Southmoreland edges Wash High
ALVERTON — Southmoreland jumped out to an early lead, but Washington continued to work, and had a two-point advantage after three quarters before the Scotties pulled out a 63-58 victory on Tuesday in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A boys basketball playoffs at Southmoreland High School.
Southmoreland (15-8) will play Shady Side Academy, who upset No. 4 seed Bishop Canevin, 61-48, in the quarterfinals on Friday at Charleroi. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
“We were able to survive, and sometimes, that’s all that matters,” Southmoreland coach Frank Muccino said. “You are not going to walk into a slouch in playoff basketball. We threw the kitchen sink at them. I didn’t have anything else left.”
The Prexies’ season came to an end at 12-11.
The Scotties, who had an 8-0 advantage in the first quarter, took the lead for good at 59-56 with 11.9 seconds remaining when Brady Sherbondy, who had scored to that point, made 1-of-2 at the foul line, but hustled for the offensive rebound and converted both free throws for a 61-56 advantage.
“He (Sherbondy) got the rebound and made two free throws to push it past three,” Muccino said. “I was most worried about pushing the lead past three because it’s a two-possession game. They really hurt us on the boards, especially when it came to second-chance points.”
Muccino, who guided his team to a first-round playoff victory at home last year, wasn’t surprised the game was decided in the final minutes.
“I didn’t feel any comfort at all, even when we had that early lead,” Muccino said. “They are a good, athletic team, and I knew they would make adjustments and make a run.”
The Scotties’ opening run began on a layup by Noah Felentzer, Ty Whoric’s three-pointer, a Brock Pritts free throw and Felentzer’s second layup with 5:17 left in the opening period.
Washington converted on back-to-back field goals to cut the deficit to 8-4 before a second 8-0 run increased the Scotties’ lead to 16-4.
Pritts hit a two-point field goal before Felentzer sank two straight 3-pointers.
Whoric nailed a three with 1:30 remaining in the first frame for a 21-8 advantage, but the Prexies’ Isaac Mayen responded with a three and William Callan made two free throws to pull the visitors within eight heading into the second period.
Vincent Johnson cut the Southmoreland lead to 21-15 early in the second quarter, but Pritts made a three-pointer with 6:30 left for a 24-15 advantage. Washington outscored the Scotties, 7-6, the remainder of the second period for a 30-22 halftime lead.
The Prexies won the third quarter, 21-11, for their first advantage at 43-41 when Isaac Mayen made his second of four 3-pointers. Wash High made five 3-pointers in the third period.
“I have some tough kids, and they stuck with the process,” Wash High coach David Bunting said. “We didn’t make some shots that we could have, but my guys battled. I have some football players and some guys that play basketball the entire year. Hats off to Southmoreland and their coach. I thought they played tremendously. They played through the contact, and it was a good atmosphere for them.”
Felenzter led the game in scoring with 27 points. Whoric had 16 and Pritts put in 10.
The Prexies’ Tristan Reed had a team-high 17 points, including a one-handed slam in the fourth quarter. Mayen dropped 14 and Callan put in 13. Johnson was in double figures with 12.
“Tristan is a senior, but he will be attending Miami of Ohio to play football next year,” Bunting said. “William will work to play, but if not, he is going to Penn State for academics.”