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Marauders get spark from Irwin to beat BC

Teams that score the most points always win, and players who score the most points usually get the most recognition.

However, following Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic’s 63-52 Laurel Highlands Conference Section 1 win over Bishop Carroll on Wednesday night at the Pleasant Valley gym, BG coach Chris Drenning gave props to Andrew Irwin, who scored all of four points.

Carroll jumped out to a 21-15 first-quarter lead before the Marauders got pointed in the right direction.

“I thought Andrew might have been the key to us,” Drenning offered. “He settled us down and got us set up in the correct press breaks. I don’t know how many he had, but he had lots of rebounds, too.”

Guilfoyle scored the first nine points of the second quarter and went on to a 31-30 lead at the half.

“We played well for stretches,” Drenning noted. “Defensively, we were really poor in the first quarter. We gave up 21 points and you can’t beat anybody when you’re on pace for 84.

“We did a much better job in the second half,” Drenning continued. “They scored only seven in the third, and we were doing well until halfway through the fourth.”

The Marauders led by as many as 21 (61-40) before the Huskies went on a 11-0 run late to make it respectable.

Now 7-3, BG placed three players in double figures — Luke Ruggery (17), Josh Trybus (15) and A.J. Labriola (12). Ruggery and Trybus combined for eight 3-pointers.

“We had nice balance,” Drenning said. “I thought Luke Frederick came in and was solid. He had 6 or 8 points, some blocks and deflections and rebounds, too. Justin Charlton was solid off the bench also.

“So many people focus on scoring,” Drenning said, “but what Andrew, Luke and Justin did to supplement what we got from Josh, A.J. and Luke — the small things — was big.

“We have a good combination, but we have to be smarter with the ball.”

Carroll, which has no seniors on its roster, fell to 4-9, despite having three players in double figures — Ben Eckenrode (13), Alec Ratchford (11) and Carson Ertter (10).

“I love our team,” coach Cosie Aliquo said. “We’re growing.

“Against BG, you can’t take a bad shot or turn the ball over,” Aliquo said. “If  you do, you have to go to the other end and dig in. They’ve got some shooters and they’re strong, all the way around.”

Game notes: Drenning and Aliquo were basketball teammates at Penn State Altoona. … BG visits Forest Hills on Friday. … Carroll hosts Cambria Heights on Friday and plays six of its final nine games at home.

BISHOP CARROLL (52): Eckenrode 4 2-2 13, Ratchford 5 1-1 11, Ertter 4 1-2 10, H. Rodkey 1 0-0 3, Lamb 2 0-0 5, Karlheim 3 1-5 8, McDannell 1 0-0 3, Semelsberger 0 0-0 0, Lauer 0 0-0 0, Burk 0 0-0 0. Totals — 20 5-10 57.

BISHOP GUILFOYLE (63): Trybus 6 0-0 15, L. Ruggery 5 2-2 17, Labriola 6 0-1 12, Irwin 2 0-1 4, Scaramozzino 0 1-2 1, Charlton 3 2-2 8, Frederick 3 0-0 6, Patterson 0 0-0 0. Totals — 25 5-8 63.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Bishop Carroll    21 9 7 15 — 52

Bishop Guilfoyle    15 16 12 20 — 63

3-point goals: Bishop Carroll 7 (Eckenrode 3, Karlheim, Ertter, H. Rodkey, Lamb. Bishop Guilfoyle 8 (L. Ruggery 5, Trybus 3).

Officials: Rich Gergely, Todd Parker, Mike Andrews.

Records: Bishop Carroll (4-9); Bishop Guilfoyle (7-3).

JV: Guilfoyle, 55-40. High scorers– Charles Patterson, BG, 16; Tristan McDannell, BC, 9.

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