HOLLIDAYSBURG - Points from the free throw line aren't particularly exciting, but they count all the same.
The Hollidaysburg boys basketball team found that out the hard way as Indiana scored time and time again from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter of Monday's game.
Hollidaysburg defeated the Little Indians at their gym in an early season tournament game but couldn't duplicate the feat the second time around.
Indiana made 17-of-22 foul shots in the final eight minutes on its way to a 59-54 win over the Golden Tigers at the HAHS gym.
Hollidaysburg (6-8) matched the Little Indians point for point until the final minute.
Zach Ottaway drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game 54-54 with 40 seconds remaining, but Indiana scored the final five points from the line to secure the win.
"They were in the bonus way before we were. Give their kids credit. They stepped to the line and knocked them down," Hollidaysburg coach Jarrod Klausman said.
Klausman, who was filling in as head coach for an ill Mick Pentoney, credited the defense for getting Hollidaysburg back in the game after going down nine points early in the third quarter.
The Golden Tigers outscored Indiana, 12-4, in the final 6:33 of the third to climb back in the game.
"We made some adjustments at halftime and really competed on the defensive side of the floor in the second half," Klausman said.
A 6-0 run in the latter part of the quarter pulled Hollidaysburg to within a point.
Dan Nagle put in a hook shot from in close, Dylan Walters banked home a short jump shot in transition, and Brian Urban made an off-balance driving layup after being forced to change direction in midair.
Jordan Baum's driving layup on the first possession of the fourth quarter gave Hollidaysburg the lead, but it was short-lived.
Indiana (9-6) quickly reclaimed the lead when Logan Weaver made three free throws that started a string of eight straight from the foul line.
Baum scored again to tie the game, 43-43, but Darrious Carter sank two more free throws that gave the Indians the lead for good.
Another four free throws put Indiana up six points midway through the final quarter.
"That's not typical for us," Indiana coach Jeff Reed said of his team's free throw shooting. "Confidence is a big thing. We had the right kids shooting them."
Baum scored eight points in the fourth quarter to finish with a team-high 14, and Dylan Walters added 10. The senior guard led the team in rebounds with seven.
"Dylan Walters always plays pedal to the metal. He competes hard," Klausman said. "The last four minutes of the third and first two minutes of the fourth the whole team really got after it. We just need to keep getting better and get ready for Friday night."
Hollidaysburg hosts archrival Altoona on Friday. Altoona beat the Golden Tigers by six points earlier in the season.
INDIANA (59): Pettina 3 0-0 6, Weaver 3 9-10 Veney 3 2-4 10, Spencer 1 1-4 3, Carter 5 6-8 16, Stapleton 1 2-2 4, Lauber 0 3-4 3. Totals - 16 23-32 59.
HOLLIDAYSBURG (54): Walters 4 1-3 10, Urban 1 0-0 2, Baum 6 2-2 14, Figart 2 2-2 6, Nagle 2 1-2 5, Ottaway 3 0-0 7, Shannon 2 0-0 5, Ford 2 1-1 5. Totals - 22 7-10 54.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Indiana9 23 8 19 - 59
Hollidaysburg9 17 13 15 - 54
3-point goals: Indiana 4 (Weaver 2, Veney 2); Hollidaysburg 3 (Walters, Shannon, Ottaway).
Officials: Dick Wagner, Mike Brown, Gary Zimmerman.
Records: Indiana (9-6); Hollidaysburg (6-8).
JV: Indiana, 58-45. High scorers-Stapleton, I, 16; Viduya, H, 15.
