Frazier fights back to defeat Mapletown
PERRYOPOLIS – Frazier showed off its balanced scoring attack and overcame a nine-point second-quarter deficit in a 62-54 win over Mapletown Wednesday night. It was the final tune-up before both teams enter Class A section play Friday, the Commodores in Section 3, the Maples in Section 2.
“We spread the scoring around,” said Frazier assistant coach Lew Sweitzer, who filled in for an ailing head coach Larry Mikesell. “We stress the team concept and if one guy gets hot, the others don’t think twice about getting him the ball.”
On this night, that translated to 16 points for Greg Johnson and 12 for Vince Conti, but all five starters scored five or more and the (6-4) Commodores got 13 points off the bench. Ethan Kovach led Mapletown with 25 points and the (2-9) Maples other four starters scored at least seven.
Mapletown coach Adam Checton was hired late, but seems pleased with how his team is playing as the Maples head into section play.
“I just told the team that in the last month, we’ve gotten a lot better,” Checton said. “They’re starting to play a good game for me. The effort has always been there, but we’re starting to play better.”
In fact, the Maples stretched an 18-15 quarter lead to nine points, 30-21 on Jake Shiflett’s three-pointer 2:45 before halftime. But the combination of Mapletown’s youth and Frazier’s defensive pressure led to a 14-0 Commodores run that put Frazier ahead, 35-30, early in the third quarter.
Frazier took the lead for good, 31-30, on a Tim Holt basket a minute before halftime.
“We woke up in the second quarter and got back in the game,” Sweitzer said. “We played them about even in the second half. That was the difference in the game, that run we got in the second quarter.”
“We’ve got to learn to hold leads like that,” Checton said. “But we’re young. We only have two seniors and one of them (Travis Menear) is out with a broken thumb. Their defensive pressure caused us to panic, but that’s what you get with young, inexperienced players.”
Early in the fourth quarter, the Maples sliced Frazier’s lead to a point, 47-46, on a Warren Dickerson free throw, but the Commodores responded again with a 10-point run.
“We had our chances,” Checton said. “But we didn’t take advantage. We didn’t win, but you can’t blame the effort. My guys are playing hard.”
“I think Mapletown is an up-and-coming team,” Sweitzer said. “They are playing hard for him and they’ll surprise some teams in their section.”
Frazier opens Section 3-A play Friday by hosting Trinity Christian, while Mapletown opens Section 2-A play at home against Carmichaels.