By Ron Musselman

For The Mirror

HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Hollidaysburg boys basketball team had to work overtime Wednesday night to secure a 56-50 Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference win against Central.

Sophomore guard Tyson Delerme hit back-to-back baskets in the extra four-minute session, including a 3-pointer with 3:15 to go that gave the Golden Tigers the lead for good.

It also marked the 12th and final lead change after halftime.

“It’s been awhile since we’ve beaten them,” Hollidaysburg coach Brad Lear said. “I know we have lost the last four games to them and possibly the last six. Tonight, we somehow found a way to gut it out.

“(Delerme) played well. I was happy to see him hit that big 3 and make that layup in overtime. It sparked us.”

Hollidaysburg (10-1) took advantage of Central’s 20-day layoff early on, jumping to a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.

The Scarlet Dragons connected on just 1 of 14 shots in the opening eight minutes — a 3 by freshman Jesse Muthler.

Both teams continued to struggle from the field in the second quarter, but seven consecutive points by Eli Muthler down the stretch pulled Central to within 18-15 at intermission.

“I’m really proud of our kids, proud of the fight they showed,” Central coach Paul Frederick said. “It’s hard to keep playing hard when you’re not putting the ball in the basket, but they did.”

Lear’s team also missed a number of inside shots in the opening 16 minutes.

“I was a little frustrated with our offensive game just because it seemed like we were stagnant at times,” he said. “It was a credit to them, because they played tough defense.

“We missed seven layups right around the basket in the first half.”

The lead changed hands seven times in the third quarter as both teams finally heated up. Central held a 21-19 scoring edge, but still trailed 37-36 on the Tigers’ home floor.

The game continued to seesaw back and forth in the fourth quarter. Hollidaysburg junior Ben Zimmerman hit two free throws with 33 seconds left to force overtime.

The Tigers outscored the Dragons 9-3 in overtime as Eli Muthler, who had a game-high 19 points, fouled out with 55 seconds left. Central (4-2) has dropped two in a row after starting 4-0.

Senior Brady Steiner led Hollidaysburg with 13 points and Zimmerman added 12. The Tigers have won two in a row since suffering their lone loss to Forest Hills.

“Give Hollidaysburg a lot of credit,” Frederick said. “I thought they made a couple more plays than we did down the stretch, especially there in overtime.

“They had some other kids step up and make some big shots. Delerme made a big 3 there in the corner and then he had the layup. I thought the older (Jay) Albarano and Steiner hit a couple big 3s for them.

“It was back and forth the whole time. It was a fun game to play. You always like to win games like that, but it helps both teams either way.

Central hosts Huntingdon Friday in an LHAC game, while Hollidaysburg is at Bellefonte.

CENTRAL (50): Byler 2 0-2 6, E. Muthler 6 6-8 19, Black 3 0-0 6, J. Muthler 3 0-0 7, Heuston 2 0-0 4, Klotz 2 0-0 5, Lingenfelter 1 0-0 3. Totals — 19 6-10 50.

HOLLIDAYSBURG (56): Metzger 3 1-2 7, Wolfe 2 0-0 5, B. Steiner 4 2-2 13, Delerme 2 0-0 5, J. Albarano 2 1-2 7, V. Albarano 1 3-6 5, Stultz 1 0-0 2, Zimmerman 4 4-6 12. Totals — 19 11-18 56.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Central 3 12 21 11 3 — 50

Hollidaysburg 9 9 19 10 9– 56

3-point goals: Central 6 (Byler 2, E. Muthler, Klotz, J. Muthler, Lingenfelter); Hollidaysburg 7 (Steiner 3, J. Albarano 2, Wolfe, Delerme).

Records: Central (4-2); Hollidaysburg (10-1).

Officials: Scott Campbell, Joe Hanna, Dan Gales.

JV: Hollidaysburg, 48-26. High scorers-McDade, H, 15; Dickson, C, 8.