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NORTH HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Shots that usually find the net – both from long range and inside – didn’t fall for Greater Johnstown Friday night.
The defense, which played flawlessly throughout the postseason, never truly connected in a PIAA Class 5A boys quarterfinal playoff at Norwin High School.
PHOTO GALLERY | Greater Johnstown boys fall to Chartiers Valley 58-38 in 5A state quarterfinal
The depth that made the Trojans a District 6 champion and District 6-9-10 subregional winner didn’t materialize, as only senior Donte Tisinger and junior Amier Robinson accounted for all of the team’s points until just over 90 seconds remained in the game.
Conversely, District 7 champion Chartiers Valley made routine and difficult shots, sometimes seemingly at will, while the Colts defense disrupted Greater Johnstown. Seven players hit the scoring column in Chartiers Valley’s 58-38 victory that ended the Trojans’ historic season at 26-2.
“Basketball is like that sometimes,” Greater Johnstown coach Ryan Durham said outside a quiet locker room. “Sometimes it just comes down to makes and misses. Boy, did we have a rough night shooting.
“We missed a lot of open shots – shots we’ve been hitting all season long,” the Trojans coach said.
“When shots don’t go in and the score is fluctuating from six to 10 points (deficit), Coach (Corey) Dotchin does a good job of controlling clock. When you get down and you’re not hitting shots, they do a good job of shrinking the game. I thought they executed very well.”
Greater Johnstown senior Donte Tisinger concluded a brilliant career with 16 points and five rebounds. The Boston University signee finished with 1,990 career points – 10 shy of the 2,000-point milestone.
“Donte is tremendous not just as a basketball player, but everything he does in the classroom, in the community, being a leader and giving the young guys in our school something to look up to,” Durham said. “Everybody seeing the process of all of the schools coming to recruit him. Them now striving for that.
“One player can change a culture. We’ve had a pretty good culture, but he’s special.”
Robinson had a team-high 19 points and five rebounds. He and Tisinger accounted for all of Greater Johnstown’s points until senior D’Myah Carr drained a 3-pointer with 1:33 remaining in the game.
Durham addressed a group of local and Pittsburgh media with class. When asked if he had ever seen a game in which two players accounted for all of a team’s scoring until the final minutes, Durham didn’t hesitate.
“I haven’t,” Durham said. “But there is a first time for everything. Now, we’ve seen it. It’s tough, but it’s a good lesson.”
Durham focused on the opportunity to learn from the setback.
“I told those kids, ‘Life ain’t fair. You’re deserving. You will be deserving of a lot of things that you won’t get. That’s a part of growing up and being a man,’ ” Durham said.
“Tonight, those missed shots were a good life lesson. No matter how much you want something, ‘Man, life ain’t fair.’ We have to find a way to bounce back, them as young men and us as coaches.”
Chartiers Valley (26-3) advances to face District 3 champion Hershey March 21 in the semifinal round.
Senior 2,000-point scorer Jayden Davis had 19 points, followed by junior Julian Semplice (17 points) and junior Logan Helfrick (10). Freshman Luca Federico had eight rebounds and five fourth-quarter points in his first playoff start.
“I’ve said all season we’re more than just Jayden Davis and that’s why we’re in the state semifinals,” Colts coach Corey Dotchin said. “We have good guys around him. We have guys who have bought into their roles.
“We started a freshman (Luca Federico) for the first time all season and he stepped up to the challenge and made big plays. That’s been a testament to our team all season.”
Chartiers Valley led 17-10 after one quarter and 29-18 at halftime. The Trojans cut the deficit to nine points at 39-30 after three, but never made a run.
“We just didn’t make shots,” Durham said.
“Sometimes it comes down to that. They did. Kudos to them.”
Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at (814) 532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.
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The defense, which played flawlessly throughout the postseason, never truly connected in a PIAA Class 5A boys quarterfinal playoff at Norwin High School.
PHOTO GALLERY | Greater Johnstown boys fall to Chartiers Valley 58-38 in 5A state quarterfinal
The depth that made the Trojans a District 6 champion and District 6-9-10 subregional winner didn’t materialize, as only senior Donte Tisinger and junior Amier Robinson accounted for all of the team’s points until just over 90 seconds remained in the game.
Conversely, District 7 champion Chartiers Valley made routine and difficult shots, sometimes seemingly at will, while the Colts defense disrupted Greater Johnstown. Seven players hit the scoring column in Chartiers Valley’s 58-38 victory that ended the Trojans’ historic season at 26-2.
“Basketball is like that sometimes,” Greater Johnstown coach Ryan Durham said outside a quiet locker room. “Sometimes it just comes down to makes and misses. Boy, did we have a rough night shooting.
“We missed a lot of open shots – shots we’ve been hitting all season long,” the Trojans coach said.
“When shots don’t go in and the score is fluctuating from six to 10 points (deficit), Coach (Corey) Dotchin does a good job of controlling clock. When you get down and you’re not hitting shots, they do a good job of shrinking the game. I thought they executed very well.”
Greater Johnstown senior Donte Tisinger concluded a brilliant career with 16 points and five rebounds. The Boston University signee finished with 1,990 career points – 10 shy of the 2,000-point milestone.
“Donte is tremendous not just as a basketball player, but everything he does in the classroom, in the community, being a leader and giving the young guys in our school something to look up to,” Durham said. “Everybody seeing the process of all of the schools coming to recruit him. Them now striving for that.
“One player can change a culture. We’ve had a pretty good culture, but he’s special.”
Robinson had a team-high 19 points and five rebounds. He and Tisinger accounted for all of Greater Johnstown’s points until senior D’Myah Carr drained a 3-pointer with 1:33 remaining in the game.
Durham addressed a group of local and Pittsburgh media with class. When asked if he had ever seen a game in which two players accounted for all of a team’s scoring until the final minutes, Durham didn’t hesitate.
“I haven’t,” Durham said. “But there is a first time for everything. Now, we’ve seen it. It’s tough, but it’s a good lesson.”
Durham focused on the opportunity to learn from the setback.
“I told those kids, ‘Life ain’t fair. You’re deserving. You will be deserving of a lot of things that you won’t get. That’s a part of growing up and being a man,’ ” Durham said.
“Tonight, those missed shots were a good life lesson. No matter how much you want something, ‘Man, life ain’t fair.’ We have to find a way to bounce back, them as young men and us as coaches.”
Chartiers Valley (26-3) advances to face District 3 champion Hershey March 21 in the semifinal round.
Senior 2,000-point scorer Jayden Davis had 19 points, followed by junior Julian Semplice (17 points) and junior Logan Helfrick (10). Freshman Luca Federico had eight rebounds and five fourth-quarter points in his first playoff start.
“I’ve said all season we’re more than just Jayden Davis and that’s why we’re in the state semifinals,” Colts coach Corey Dotchin said. “We have good guys around him. We have guys who have bought into their roles.
“We started a freshman (Luca Federico) for the first time all season and he stepped up to the challenge and made big plays. That’s been a testament to our team all season.”
Chartiers Valley led 17-10 after one quarter and 29-18 at halftime. The Trojans cut the deficit to nine points at 39-30 after three, but never made a run.
“We just didn’t make shots,” Durham said.
“Sometimes it comes down to that. They did. Kudos to them.”
Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at (814) 532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.
Continue reading...
