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Tigers capture tourney title

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Susquehannock boys basketball coach Andy Shelow is no stranger to the Hollidaysburg boys program.

The 2004 graduate once suited up for the Golden Tigers under then head coach Mick Pentoney and noticed that things haven’t changed under current bench boss Brad Lear.

“It’s like that idea ‘tradition never dies,'” Shelow said. “They’re still doing the same warmup as whenever I was (playing). It’s impressive to see how the talent is year after year after year. It’s fun to watch what I saw 20 years ago is happening today.”

Saturday’s Golden Tiger Roundball Classic championship, though, went against the former Golden Tiger as his alma mater outscored his Warriors, 36-20 in the second half en route to a 58-50 win.

Susquehannock did, though, give the Tigers trouble early as sharp-shooter Jalen Franklin scored 11 of his team-high 21 points in the first quarter.

His efforts got the Warriors to a 30-22 halftime lead, but the Golden Tigers, meanwhile, turned this into a tale of two halves.

Ryan Stevenson picked up a pair of early jumpers, which sparked a 20-4 Golden Tiger run before a Warrior timeout.

“(Stevenson’s) a big role player for us, pushes the ball when he needs to, can score when he needs to and is a big energy boost for our team,” teammate and tournament MVP Josh Holsopple said.

That set off Holsopple and Jaden Delerme as they scored a combined 15 of the Golden Tigers’ 23 points, giving the champions a 45-42 lead after three.

“When we are missing our shots, we guard the fastbreak more,” Lear said. “When we’re making our shots, we’re running toward the basket more. You wouldn’t think that would be the deal because when we’re missing you’d want to get a rebound.”

Holsopple led all scorers with 25 points, while Delerme — who also made the all-tournament team — contributed 19. Franklin, also on the All-Tournament Team, finished with 21 for the Warriors.

“(Franklin)’s a great player,” Delerme said. “Last year he gave us some trouble. We had to stop his drives and help a lot on him — always run another man on him in help defense. (Jake) Eden is a great a shooter, went off last night. We knew we had to close out well on them.”

Lear — whose Golden Tigers are now 5-0 and have had to play two tight games this week — was pleased with the fight his Tigers showed.

“It gives us confidence that we’re not going to go away,” he said. “When we came out and responded (in the second half), we took a 10 point lead. We’re confident that the kids will never quit, and since I’ve gotten here, that’s been our M.O.”

Shelow appreciated the opportunity to return home.

“It’s funny that you leave and 20 years later and you come back, and it’s like you never left in many parts while I was the other team,” he said. “I had guys that came back and wanted to come to see the game that I imagine hasn’t been to many games recently. It’s always fun to come home; it’s always going to be home.”

Ligonier Valley won the consolation game over Juniata Valley, 69-30. Jake Johnson led the Green Hornets with 14 points. The Green Hornets’ Garry Beck and the Rams’ Michael Marinchak also made the all-tournament team.

CHAMPIONSHIP

SUSQUEHANNOCK (50): Eden 2 2-2 7, Held 5 0-0 11, Lippy 0 0-0 0, Staub 1 0-0 2, Franklin 7 3-6 21, Brusse 0 0-0 0, Green 3 0-0 6, Holloway 0 0-0 0, Pecunes 1 0-0 3. Totals — 19 5-8 50.

HOLLIDAYSBURG (58): Delerme 8 3-4 19, Holsopple 10 2-2 25, McGinnis 1 0-0 3, Stevenson 2-2 6, M. Kratzer 2 0-0 4, Grassi 0 0-0 0, G. Kratzer 0 0-0 0, Gildea 0 0-0 0, Yeager 0 0-0 0. Totals — 25 7-8 58.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Susquehannock 14 16 12 8 — 50

Hollidaysburg 11 11 23 13 — 58

3-point field goals: Susquehannock 5 (Eden, Held, Pecunes, Franklin 2); Hollidaysburg 4 (Holsopple 3, McGinnis)

Records: Susquehannock (3-2); Hollidaysburg (5-0)

Referees: Joe Hanna, Nicholas Lancaster, William Barton

CONSOLATION

LIGONIER VALLEY (69): Mi. Marinchak 1 0-0 3, Niedbalson 2 1-2 5, Ma. Marinchak 4 0-0 9, Mills 6 1-2 15, Seftos 3 0-0 6, Silk 3 0-0 6, Grzwinski 1 0-0 2, Hollick 3 0-0 7, Fox 0 0-0 0, Smykal 2 0-0 5, Golden 1 0-0 2, Higgins 3 1-2 7, Rhoades 1 0-0 2, Blechosh 0 0-0 0. Totals — 30 3-6 69.

JUNIATA VALLEY (30): Beck 4 2-2 10, Johnson 6 1-1 14, Thatcher 1 0-0 2, Edwards 2 0-0 4, Soder 0 0-0 0, Foster 0 0-0 0, Eichelberger 0 0-0 0. Totals — 13 3-3 30.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Ligonier Valley 27 12 20 10 — 69

Juniata Valley 6 13 4 7 — 30

3-point field goals: Ligonier Valley 5 (Mi. Marinchak, Ma. Marinchak, Mills 2, Smykal); Juniata Valley 1 (Johnson)

Records: Ligonier Valley (4-2); Juniata Valley (0-6).

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