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Change a good thing for Tyrone

By Michael Boytim

mboytim@altoonamirror.com

TYRONE — Eight first-half 3-pointers and the constant presence of Central’s Joey Smith driving to the basket was enough to make Tyrone coach George Gripp throw his game plan in the trash Wednesday night.

The switch in philosophy paid off and perhaps served as a coming-out party for freshman Damon Gripp, whose man-to-man defense created several steals and a few key baskets in Tyrone’s 65-60 overtime victory.

“All week long, we were working on Joey Smith setting high screens and double teaming him off of that,” George Gripp said. “He just kept rolling down and their kids were making excellent passes off the double team, which we didn’t think they were going to be able to do. Once he gets going downhill toward the rim, he’s hard to stop. After two or three times of that, we decided to do straight man and make them earn everything.”

Central, aided by five Luke Williams first-half 3-pointers, led by as many as 11 points in the second quarter.

“That was a great start for us,” Central coach Reggie Nevins said. “They played zone early. We’re pretty good against the zone. We moved the ball well, and Luke Williams was really hot. It was a great first half.”

As Tyrone amped up its defensive pressure, Central’s lead began to shrink. The Scarlet Dragons led by three going into the fourth quarter, but managed to score the first four points to go back up seven. Tyrone responded with a 9-0 run capped by a Damon Gripp layup with 5:22 to play that gave the Golden Eagles their first lead since the first quarter.

“The turning point was when they went man-to-man, and a lot of contact was let go,” Nevins said. “It threw us out of whack. I thought we were getting fouled. Guys were getting knocked off balance, and it was hard for us to run our plays.”

Thad Albright briefly gave the Scarlet Dragons the lead back on a layup, but Damon Gripp responded with a steal and a layup. It was the first of three times Gripp picked Central’s pocket and took it for a layup during the fourth quarter and overtime.

“I was trying to read the plays the best I could,” Damon Gripp said. “I knew (Smith) was all right hand, so I tried to jump to his right every time he got the ball.”

Gripp got another steal and was fouled with 37 seconds left, and though he missed the free throw, Andrew Ferguson put the game away with a layup.

“We know what (Damon) can do, because he does it all the time in practice,” George Gripp said. “He’s still a ninth grader, and he needs to get some confidence. He fights against these seniors every day in practice. He’s coming around, and he can play like that.

“He needs to be forceful. He has that capability, again he’s only in ninth grade, but so far this year we have put him on the other team’s best player, and he holds them under their scoring average.”

Smith finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Williams led the Scarlet Dragons with 18 points, and Preston Karstetter added 15 points as Central lost in overtime to Tyrone for the second time this season.

“Tyrone played hard, and we battled,” Nevins said. “We lost two games in overtime. It is what it is. We needed to make a few more plays, but I’m real proud of our guys after beating Hollidaysburg at their place and having a chance to beat Tyrone at their place here tonight.”

The Golden Eagles are just halfway through their brutal week after beating Central Mountain and Central, both in overtime, at home. Parker Mitchell finished with a team-high 17 points, and Gripp scored 16.

“This is the toughest week of the season,” George Gripp said. “We had to get these two games at home, because we have a tough back-to-back Friday night at Huntingdon and Saturday at Johnstown. Those are really hard games for us, and we’re going to need to be focused. We’re up for the challenge.”

CENTRAL (60): Karstetter 6 0-0 15, Smith 7 2-3 16, Williams 6 0-0 18, Albright 2 0-0 5, Muthler 2 2-4 6, Klotz 0 0-2 0. Totals — 23 4-9 60.

TYRONE (65): Mitchell 7 3-4 17, Meredith 3 2-2 8, Hoover 2 0-0 5, Ferguson 3 1-2 8, Thomas 4 0-0 10, Politza 0 0-0 0, Gripp 6 2-6 16, Lucas 0 0-0 0. Totals — 25 8-14 65.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Central 19 15 12 9 5 — 60

Tyrone 15 11 17 12 10 — 65

3-point goals: Central 10 (Williams 6, Karstetter 3, Muthler); Tyrone 7 (Hoover 2, Thomas 2, Gripp 2, Ferguson).

Records: Central (12-5); Tyrone (12-2, 7-1 in ML).

Officials: Mike Andrews, Tom Fountaine, Brandon Hoover

JV: Tyrone, 65-55. High scorers–Jake Taylor, T, 29; Braden Kitt, C, 11.

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