ALTOONA — Hoping to play in a state championship game not all that far from home, Susquehanna Twp.’s basketball-playing Indians are going to get that chance on Friday night at Hershey’s Giant Center.
A tremendous defensive effort all but cemented those weekend plans for the Indians, as Vince Rogers’ resourceful club registered a 42-31 victory over District 7-AAA champion Central Valley in a pedestrian-paced PIAA Class AAA semifinal-round scrap Tuesday night at the Altoona Field House.
Up next for Rogers’ District 3-AAA champions, who are headed to their first state title game since 2008, will be a top-ranked Neumann-Goretti side chasing its fourth state title in five seasons.
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Neumann-Goretti downed Philadelphia Electrical 65-53 — those clubs also met for the District 12-AAA title — in the other semifinal.
Nehemiah “Bud” Mack netted 13 of his team-high 14 points in the second half for Susquehanna Twp. (23-7), which led by just one (11-10) at halftime.
Gabe Mack and Joe Marshall chipped in 10 points for the third-ranked Indians — Quintin Ward added 10 rebounds and blocked three shots — who opened the second half with a 9-0 run that wobbled the Warriors (25-4).
That spurt also prevented Brandon Ambrose’s second-ranked outfit from slowing the tempo and unleashing the triangle-and-two defense Central Valley flashed at various moments of the opening half.
Jacob St. George collected a game-high 18 points for Central Valley, which was able to whittle its deficit to seven (33-26) with one minute to play.
Ambrose’s Warriors never could get closer, and the Indians soon were celebrating.
PIVOTAL SEQUENCE
Holding a narrow 11-10 lead at the halftime intermission, Rogers’ determined Indians were able to run off the first nine points of the third quarter and generate some needed separation from Ambrose’s stubborn Warriors.
Starting with possession, the Indians called a play for Bud Mack that resulted in a successful runner and a light that ignited a quality fuse. Marshall followed with an 18-foot jumper, Bud Mack polished off another runner from the lane and Gabe Mack capped the burst at the 4:54 mark with a trey from the right wing.
Now up 20-10, the Indians suddenly were in control.
Although Susquehanna Twp.’s cushion expanded to as many as 13 points (31-18) with 2:40 to play on the second of two emphatic Ward flushes in transition, Central Valley was able to creep to within seven (33-26) on Mike Sims’ freebie.
Ward and the Mack brothers closed the door on Ambrose’s Warriors, though, canning nine of 10 looks at the line in the final 60 seconds.
REVIEWING THE NUMBERS
While Susquehanna Twp. wound up shooting 46.7 percent (14-for-30), the Indians connected on 60 percent (9-for-15) of their second-half pops. … Rogers’ club was just 1-for-5 from the arc, with Gabe Mack splashing the only trey. …
Susquehanna Twp. finished 13-for-16 at the free-throw line, with the Indians going 12-for-14 at the stripe in the fourth quarter. … The Indians outboarded Central Valley 31-21, but committed 15 turnovers to the Warriors’ 10. …
Ward added six points, all in the fourth quarter. … Bud Mack dished out a team-high three assists. … Jordan Millberry and Takhi Turner logged significant minutes, impacting the game with their play at the defensive end of the floor. … Bud Mack also had a terrific defensive game, limiting Sims to a single free throw. …
Central Valley targeted just 27.5 percent (11-for-40) of its field-goal attempts, but shot just 25.8 percent (8-for-31) after the break. … Ambrose’s Warriors were 4-for-19 from deep, with St. George bagging two treys. … The District 7-AAA champions also made nine trips to the free-throw line, canning five. …Central Valley attempted just nine first-half shots, making three. ...
Matt Kline, the 6-8 senior headed for Seton Hill, finished with five points, three boards and one block for Central Valley. … The Warriors picked up a team-high five boards from 5-10 guard John George. … Tony Gates, who finished with three points, dropped three dimes and blocked one shot.
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