Ex-PSU star Joe Crispin helps Hoopsfest win Lakemont Division 1 title

Hoopsfest standout Joe Crispin had a plan coming into the championship game of the Central Blair Recreation Commission Lakemont Park Summer Basketball League.

Crispin wanted to make the opposition, Mike's Court, pay attention to where he was on the floor.

The former Penn State grad and current assistant coach, got off to a blistering start and then closed the game out at the free throw line through most of the second half, to allow top-seeded Hoopsfest gain a 59-55 victory in the Division 1 title game against third-seeded Mike's Court on Friday night at Lakemont Park.

"That was the goal was to make them worry about me. I'm usually fresher at the beginning of the game now than I am at the end," the 46-year old Crispin said. "So, I figured I am going to have to be aggressive while I am fresh. You can't always plan on hitting three in a row (from 3-point range) but I can hit them when I'm fresh still."

Crispin drilled a deep 3-pointer uncontested on the first offensive possession down the floor.

The next two trips, Crispin used a pump fake, took one dribble left to avoid the defender flying by, then rose up and buried two more from beyond the arc to give Hoopsfest a quick 9-0 cushion.

There was still too much game to be played and Mike's Court got back to within single possessions on five separate occasions (11-8, 14-12, 17-15, 19-18 and 23-20) in the opening 20 minutes of play.

However, each and every time, Hoopsfest had a response to push the lead back up to its advantage.

When MC's Colin Lear delivered his second straight trey to make it a one-point game at 19-18, Tyler Smith kickstarted an 11-2 Hoopsfest run to end the half.

Smith, a Nittany Lion teammate of Crispin's, has played in the league many years but Friday's title marked the first trophy in his time playing in the outdoor league.

"It feels great. I have played in this league a lot of years, and I've never had a chance to actually win it all," Smith said. "So, today was a lot of fun for me. Joe carried us with some 3's right out of the gate and Jalen with his speed is unstoppable. That was a lot of fun."

Smith converted another layup before Crispin made good on four free throws, and his fourth and final 3-pointer of the night, that gave his team its largest lead of the evening at 30-20 heading into the half.

Mike's pulled to within six (32-26) on a three-point play by PJ Charles, who finished with 11 points, before a tip-in from Hoopsfest's Jabreel Dickens and driving layup by Jalen Triplin, who recorded 11 points, made it a 10-point lead again at 36-26.

Justin Charleton, who had missed a number of wide-open looks from outside, sparked Mike's Court with back-to-back makes before Charles made a layup off an inbound to pull his team to within one possession again at 36-34.

"We fought all year -- we've been down before," Charles said. "... We stick together -- that's the main thing. This is a good team, so the way we fought, I was happy with."

A Smith baseline-spinning layup and foul in which the free throw was converted took the Hoopsfest lead back to five (39-34).

Mike's Court grabbed its first, and only lead of the game, with a 7-0 run on a basket by Charles, Zhaad White triple and KJ Futrell putback that put MC ahead 41-39.

The lead was short-lived as Smith made a pair from the line and then executed another baseline spin into a layup to give Hoopsfest the advantage for good.

A 5-2 mini spurt by Hoopsfest had it up 48-43 before Crispin, who had intentionally opened things up for his teammates by doing all the little things and spacing the floor by taking his defender away, took over once again by demanding the ball once Mike's began playing the foul game.

Crispin, who had 16 points in the opening half and finished with 24 overall, knocked down 8-of-9 from the stripe in the last 1:34 to help Hoopsfest close out the win.

Anthony Colbert, who had 16 points to pace Mike's Court, hit back-to-back challenged 3-pointers to keep things close down the stretch.

"Usually what I try to do is once they (opposition) get into denial mode, I'm going to use my gravity," Crispin said. "I used to move around and find other ways, I'm too tired for that. So, now I'm going to screen, space the floor so they (teammates) can drive and play different ways. When you're tired, you can't do all the same things when you're not. Those other guys are probably, what, 22 (years old)? I've got to manage my energy in those moments."

The league announced its Division 1 all-league and Triplin was named the regular season MVP.

Other members of the team were: Willie Whitfield of Mike's Court, Druw Harmon of Mama Randazzo's, Tony Acrie of Spherion, Ashton Neely of Martin Oil and Steven Ressler of Teeter Group.

MIKE'S COURT (55): Colbert 7 0-0 16, Julius 0 0-0 0, White 3 0-0 7, Whitfield 0 3-4 3, Futrell 1 0-0 2, Lear 2 0-0 6, Moyer 0 0-0 0, Charles 4 3-3 11, Charlton 4 0-0 10. Totals -- 21 6-7 55.

HOOPSFEST (59): Smith 4 4-5 11, Dickens 1 3-4 5, Walters 0 0-0 0, Triplin 3 4-4 11, Connor 2 2-3 7, Crispin 4 12-13 24. Totals -- 14 25-29 59.

Halftime, Hoopsfest, 30-20. 3-point field goals: Mike's Court 7 (Colbert 2, Lear 2, Charlton 2, White); Hoopsfest 6 (Crispin 4, Triplin, Connor).

Officials: Clark Adelman, Mike Andrews, Skip Dry.