Ganocy leads Mikes to third win over Gators
CARMICHAELS – For the third time in as many tries this season, Carmichaels defeated Geibel Catholic, as Jeremy Ganocy tossed in a season-high 24 points in a 66-33 victory Tuesday night in Section 2-A action. Joby Lapkowicz added 15 points and Ian McCombs 13, as the Mikes won for the 11th time in 12 games.
Trailing 5-2, Carmichaels (15-4, 7-2) outscored Geibel 18-0 over the last five minutes of the first quarter.
Then, with the Mikes leading by 14 points midway through the second quarter, the hosts scored the half’s final nine points and led comfortably, 35-12, at the break.
“We stress defense, and defense wears on you,” said long-time Carmichaels coach Don Williams. “Shooting comes and goes, but defense can be there every night if you have the heart and desire to do it.”
The Mikes forced 15 Geibel turnovers, and led by Ganocy’s 13 boards, held a 32-20 rebounding edge.
After the Gators’ Mark Gira connected on an early three-pointer, Geibel went 6:33 between field goals. Later in the second quarter, Mick Betler scored on a lay-up with 5:12 remaining in the half, but Geibel didn’t score another basket until the 1:38 mark of the third quarter.
By that time, Carmichaels had built a commanding 46-18 lead.
“This is probably one of the least experienced teams I’ve coached since I’ve been here,” said Gators coach Ken Misiak, who, like Williams, is one of the WPIAL’s longest tenured coaches.
“We didn’t have that nucleus to build around like we usually do after we lost four starters to graduation. But we’ll be back. Right now we’re struggling.”
Ganocy came into Tuesday’s contest averaging 16.1 points per game, and has now reached double digits in 17 of 18 games this season. As usual, the 6-foot-4 senior had a nose for the ball, and he came up big when called upon.
With time winding down in the first quarter, Ganocy gave Carmichaels a 20-5 lead when he scored on a putback with 5.4 seconds remaining. Then, Ganocy scored the first half’s final basket with a runner to give the Mikes a 23-point lead, and he did it again in the third quarter, this time tapping in a missed shot with 3.4 seconds left to give the hosts a 48-22 edge.
Carmichaels rests snugly in second place in Section 2-A behind California, and has already secured a WPIAL playoff berth.
“We’re starting to pass the ball a little better, and we’re hitting the open man,” Wiliams said. “We’re not forcing shots and we’re getting better looks.”
Tuesday’s loss was Geibel’s fifth in seven games, but even with the setback, the Gators can finish no worse than in fourth place in Section 2-A, and with that, comes a trip to the postseason.
Against Carmichaels, Ryan Craft led the Gators with nine points, while
Betler added eight and Gira seven.