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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
JOHNSTOWN -- The District 6 Class 4A boys basketball championship game is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Mount Aloysius.
Central got the opportunity to look at how much it needs to improve by that date in a 49-23 loss to Johnstown Thursday night in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference semifinals.
The Scarlet Dragons, who lost to the Trojans by five in the regular season and in last year's district final, will most likely see Johnstown again in 11 days as the teams are the top two seeds in 4A by a large margin.
"They played tough man-to-man like they always do," Central coach Paul Frederick said. "They ran a little bit of that run and jump, and I thought we were OK against that for the most part, but their halfcourt man is very good. They are very disciplined and aggressive, and we had a hard time getting going against them."
Central stayed close early and trailed by just one late in the first quarter after Eli Muthler's layup made it 7-6, but the Trojans scored the final five points of the quarter after the Dragons came up short on several 3-point attempts.
"We made nine 3-pointers against them the first time," Frederick said. "We didn't make one tonight. There's 27 points. I think we got a fair amount of decent shots. Early in the game, we were playing offense well enough. We created some good shots, but we just didn't get much to fall. I thought we defended OK early. It was 20-12 at halftime. We'll take them scoring 20 in a half, but they opened it up on offense and made some shots in the second half."
Johnstown didn't exactly light up the scoreboard either and led Central just 20-12 at the half. Donte Tisinger, who led all scorers with 17 points, made the only three 3-pointers of the game for either team despite not being 100 percent after turning his ankle last week.
"I think his ankle was fine," Johnstown coach Ryan Durham said. "I think it was more (being winded). He hasn't played in a week. He hasn't been dribbling or shooting a basketball, just healing. Today was his first actual time playing. You could tell his wind was a little bit behind, and you saw it on some jump shots, but I think he got his second wind to start the second half. He played really well."
Central did not score more than six points in any quarter.
"Playoff time is about defense," Durham said. "The focus was better. We have become so close, and our guys have been through it before. We have been through this process, and we saw the same thing last year at this time. It happened at practice. We're being detail-oriented on how we're guarding certain actions and players. It made it real tough on them."
In addition to playing tough defense, Johnstown concentrated on finishing defensive stops and getting to loose balls.
"I think they got every 50-50 ball when we played them earlier," Durham said. "A lot of those plays led to a kick-out 3-pointer for a bucket or we didn't come up with the ball and they got a layup. That helps them score the basketball. Last time, they ended up with 45, which is not a bad defensive performance, but this was a special defensive performance across the board."
Muthler finished with a team-high eight points and had 10 rebounds. Hunter Smith scored six points and had nine rebounds for the Scarlet Dragons, who fell to 18-5 and will play Juniata at home in the District 6 Class 4A semifinals next week.
The teams combined to shoot just 11 free throws -- Central was 3-for-3, and Johnstown was 4-for-8.
"I thought in the first half, we did a good job trying to take the ball to the hole," Frederick said. "The second half, maybe not as much. They do a good job closing off gaps and making you kick it out. You need to make some shots to beat them, and we just didn't tonight."
The victory was Durham's 200th as a head coach including a stint at Ferndale.
"It means I have been coaching a long time and have had some really good basketball players," Durham said. "Overall, I have had seven 1,000-point scorers from the time at Ferndale and here. We have had over 20 kids go play college basketball since I have been a head coach. Wins are a team stat. It's not like 1,000 points or 500 rebounds. These wins don't happen without my players, a great coaching staff and the support of the school."
The Trojans, who also got a 13-point effort from senior Dion Dixon, will play Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic, a 74-52 winner over Chestnut Ridge in the other LHAC semifinal, in the championship game on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Penn State Altoona's Adler Arena. The teams did not meet in the regular season.
"I expect a normal BG-Johnstown game," Durham said. "It usually comes down to the last possession and last shot. That's how we like it, and that's what we're preparing for. They have a really good team, obviously, and we look forward to the challenge."
CENTRAL (23): H. Smith 2 2-2 6, Muthler 4 0-0 8, Butler 0 0-0 0, Garver 1 0-0 2, Albright 0 0-0 0, Bettwy 0 0-0 0, Long-Yarrison 1 1-1 3, Byler 1 0-0 2, D. Smith 0 0-0 0, Lingenfelter 0 0-0 0, Bassler 0 0-0 0, Heuston 0 0-0 0. Totals -- 9 3-3 23.
JOHNSTOWN (49): Collins 2 0-1 4, Tisinger 6 2-2 17, Dixon 6 1-2 13, Am. Robinson 2 1-2 5, R. Braswell 3 0-1 6, Alberter 1 0-0 2, Dykes 0 0-0 0, Au. Robinson 0 0-0 0, Armstrong 0 0-0 0, H. Braswell 1 0-0 2. Totals -- 21 4-8 49.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Central 6 6 6 5 -- 23
Johnstown 12 8 17 12 -- 49
3-point goals: Central: none; Johnstown 3 (Tisinger 3).
Records: Central (18-5); Johnstown (20-3).
Officials: Sam Zambanini, Tom Kegg, Jason Moschgat