- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 372,186
- Reaction score
- 43
Old Forge senior DJ Fox (15) scored a team-high 16 points in a 75-63 loss to Linville Hill in the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals.
WHITEHALL TWP. — As Old Forge players walked onto the floor after a late timeout and gazed up at the digital scoreboard, an imposing deficit stared them down for the first time this season.
The curtain creeped down on what was a successful season.
It didn’t dampen the players’ competitive spirit. They showed their unwillingness to concede in a quick burst of baskets and steals. They made Linville Hill, at the very least, uneasy in the waning moments of the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal boys basketball game at Whitehall High School.
It wasn’t enough as the Blue Devils lost, 75-63, on Saturday afternoon. Linville Hill (22-5), the second-place team from District 3, advanced to the semifinals and will play District 4 champion Northwest Area (26-3) on March 22. Northwest Area defeated Northgate, the seventh-place team from District 7, in the quarterfinals, 60-55.
Old Forge, the District 2 champion, finished at 21-6 with all six losses to teams that advanced to at least the PIAA quarterfinals in their respective classifications.
“We went full 110% and gave everything we had,” said Old Forge’s DJ Fox, the lone senior in the starting lineup who led the team with 16 points. “Shots didn’t go our way at times; that’s basketball. We never stopped fighting.”
Old Forge went toe-to-toe with the physical and athletic Linville Hill team that eliminated traditional state power Constitution in the second round.
Stephen Smucker and Giovanni Sejuste controlled the paint, first by forcing Old Forge center Logan Fanning to the bench with early foul trouble, then by dominating the glass. Smucker converted several layups and at one point made seven shots in a row from in close to finish with 23 points. Sejuste had 21 points, which included a highlight-reel dunk on a fast break, and collected 14 rebounds with 10 at the defensive end for the Warriors.
Drew Tibbins added 15 points and six assists for Linville Hill.
Old Forge countered with sharp shooting.
The Blue Devils shot 7 of 16 from the 3-point line, with Cam Krushnowski hitting three and finishing with 15 points. Cameron Parker also had 15 points, and Fox made 7 of 9 shots, which included a pair of 3-pointers and eight points in the third quarter.
“In my head, I got the first layup of the quarter, and I kind of felt myself getting really into the game,” Fox said. “Coach (JJ) Thomas had faith in me and kept running sets for me, and I was able to make some shots.”
Each time Old Forge threatened to claim the lead in the second half, however, Linville Hill turned to its inside game.
After trailing, 35-29, at the half, the Blue Devils tied the game at 37 on back-to-back 3-pointers from Fox. Tibbins responded with two straight baskets to create a slight cushion.
Later in the third, Linville Hill built a 47-41 advantage, and Ryan DeMarco and Krushnowski sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around a layup by Smucker to close within 49-47. Jerome Stoltzfus answered with a 3-pointer for Linville Hill, and after DeMarco made a pair of free throws, Smucker again got to the rim and scored for a 54-49 lead after three quarters.
Old Forge made another surge to start the fourth quarter. Fanning had a putback, Fox scored and Parker converted a steal into a layup, as Old Forge trailed, 56-55, with 5:56 remaining.
Linville Hill never panicked. The Warriors turned to Sejuste, who went on his own 6-0 run. Then, Old Forge, which had only three turnovers through three quarters, had three in a row that the Warriors converted into six points that concluded the decisive 12-0 run that established a 69-55 lead with 2:07 remaining.
“Going into the season, I don’t think anyone believed that we could get this far,” Parker said. “We were going to be resilient no matter what. All of the hard work that we put into this year, we left it all out there on the floor.”
That’s when the Blue Devils made their final push, showing the character that led to their 21-win season.
A fast-break layup by Smucker stemmed the tide, and as the Old Forge players came to the bench, they all received hugs from the coaching staff.
“To say I am proud would be an understatement,” Old Forge coach JJ Thomas said. “This group accomplished so much. They battled all season, and I am so happy with their effort. The word love is used a lot in sports, and you always want your players to care about one another, but I can honestly say this group loved each other like a family.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for them and the coaching staff for all of the sacrifices everyone made through this season.”
