TYRONE - The Bellwood-Antis High School and Tyrone Area High School rivalry possibly cannot be exceeded in the Mirror coverage area.
Anytime the teams play in any sport, you're sure to see something special.
This time, the boys basketball teams squared off Friday night, and ho-hum, another epic battle occurred.
Bellwood-Antis' freshman Nathan Davis sank a 3-pointer with less than five seconds remaining in regulation to break a 54-54 tie and give the Blue Devils a 57-54 victory over Tyrone in the opening round of the Reliance Bank Holiday Tournament at Tyrone Area High School.
"It's a big rivalry," Bellwood-Antis coach Brent Gerwert said. "It doesn't matter what the records are. It's a great atmosphere."
With the Blue Devils holding onto a five-point lead with around 2 minutes, 30 seconds remaining, Wyatt Fowler and Jordan Miller scored back-to-back buckets, with Miller's coming off a turnover. Brandon Gripp made 1-of-2 foul shots to tie the game at 54-54, and the game seemed destined for overtime, but Gerwert called a timeout to set up the play.
"That's a play we run," Gerwert said. "Obviously it worked. Brandon's our best pure shooter."
It was nip-and-tuck throughout the game, and after Bellwood-Antis led by three following the first quarter, Tyrone slightly outplayed the Devils in the second quarter. After Steffan Wyland's layup gave the the Blue Devils a 17-14 lead, the Golden Eagles went on a 11-2 run to give Tyrone a 25-20 lead with less than one minute left before halftime. Bellwood-Antis then scored six-unanswered points to give it a one-point lead.
Both teams got hot from long range in the third quarter, combining for five 3-pointers in that quarter alone. Bellwood-Antis was responsible for three of them - Seth Worthing made the first one, with Davis dialing long-distance twice. Davis' second gave the Blue Devils a 42-36 lead with 10 seconds left.
The fourth quarter was riveting, and every time it appeared that the Blue Devils would take control, the Golden Eagles came fighting and clawing back.
When Bellwood-Antis grabbed a six-point lead following a Noah Davis basket to start the fourth, Gripp made a pair of free throws and Miller scored on a layup to cut the deficit to two. After Noah Davis made one-of-two foul shots and Nathan Davis made a fastbreak layup, Gripp made both foul shots to cut the Blue Devils lead to 47-44 with 4:52 remaining.
Nathan Davis made a pair of free throws to help give his Blue Devil squad a five-point lead, and Fowler sank two-of-two foul shots to cut the deficit back down to three. After Noah Davis gave the Blue Devils a five-point lead, Fowler and Miller each made baskets. Gripp followed with the free throw to tie the ballgame, but it all was in vain, because of the clutch trey by Nathan Davis.
"Our kids battled and hung in there and got back into the game," Tyrone coach George Gripp said. "We just came up short."
Gripp continued to be a premier scorer for the Golden Eagles, scoring a game-high 30 points, on three treys and sinking 13-of-14 from the charity stripe.
"Gripp played great tonight," Gerwart said.
"He's been having a great year, but he's crushed," George Gripp said of his son. "He wants to win the game first and foremost."
Bellwood will now face Penn Cambria in the championship game tonight, and Tyrone will play Claysburg-Kimmel in the consolation game.
Penn Cambria beat Claysburg, 76-19, behind 22 points from A.J. Leahey.
BELLWOOD-ANTIS 57, TYRONE 54
TYRONE (54): Wagner 1 1-2 3, Gripp 7 13-14 30, Fowler 1 2-7 4 Lingafelt 0 0-0 0, Belinda 1 0-02, McKeehen 1 0-0 3, Miller 5 0-0 11, Politza 0 1-2 1. Totals 16 17-25 54.
BELLWOOD-ANTIS (57): No. Davis 9 4-7 23, Bartlett 0 0-0 0, C. Worthing 0 0-0 0, Sisto 1 3-6 5, S. Worthing 3 0-0 8, Wyland 3 0-0 6, Na. Davis 5 2-2 15. Totals 21 9-15 57.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Tyrone12 13 13 16 - 54
Bellwood-Antis15 11 16 15 - 57
3-point goals: Tyrone 5 (Gripp 3, McKeehen, Miller); Bellwood-Antis 6 (No. Davis, S. Worthing 2, Na. Davis 3).
Records: Tyrone (4-1). Bellwood-Antis (5-0);
PENN?CAMBRIA 76, C-K 19
CLAYSBURG-KIMMEL (19): Moses 1 0-0 2, Lamont 0 4-7 4, Gergley 2 0-0 5, Pant 0 1-2 1, Eberhart 2 1-2 5, Dugan 1 0-2 2. Totals 6 6-11 19.
PENN CAMBRIA (76): Hite 1 0-0 3, Prysbys 2 0-0 5, Behe 2 2-2 7, Chirdon 1 0-0 2, Mardula 1 0-0 3, Leahey 8 2-2 22, Schwaderer 2 1-2 5, Tsikalas 2 1-1 5, Keagy 2 2-2 6, Mardula 0 2-2 2, Lawhead 5 0-0 10, Bastian 3 0-2 6. Totals 29 10-13 76.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Claysburg-Kimmel7 7 5 0 19
Penn Cambria31 20 17 8 76
3-point goals: Claysburg-Kimmel 1 (Gergley); Penn Cambria 8 (Hite, Prysbys, Behe, Mardula, Leahey 4).
Records: Claysburg-Kimmel (1-4); Penn Cambria (6-0).
