EBENSBURG - Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic and Glendale play contrasting styles of basketball.
The one that imposed its style on the other would most likely win the District 6 Class A consolation game and advance to the state playoffs. The other's season would end.
BG's hard-nosed, half-court approach thwarted Glendale's high octane style but just barely. The Marauders eked out a 37-35 victory over Glendale on Friday at the Bishop Carroll High School gymnasium.
"We did a great job on defense," BG coach Josh Baker said. "That's the tempo we needed to play at. The kids know what we expect out of them and did a great job executing."
Trailing 29-28 early in the fourth quarter, BG scored nine of the next 11 points and made it stand up the rest of the way.
Nate Nardelli sank a jump shot, Pat Irwin scored on the fast break, and Colin Sullivan knocked down his third 3-pointer of the game to put the Marauders ahead, 35-29.
After the two teams traded baskets, Glendale scored four quick points to make it a 37-35 game.
Kyle Wright turned a steal into a layup, and Damon Braniff made a short one-handed shot along the baseline with 2:25 left to play.
Glendale had three chances to tie the game or take the lead in the final seconds but couldn't get the ball to go in.
BG had the ball and a two-point lead in the final minute, but Sullivan's errant pass gave the ball back to the Vikings with 44 seconds to go.
With time winding down, Braniff drove to the basket, but the shot caromed off the rim. Michael Wigfield picked up the rebound. His short jump shot banged off the back of the rim, but the rebound when out of bounds off BG, giving Glendale one last chance with 7 seconds left.
The inbounds pass from underneath the basket went to Wigfield in the corner. His 3-point shot over Zach Patterson hit the side of the rim, and Irwin fell on the rebound to seal the win.
"That was one of the biggest scrums I've ever been in. It was like a fumble in football," Patterson said. "I thought [Wigfield] was going to shoot right away, but I caught myself, stayed on balance and was still able to contest the shot."
Patterson teamed with Tai Irwin to hold Wigfield to just seven points, well below his season average of nearly 20 points per game.
"We knew coming in he was their primary scorer. I just did my best to contain him and make him work for any baskets he got," Tai Irwin said.
Most of the 6-foot-4 senior's points came early in the second quarter as part of a 9-0 run that gave Glendale a 22-14 lead.
"We like to get up and down the court. Our big focus the last couple days was their grind-you-down, methodical style," Glendale coach Mark Yeckley said. "We had that one spurt there, but after that we didn't have any breathing room in the open floor again."
Braniff scored a game-high 12 points, and Wigfield pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds.
Sullivan led Guilfoyle with nine points. Patterson was BG's top rebounder with 10.
BG will play the District 4 champion Friday in the first round of the state playoffs. Glendale's season ended at 15-10.
"It's a disappointing way to end an otherwise successful season," Yeckley said.
BISHOP GUILFOYLE (37): P. Irwin 1 2-4 4, Sullivan 3 0-0 9, T. Irwin 3 2-3 8, Drenning 2 0-0 6, Patterson 3 0-0 6, Fulare 1 0-0 2, Nardelli 1 0-0 2, Snyder 0 0-0 0, Rickens 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 4-7 37.
GLENDALE (35): Wigfield 3 0-1 7, Wright 4 0-0 8, Braniff 5 2-4 12, Sanders 2 0-0 4, Sinclair 2 0-0 4, Evanskey 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 2-5 35.
Score by quarters
Bishop Guilfoyle14 7 7 9 - 37
Glendale23 11 3 8 - 35
3-point goals: Bishop Guilfoyle 5 (Sullivan 3, Drenning 2); Glendale 1 (Wigfield).
Records: Bishop Guilfoyle (14-11); Glendale (15-10).
Officials: Jim Racchini, Cliff Kitner, Jason Moschgat.
