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Veteran Mustangs give all-out effort in victory

By Brad Rosemas

For the Mirror

PORTAGE — Portage veteran coach Travis Kargo has attributed much of his team’s success this season to the squad’s senior leadership, and this was again the case on Tuesday night.

Stellar play in crunch time led to the Mustangs turning a 45-all tie with just over six minutes to go into a 64-47 victory over Homer-Center in the Heritage Conference semifinals.

“Our six seniors have experienced many games like this,” said Kargo, whose team will face West Shamokin, a 59-46 winner over Conemaugh Township, in the title game at 8 p.m. Friday inside the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

“They knew they were going to be challenged. We expected a tough game coming in. Especially during that fourth quarter, we knew we had to grow up or go home. We definitely chose to grow up.”

Portage (16-5) carried a 45-40 lead into the fourth quarter, which Homer-Center quickly erased with back-to-back buckets to open the frame.

The Mustangs then outscored the Wildcats 19-2 over the final six minutes to secure the win.

“We really came together at the end,” Portage guard Trae Kargo said. “All of us put all of our energy towards the last six minutes. We just did what we had to do to come out with a win.”

The Mustangs held Homer-Center (13-9) to 1-for-11 shooting down the stretch, while forcing four turnovers.

Portage turned the miscues and quick misses into easy transition points. Trae Kargo and Owen Gouse assisted forwards Bode Layo, Zach Hodge and Ethan Hodge on multiple open shots at the rim.

The Mustangs made 7 of 10 field goals in the fourth quarter after shooting 34 percent as a team through three quarters.

“Defense is what made the difference for us in that stretch,” Layo said. “We locked in and made a bunch of big stops, then we were able to get some nice buckets in transition. That’s the way we love to play.”

Portage’s slow start offensively helped the Wildcats take an early lead and hold a 13-11 advantage after the first quarter.

The Mustangs took their first lead since the game’s opening minutes, 23-21, on two Layo free throws with 3:00 to go in the half, but Homer-Center rebounded with two baskets from Nash Budner to lead 28-26 at the break.

Portage opened the third on a 10-3 run and led by as many as eight points in the frame before the Wildcats closed in heading to the fourth.

“It was great team basketball,” coach Kargo said. “Our passing was phenomenal down the stretch. We kept saying, ‘Let’s stick together. Let’s work harder on defense.’ That’s what led to our transition points.”

Layo scored a game-high 18 points for the Mustangs. Trae Kargo tallied 16 points, while Gouse had 11.

Friday will be Portage’s second time playing in the conference championship since joining the Heritage three years ago. The Mustangs fell to United, 58-48, in their first appearance in 2023.

Portage upended its next opponent West Shamokin 54-48 on Jan. 21.

“It’s a great opportunity to get there and play,” Trae Kargo said. “We’ve been looking forward to it all year, and now it’s time to go out and get the job done.”

HOMER-CENTER (47): Voyda 5 6-8 16, Alexander 3 0-0 7, Coy 2 0-0 5, Rado 1 0-0 2, Kosmack 2 2-2 6, Budner 4 0-0 11. Totals: 17 8-10 47.

PORTAGE (64): Kargo 7 1-2 16, Slanoc 0 1-2 1, Layo 7 4-6 18, E. Hodge 3 0-0 6, Gouse 3 5-6 11, Z. Hodge 3 0-0 6, McCoy 2 2-2 6. Totals: 25 13-18 64.

SCORE BY QUARTERs

Homer-Center 13 15 12 7 — 47

Portage 11 15 19 19 — 64

3-point goals: Homer Center 5 (Budner 3, Coy, Alexander); Portage 1 (Kargo).

Records: Portage (16-5), Homer-Center (13-9)

JV: No game

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