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By Ron Musselman
For The Mirror
HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Through the first three quarters Tuesday night, the Hollidaysburg and Tyrone boys basketball teams were locked into a back and forth battle.
There were 10 lead changes and seven ties during that 24-minute stretch.
The host Golden Tigers finally were able to pull away in the fourth quarter and escaped with a 64-53 victory over the Golden Eagles in a Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference game.
Hollidaysburg (10-4, 8-3 LHAC) benefitted from a 19-11 edge in the decisive final eight minutes against Tyrone (8-6, 6-5 LHAC), which managed just 23 points in the second half due mainly to poor shooting.
Senior Jake Hileman led the Tigers with a season-high 20 points. He netted 13 of his team's 34 points in the middle two quarters when Hollidaysburg stretched a 30-30 halftime tie into a 45-42 lead.
"(Jake) turned in a strong effort for us and it really helped out," Hollidaysburg coach Brad Lear said. "The story of this game was we were keeping it close by missing those inside shots in the first half. We kept track of it and we missed eight shots inside the paint."
Hileman, who added seven rebounds and three blocks, snapped a 38-38 tie with a driving layup with 4:36 remaining in the third quarter. The Tigers never trailed again.
He finished with eight field goals and converted 4 of 5 free throws.
"He did a good job of getting downhill on us," first-year Tyrone coach Luke Rhoades said of Hileman. "Once he does that, he's a strong player, and when he gets in there, he's very active around the hoop as you saw."
Senior Leyton Weimert also scored in double figures for the Tigers, with 10 of his 12 points coming in the second half.
"We didn't have our best half to start," Hileman said. "We played much better in the second half. I think it was a lot of running in transition that got us going. We were sharing the ball and we got a lot of good shots, both inside and outside.
"We also played better defense in the second half."
Junior Kendall Lehner led the Eagles with 19 points and junior Sam Crilly added 10.
Lehner made 10 of 14 free throws for Tyrone, which connected on 17 of 22 overall. Hollidaysburg, meanwhile, hit 11 of 14.
"The Lehner kid had the game of his life for them," Lear said.
Even so, Rhoades was not thrilled with his team's effort.
"I'm not happy with our guys," he said. "We've got to start winning games like this. We've got to be able to win against good teams, especially Class 5A teams. It's all between the ears."
Lear said the Tigers will need some outside help to advance to the LHAC's postseason tournament.
"We would need some help to get in (in the East Division) after losing to Bishop Guilfoyle and Central," Lear said. "The top two teams go to the playoffs and we're third right now, so we're on the outside looking in.
"I told the team we've just got to win every game the rest of the way and hope one of those teams drops a game or two."
Tyrone travels to Williamsport today while Hollidaysburg is back at home Friday against Huntingdon.
TYRONE (53): Crilly 3 2-2 10, Ronan 3 0-0 6, Escala 1 3-4 6, Walk 1 2-2 4, Lehner 4 10-14 19, Crowell 1 0-0 2, Woomer 3 0-0 7. Totals -- 16 17-22 53.
HOLLIDAYSBURG (64): Goodman 4 1-1 9, Hileman 8 4-5 20, Albarano 4 0-0 9, Rhodes 3 0-0 6, Steiner 0 4-4 4, Snyder 0 1-2 1, Weimert 6 0-0 12, Walters 1 0-0 2, Holsopple 0 1-2 1. Totals -- 26 11-14 64.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Tyrone 16 14 12 11 - 53
Hollidaysburg 11 19 15 19 - 64
3-point field goals: Tyrone 4 (Crilly 2, Escala, Woomer), Hollidaysburg 1 (Albarano).
Records: Tyrone (8-6, 6-5 LHAC), Hollidaysburg (10-4, 8-3 LHAC).
Officials: Jordan Forster, Todd Grindle, Ethan Vipond.
JV: Hollidaysburg, 65-43. High scorers: Zimmerman, H, 14 points, Emigh, T, 13.