Basketball is a game of hustle, intensity and extreme concentration. If you can manage to put all three together, you will have great success. Tyrone has tried to put these three together this season, but still have not managed this yet.
The Eagles look to rebound in Huntingdon after losing the last three games with an average of over 10 points per loss and just under 45 points for per game. With a 1-4 record and only 1-3 in the conference, Tyrone looked to overcome this losing streak with a win in Huntingdon.
Huntingdon started out the season 0-5, but were opposite of Tyrone by winning the last three games They had a lot of momentum going into the game, but Tyrone was up for the task of proving they are not out of it just yet.
Tyrone showed their intensity early in the game by going into a full-court man press. They attacked the Bearcats and forced six turnovers to start the game.
Tyrone, however, could not convert on several lay-ups and missed on key opportunities at the free-throw line as Huntingdon pulled away to a 14-8 lead after one quarter.
With the lead and momentum, Huntingdon began to pull away as they tore off a 6-0 run to go up 24-14 with just 3:06 to go in the first half. It was an all Bearcat first half as the teams traded baskets to end the half as it ended 29-20 in favor of Huntingdon.
“Other than some missed lay-ups and foul shots, I though we executed perfectly on defense the entire game. We came out and set a tempo in the game, but just missed some peeps here and there. The little mistakes killed us and we gave up too many opportunities throughout the game,” coach George Gripp stated.
Whatever Gripp told the guys in the locker room worked because they were absolutely on fire in the third quarter. The intensity level went beyond what everyone in the stands expected as they exploded for 24 points, more than what they scored in the previous two quarters alone.
It was all Johnny Franco, stealing passes left and right and diving all over the floor. His effort and determination to get the ball led Tyrone to a 24-11 third quarter to put Tyrone up 44-40 going into the last frame.
Catich knocked in 13 of his game high 20 points in the third quarter alone. It was a very explosive third quarter and the Bearcats were extremely frustrated going into the fourth.
“That third quarter gave us the boost we needed to get back in the game. Johnny [Franco] took control for us in the third quarter. It was the spark we needed and I thought it would carry over, but basketball is a sport where the little things count, and our foul shooting was absolutely horrible tonight,” Gripp said.
The fourth quarter belonged to Tyrone as they started out stalling the first two minutes off the fourth quarter as the Bearcats came out in a 2-3 zone defense. Tyrone managed to grab a point from Matt Brooks as he was fouled during the delay. Tyrone then began to miss lay-ups and foul shots the rest of the way. It was amazing to see such momentum get shut down in a matter of minutes between quarters.
Tyrone also began struggling even more from the foul line as they missed eight foul shots in the fourth quarter alone. It was terrible watching the ball roll in and out every time Tyrone had a chance to make the game close. With time running down, Tyrone managed to cut the lead to 51-49 with just under a minute left in the game. After five straight misses from the foul line, Tyrone found themselves down 53-50 with 13 seconds left in the game. Tyrone quickly fouled, but Cunningham managed to ice the game for the Bearcats as they beat Tyrone in a close one, 55-50.
Tyrone managed to keep up with the streaky Bearcats, but couldn\’t hold their own in the fourth quarter as they were held to just six points in the last quarter. Catich led all scorers with 20 points, but went 4-10 from the foul line. His effort was strong on offense, but the foul shots were a key in the loss. Franco also had a great game on defense as he recorded five steals, but once again foul shots are a key to championships as he went 1-6. Only improvement and practice can fix these types of problems and I\’m sure Gripp has this covered.
Tyrone dropped to 1-5 on the season and 1-4 in the conference in their loss Friday night. Huntingdon moves to 4-5, winning their last four games, and 3-2 in the conference. Eric Buza dominated on the offensive side for the Bearcats as he recorded 18 points in the victory.
Huntingdon 55 Tyrone 50
Tyr 8 12 24 6 – 50
Hun 14 15 11 15 55
3 pt FG: Tyr-1(Gehret) Hun-1(Cunningham)
Tyrone – Franco 3 1-6 7, Brooks 4 2-5 10, Catich 8 4-10 20, Gehret 4 9, Branstetter 1 2, Dane 1 2 Totals 21 7-21 50
Huntingdon – Shoemaker 2 1-2 5, Heath 1 3-5 5, Cressman 2 4, Criswell 3 6, Buza 7 4-6 18, Cunningham 1 2–2 5, Young 2 3-4 7, Reed 2 1-2 5. Totals 20 14-21 55
