WILLIAMSBURG Philipsburg-Osceola coach Dave McKnight couldn't help but smile after his Mounties' first round matchup in the Blue Pirate Booster Holiday Tournament.
The Mounties led by Taylor Golemboski's double-double, had three players score in double figures as Philipsburg-Osceola defeated host Williamsburg, 66-57, Thursday night at Williamsburg High School.
"We have not put a good game together all season," McKnight said of his team's early-season struggles. "Tonight, we were able to keep our focus and keep our momentum going."
In the first half, both teams managed to make the game look more like a track meet. In the first quarter, Jed Dishong scored six of his team high 16 points to keep the game deadlocked at 13 apiece.
Bryce Young scored all of his eight points in the second quarter. The Pirates managed to hold off the Mounties for 32-31 lead at the break.
Once the second half started, the Mounties took over.
Golemboski took a fast break in for a layup with just over two-minutes to play to keep the momentum on the side of the visitors. The Mounties led by as many as 10 points and took a 49-42 lead following a Alex Gray buzzer beater at the end of the quarter.
"My teammates have been on me lately," Golemboski said. "I haven't been involved in the offense much lately, more of a defensive presence."
Blue Pirate coach Mike Farrell felt the third quarter swoon ultimately put his team behind for good.
"Getting down early coming out of the half up one put us in chase mode," he said.
Eric Naratetz managed to put the game away on a fast break to give the Mounties with just over a 2 minutes to play.
Farrell gave his opposition credit for how they finished.
"They hit some good shots," he said." They were beating us off the dribble, penetrating [and] we had to step up to help."
Next up for the Mounties is a match up with Central in the championship game.
Led by Zach Slagenweit's 17 points, the Scarlett Dragons defeated Conemaugh Valley, 60-41. Ben Brumbaugh and Lucas Patterson each chipped in with 10 rebounds.
The Blue Pirates will meet the Blue Jays in the consolation game.
CENTRAL 60, CONEMAUGH VALLEY 41
CONEMAUGH VALLEY (41): Horten 1 1-5 3, Roberts 7 2-5 19, Cruse 0 2-4 2, B. Furman 3 3-7 9, Wibostak 4 0-2 8, Butts 0 0-0 0, Rogers 0 0-0 0, Verno 0 0-0 0, Kovalchik 0 0-0 0, Schellhammer 0 0-0 0, D. Furman 0 0-0 0, Balassa 0 0-0 0, Durham 0 0-0 0, Gamby 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 6-23 41.
CENTRAL (60): Cunningham 4 6-9 16, Slagenweit 6 4-5 17, Patterson 1 3-4 5, Mills 2 1-2 5, Greenland 1 0-0 2, Forshey 0 1-2 1, Brumbaugh 1 5-6 7, Volkommer 1 1-2 3, Lafferty 1 0-0 2, Ayers 0 0-0 0, Mellot 1 0-0 2, Kensinger 0 0-0 0, Post 0 0-0 0, Gahason 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 21-30 60.
3 point field goals: Conemaugh Valley 1 (Roberts); Central 3 (Cunningham 2, Slagenweit).
Records: Conemaugh Valley (2-2); Central (5-3).
P-O 66, WILLIAMSBURG 57
PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA (66): Naratetz 5 1-2 15, Carpin 5 3-6 15, Golemboski 9 2-4 20, Starner 0 0-0 0, Herrington 1 0-0 2, Al. Gray 2 3-4 7, An. Gray 1 0-0 3, Reifer 2 0-0 4. Totals: 25 9-16 66.
WILLIAMSBURG (57): Biddle 2 4-4 9, Fay 1 0-0 3, J. Morrissey 2 2-2 6, Ross 1 2-2 5, Dishong 8 0-0 16, Applemen 0 0-0 0, Young 3 2-2 8, Palmer 4 3-4 10. Totals: 20 13-14 57.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Philipsburg-Osceola13 18 18 15 57
Williamsburg13 19 10 18 66
3-point field goals: Philipsburg-Osceola 5 (Naratetz 2, Carpin 2, An. Gray); Williamsburg 3 (Biddle, Fay, Ross).
Records: Philipsburg-Osceola (1-5); Williamsburg (3-3).
