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By Brad Rosemas
For the Mirror
PORTAGE -- Thursday night's boys basketball contest between Conemaugh Valley and Portage kept those inside Len Chappell Gymnasium on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer sounded.
In a matchup that compiled 20 lead changes and eight ties, it was Conemaugh Valley who grabbed the final advantage on the game's last bucket.
Jaylen Henry's 3-pointer from the top of the key with 52 seconds remaining put the Blue Jays in front, as the Mustangs missed multiple opportunities to tie or take the lead in the closing seconds, allowing Conemaugh Valley to prevail, 73-71.
"This was a very well-played high school basketball game," Portage coach Travis Kargo said. "It showed a lot of what's good in high school athletics. Both teams battled as hart as they possibly could. Unfortunately, we came up on the short end tonight."
Following Owen Gouse's layup that put the Mustangs ahead 71-70, the Blue Jays had two quality looks right below the rim, but to no avail.
The rebound made its way through three different players' legs in the paint and rolled out to Henry at the 3-point line, who knocked down what proved to be the game-winning shot.
"Our guys didn't give up at all," Conemaugh Valley coach Trevon Williams said. "They showed great perseverance. They stayed on their horses and stayed on the grind the entire game. I'm very proud of the effort we have to be able to pull out the win."
Portage's ensuing offensive possessions resulted in a missed three and a failed put-back attempt on the offensive rebound, followed by another missed shot at the rim.
The Mustangs' final chance to tie the game came with nine seconds to go, but Portage turned the ball over off the inbound pass.
"Details win games, and one of those details is making some layups," Kargo said. "We missed some make-able shots, I felt, even that wide open three. It looked good, but it didn't go. We had chances, but they put the ball in the basket one more time than us tonight."
Conemaugh Valley (16-1) kept Portage in the game after the Blue Jays went 0-for-4 at the free throw line in the final 30 seconds.
"It was a very important defensive stretch, but we also missed our free throws," Williams said. "We honestly could've put the game away there. That's just something we have to work on moving forward."
The Blue Jays jumped out to the game's largest lead at 6-0 in the first two minutes. Portage eventually tied the game at 15 before holding a 21-20 lead after the first quarter.
Both teams then each tallied 19 points in the second frame to hold the Mustangs' lead at one point at the break.
Portage knocked down three consecutive 3-pointers to open the third quarter to grab its largest lead of the game at 49-45, but the Mustangs were unable to pull away.
Conemaugh Valley took the advantage back at 55-53 at the end of the third quarter, and despite the lead changing hands seven times in the fourth, the Blue Jays held on.
"Portage had the hot hand all night," Williams said. "Our main thing was we had to be in their face with a hand up and play the best defense we could. We tried to attack inside and keep Bode (Layo) out of the way, but he played a heck of a game and made it hard for us."
Bode Layo scored a game-high 20 points for the Mustangs, who had four players in double figures. Gouse tallied 19 points, while Trae Kargo recorded 15 and Jake McCoy added 12.
Jeremy Dietz topped the Blue Jays, who also had four players in double-digit scoring, with 19.
The loss drops Portage to 7-6 on the season, including a 7-4 mark in the Heritage Conference. Even though the three-time defending District 6 champions are hovering around the .500 mark, the Mustangs are currently sitting in third place in the conference standings.
Conemaugh Valley (73): Henry 5 0-2 11, Yackulich 4 2-4 10, Miller 3 1-2 8, Percinsky 8 1-1 18, Dietz 7 4-6 19, Masser 2 0-0 4, Weimer 1 0-0 3. Totals -- 30 8-15 73.
Portage (71): Kargo 6 0-0 15, Kunko 1 0-0 3, Layo 9 1-2 20, E. Hodge 0 0-0 0, Gouse 7 3-4 19, Z. Hodge 1 0-0 2, McCoy 6 0-0 12. Totals -- 30 4-6 71.
3-point field goals: Conemaugh Valley 5 (Henry, Miller, Percinsky, Dietz, Weimer); Portage 7 (Kargo 3, Gouse 2, Layo, Kunko).
Score by Quarters
Conemaugh Valley 20 19 16 18 -- 73
Portage 21 19 13 18 -- 71
Records: Conemaugh Valley (16-1); Portage (7-6).
JV: Conemaugh Valley, 53-43