Continue reading...
WHITEHALL TWP. — As Old Forge players walked onto the floor after a late timeout and gazed up at the digital scoreboard, an imposing deficit stared them down for the first time this season.
The curtain creeped down on what was a successful season.
It didn’t dampen the players’ competitive spirit. They showed their unwillingness to concede in a quick burst of baskets and steals. They made Linville Hill, at the very least, uneasy in the waning moments of the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal boys basketball game at Whitehall High School.
It wasn’t enough as the Blue Devils lost, 75-63, on Saturday afternoon. Linville Hill (22-5), the second-place team from District 3, advanced to the semifinals and will play District 4 champion Northwest Area (26-3) on March 22. Northwest Area defeated Northgate, the seventh-place team from District 7, in the quarterfinals, 60-55.
Old Forge, the District 2 champion, finished at 21-6 with all six losses to teams that advanced to at least the PIAA quarterfinals in their respective classifications.
“We went full 110% and gave everything we had,” said Old Forge’s DJ Fox, the lone senior in the starting lineup who led the team with 16 points. “Shots didn’t go our way at times; that’s basketball. We never stopped fighting.”
Old Forge went toe-to-toe with the physical and athletic Linville Hill team that eliminated traditional state power Constitution in the second round.
Stephen Smucker and Giovanni Sejuste controlled the paint, first by forcing Old Forge center Logan Fanning to the bench with early foul trouble, then by dominating the glass. Smucker converted several layups and at one point made seven shots in a row from in close to finish with 23 points. Sejuste had 21 points, which included a highlight-reel dunk on a fast break, and collected 14 rebounds with 10 at the defensive end for the Warriors.
Drew Tibbins added 15 points and six assists for Linville Hill.
Old Forge countered with sharp shooting.
The Blue Devils shot 7 of 16 from the 3-point line, with Cam Krushnowski hitting three and finishing with 15 points. Cameron Parker also had 15 points, and Fox made 7 of 9 shots, which included a pair of 3-pointers and eight points in the third quarter.
“In my head, I got the first layup of the quarter, and I kind of felt myself getting really into the game,” Fox said. “Coach (JJ) Thomas had faith in me and kept running sets for me, and I was able to make some shots.”
Each time Old Forge threatened to claim the lead in the second half, however, Linville Hill turned to its inside game.
After trailing, 35-29, at the half, the Blue Devils tied the game at 37 on back-to-back 3-pointers from Fox. Tibbins responded with two straight baskets to create a slight cushion.
Later in the third, Linville Hill built a 47-41 advantage, and Ryan DeMarco and Krushnowski sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around a layup by Smucker to close within 49-47. Jerome Stoltzfus answered with a 3-pointer for Linville Hill, and after DeMarco made a pair of free throws, Smucker again got to the rim and scored for a 54-49 lead after three quarters.
Old Forge made another surge to start the fourth quarter. Fanning had a putback, Fox scored and Parker converted a steal into a layup, as Old Forge trailed, 56-55, with 5:56 remaining.
Linville Hill never panicked. The Warriors turned to Sejuste, who went on his own 6-0 run. Then, Old Forge, which had only three turnovers through three quarters, had three in a row that the Warriors converted into six points that concluded the decisive 12-0 run that established a 69-55 lead with 2:07 remaining.
“Going into the season, I don’t think anyone believed that we could get this far,” Parker said. “We were going to be resilient no matter what. All of the hard work that we put into this year, we left it all out there on the floor.”
That’s when the Blue Devils made their final push, showing the character that led to their 21-win season.
A fast-break layup by Smucker stemmed the tide, and as the Old Forge players came to the bench, they all received hugs from the coaching staff.
“To say I am proud would be an understatement,” Old Forge coach JJ Thomas said. “This group accomplished so much. They battled all season, and I am so happy with their effort. The word love is used a lot in sports, and you always want your players to care about one another, but I can honestly say this group loved each other like a family.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for them and the coaching staff for all of the sacrifices everyone made through this season.”
Continue reading...
