They were the two better ones on the track today than we were.”
The brightest red flag for the Southmoreland hopes was raised when the Scotties were swept in all three relays by both teams.
“It’s tough to win a meet if you don’t win a relay,” said Schrecengost.
Schrecengost knew what had to be done as the meet wound down to a close.
“I knew what we had to do with four races to go,” explained Schrecengost. “We came through in the 3,200 and with the vaulters. This is the first time all three pole vaulters were over 10 feet.”
Behind the 1-2 punch of Kevin Snyder and Jim King, Southmoreland swept the 110 high hurdles from Washington and went first and second against Deer Lakes.
Against Deer Lakes, the Scotties outscored the Lancers in the 1,600 (5-4), 400 (8-1), 3,200 (5-4), discus (5-4), javelin (8-1) and pole vault (9-0). Southmoreland also swept the pole vault against Washington, outscoring the Prexies in the 100 (5-4), 400 (8-1), 300 intermediate hurdles (6-3), 200 (6-3), 3,200 (5-4), shot put (6-3) and javelin (5-4).
The Scotties’ Dan Huygens defeated all competitors in the 400 with a winning time of 52.1 seconds. Ben Poorbaugh won the shot put (43-6) against Washington and the discus (116-6) over Deer Lakes. Kevin Hagerman beat both teams with his throw of 146 feet, three inches in the javelin.
Deer Lakes swept the Scotties in the high jump while the Prexies did the same to Southmoreland in the 800.
Schrecengost and his staff weren’t able to find out much about Washington, the Section 5-AA champion, or Deer Lakes, the Section 6-AA champ, so the Scotties, the Section 3-AA co-champions with Mount Pleasant, came in blind.
“(Advance information) helps in some instances. You could move kids around,” said Schrecengost.
“It’s always been our strength to be a balanced team, but our overall depth is not as deep as it has been in the past. That seems to be the trend.”
Even with hindsight and the results sheets in hand, Schrecengost could only guess what might have happened if what should have happened, happened.
“I thought we’d score better in the triple jump against both teams,” said Schrecengost. “There were a couple of spots where people could’ve stepped up and didn’t, but you’ll have that in any meet.”
Now the Scotties will prepare for the WPIAL Class AA Individual Track & Field Championship northern regional at Mars on Tuesday, May 9. Schrecengost said his squad will respect the loss, but will be ready to individually shine.
“That’s a whole different ball game. (Losing in the playoffs) is always a letdown for them. We’ve always stressed the team,” said Schrecengost.
Southmoreland also hosted a Class AA girls team semifinal with Greensburg Central Catholic defeating Deer Lakes, 82-68, and Washington, 100½-48½, to advance to the finals. Deer Lakes beat Washington, 102-48.