Basketball

Tigers use ‘frenetic’ pace to take care of rivals

By John Hartsock

jhartsock@altoonamirror.com

For the Hollidaysburg Golden Tigers, it's all about keeping up the pace.

In the Tigers' season-opening game with Altoona back in early December, the Mountain Lions forced Hollidaysburg out of their up-tempo running style of play, and Hollidaysburg was challenged on its home court while pulling out a 48-41 victory.

Wednesday night's rematch between the two teams at the Altoona Area High School Fieldhouse was a different story. Hollidaysburg broke out of the gates quickly and figuratively en route to a 59-38 non-conference victory over its archrivals on the Mountain Lions' senior night.

The Golden Tigers (16-4) enjoyed balanced scoring, with three players in double figures and two more scoring nine points apiece.

Junior guard Brady Steiner had a game-high 13 points for Hollidaysburg, including three 3-point field goals in the first quarter that the Golden Tigers carried, 19-9. Senior forwards Mason Goodman and Leyton Weimert added 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the game for Hollidaysburg, which led, 34-21, at halftime before pulling away for a 53-29 advantage after three quarters.

"When we played them the first time, right off the bat in the first game of the season, the game was played at their pace,'' Lear said. "I think the pace this time was more of the pace that they we like to play -- a frenetic, full-court style that we wanted to keep going and not let their defense slow down.''

Hollidaysburg closed the first period on an 8-2 run, as Steiner hit his three 3-pointers, and seniors Carson Rhodes and Cole Walters added one apiece in the quarter.

Altoona (1-18) drew to within nine points, 28-19, on a pull-up jumper by sophomore Dante LaRocco in the second quarter, before three consecutive field goals by Rhodes -- on two jumpers from the key and a paint chance -- staked Hollidaysburg to a 34-19 cushion.

"I think we found ourselves as a team tonight, and we did a great job of sharing the ball,'' Goodman said. "We had balanced scoring, we played as a team, we played together, and we played hard.''

Hollidaysburg put a padlock on the victory by dominating the third quarter, 19-8, with senior guard Jake Hileman scoring three field goals and adding a free throw.

"Our effort was there again -- I can never fault the effort of our players -- but we just didn't defend well at all, and Hollidaysburg came ready to play tonight,'' said Altoona coach Doug Pfeffer, whose team converted only 14 of 47 floor shots for a 29.8 percent clip, while Hollidaysburg made 25 of its 44 shots for 56.8 percent.

"Our shooting has been our Achilles heel all year, and tonight, we didn't knock down some open shots that could have kept this game close,'' Pfeffer said.

Center Josh Corso - who led the Mountain Lions with nine points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds - was one of five Altoona senior players recognized prior to the game. Corso, along with fellow seniors Isaac Walker, Cohen Crawford, Mike Owaulde and Shaun Purvis - all were in Altoona's starting lineup at the outset of the game.

Pfeffer's daughter, Kendra, who serves as a manager with the team, was also recognized, as were senior members of the Altoona band and majorette corps.

Hollidaysburg's strong effort, however, put somewhat of a damper on Altoona's parade.

Altoona travels to Central Dauphin East for a Mid-Penn Conference game tonight, and Hollidaysburg hosts Bald Eagle Area in a Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference matchup Friday night.

"I just thought that we played well as a team tonight,'' Steiner said. "We needed a big game here, and this was a good team win for us.''

HOLLIDAYSBURG (59): Goodman 5 1-1 11, Hileman 4 1-1 9, Holsopple 2 0-0 4, Rhodes 4 0-0 9, Walters 1 0-0 3, Weimert 4 2-2 10, Steiner 5 0-0 13, Albarano 0 0-0 0, Metzger 0 0-0 0. Totals - 25 4-4 59.

ALTOONA (38): Crawford 1 0-0 2, Corso 3 3-8 9, Walker 2 0-0 6, Owaulde 0 0-0 0, Purvis 1 2-2 5, Greaser 3 0-0 8, LaRocco 1 0-0 2, Lowery 3 0-0 6, Herr 0 0-0 0, Hicks 0 0-0 0, Sankey 0 0-0 0, Simendinger 0 0-0 0. Totals - 14 5-10 38.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Hollidaysburg 19 15 19 6--59

Altoona 9 12 8 9--38

3-point goals: Hollidaysburg 5 (Steiner 3, Rhodes, Walters); Altoona 5 (Walker 2, Greaser 2, Purvis).

Records: Hollidaysburg (16-4), Altoona (1-18).

Officials: Anthony Brezovic, Bill Musser, Brad Martz.

JV: Altoona, 68-34. High scorers--Ben Zimmerman, H, 11; Ethan Hicks, A, 18.