Dec 30-2008
Elmira Southside Boys beat the 5th ranked, Class A team in New York State
to capture their first Coaches for Cancer Tournament Title Game
Elmira Southside knocks of Newark in OT 65-64
"One of the best high school games played in decades was between these to teams
Monday night as Elmira Southside out-played state rank Newark.
For the 2nd time in 2 days Southside boys beat EFA (ranked number 15 in the State and Newark (ranked number 5 in the State Class A)
The Southside boys stood as proud champions at the end of a back-and-forth Josh Palmer Coaches vs. Cancer Elmira Holiday title game Monday night at Southside High.
The Green Hornets battled Newark to a 65-64 overtime victory, taking the lead for good on a Mike Backer driving basket with 31 seconds left.
"It's an emotional win," said Backer, who led the team with 21 points. "This is the first time Southside has won this tournament, so that's big for us. The defense set it up. It was great."
A key defensive play came with less than 2 seconds left in overtime when Isaac Yorro blocked a driving shot by Newark's Tyshun Stephens. Newark inbounded the ball but couldn't get off a shot at the final buzzer.
"This team is resilient," Southside coach John Fesetch said. "They may get behind, but they just keep coming after you."
Yorro had 20 points and 10 rebounds for Southside (7-2), and Brad Bellinger grabbed eight rebounds and added 17 points, including 6-for-6 at the foul line in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Bellinger also took two charging fouls on Newark big man Javon McCrea, who scored 38 points in the Reds' second round win. On Monday he fouled out with two minutes to go in regulation and had only 10 points.
Southside led 16-9 after the first quarter after a 10-2 run led by hot shooting from Backer and Yorro. Newark came right back with a 9-2 run in the second quarter when McCrea scored four points and had two assists. But the Green Hornets outscored the Reds 9-4 over the last two minutes before the half to take a 31-24 lead at intermission.
Newark came back to within 46-43 after three periods behind two 3-pointers from Ollie Smith. In the fourth quarter, Jace Havrilla and Smith each had another 3-pointer to get Newark its first lead since midway through the first period. The lead changed hands four times over the final two minutes of regulation before ending up knotted at 57-57.
In overtime Bellinger, who was named tournament MVP, hit a 4-foot turnaround jumper to tie the score at 59-59, and then he hit two free throws to make it 61-59. Bellinger also guarded 6-foot-6 McCrea and held him in check.
The all-tournament team included Backer and McCrea, along with Corning West's Nick Dobson, Jamestown's Ben Cecchini, Newfield's Stephan Davis, and Liverpool's Jesse Gates. The Sixth Man Award went to Southside's Conner Delaney. Ollie Smith won the Defensive Player Award.
The Green Hornets battled Newark to a 65-64 overtime victory, taking the lead for good on a Mike Backer driving basket with 31 seconds left.
"It's an emotional win," said Backer, who led the team with 21 points. "This is the first time Southside has won this tournament, so that's big for us. The defense set it up. It was great."
A key defensive play came with less than 2 seconds left in overtime when Isaac Yorro blocked a driving shot by Newark's Tyshun Stephens. Newark inbounded the ball but couldn't get off a shot at the final buzzer.
"This team is resilient," Southside coach John Fesetch said. "They may get behind, but they just keep coming after you."
Yorro had 20 points and 10 rebounds for Southside (7-2), and Brad Bellinger grabbed eight rebounds and added 17 points, including 6-for-6 at the foul line in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Bellinger also took two charging fouls on Newark big man Javon McCrea, who scored 38 points in the Reds' second round win. On Monday he fouled out with two minutes to go in regulation and had only 10 points.
Southside led 16-9 after the first quarter after a 10-2 run led by hot shooting from Backer and Yorro. Newark came right back with a 9-2 run in the second quarter when McCrea scored four points and had two assists. But the Green Hornets outscored the Reds 9-4 over the last two minutes before the half to take a 31-24 lead at intermission.
Newark came back to within 46-43 after three periods behind two 3-pointers from Ollie Smith. In the fourth quarter, Jace Havrilla and Smith each had another 3-pointer to get Newark its first lead since midway through the first period. The lead changed hands four times over the final two minutes of regulation before ending up knotted at 57-57.
In overtime Bellinger, who was named tournament MVP, hit a 4-foot turnaround jumper to tie the score at 59-59, and then he hit two free throws to make it 61-59. Bellinger also guarded 6-foot-6 McCrea and held him in check.
The all-tournament team included Backer and McCrea, along with Corning West's Nick Dobson, Jamestown's Ben Cecchini, Newfield's Stephan Davis, and Liverpool's Jesse Gates. The Sixth Man Award went to Southside's Conner Delaney. Ollie Smith won the Defensive Player Award.
No comments:
Post a Comment