Basketball

Defense fuels Golden Eagles’ rout

TYRONE -- Tyrone is averaging more than 70 points per game very early this boys basketball season, but Golden Eagles coach Luke Rhoades says the key to that offense is actually the defense.

Tyrone provided an example of that in the first quarter of Friday's 76-42 win over Bishop Carroll Catholic.

The Eagles forced nine turnovers in the quarter and took a 24-5 lead that was never threatened the rest of the game.

"I think we did a good job early moving and coming out with some high intensity," Rhoades said. "We're trying to focus a lot on defense. I really think we did a good job of moving early."

Eli Woomer scored 19 of his team-high 27 points in the first half, including several transition 3-pointers and layups.

But despite a 2-0 start with Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference wins over the Huskies and Penns Valley, Rhoades sees room for improvement.

"(The defensive effort) has to be all game, though," Rhoades said. "There were a couple possessions there where we went on scoring lulls, and we weren't playing intense defense. Our whole scheme and game revolves around us playing defense with high intensity."

Everyone not named Jace Casses was experiencing a scoring lull for Bishop Carroll in the first half. Casses, who helped the Huskies reach the PIAA Class 1A semifinals and win a District 6 title last year alongside Mirror Player of the Year Luke Repko, scored the first 18 points for BC, but Carroll trailed 39-18 after Sam Crilly's third 3-pointer -- one of 11 made by the Golden Eagles.

"He's playing well right now," Bishop Carroll coach Cosie Aliquo said. "We've just got to find him some help."

Eleven different players scored for Tyrone, which increased its lead in each quarter.

"With the guys coming off the bench, we don't want to take a step back," Rhoades said. "When they come off the bench, we want that energy level to be there. I think our guys have done that the first two nights we have played. That's important. Depth is important, and we're playing baseline to baseline, so we have to be able to go deep."

Bishop Carroll topped Tyrone last season with the help of Casses, which may have led to the Eagles' early intensity and defensive focus that led to Huskies turnovers on their first four possessions.

"He had a great game against us last year, and we knew he was a great player," Rhoades said. "He scored their first 18 points. He's a heck of a player. There were times we had defensive letdowns against him, but there were other times where he just made phenomenal plays. I think he's just a great player and is fun to watch."

Casses finished with 29 points despite not playing the final five minutes.

Bishop Carroll opened the season against two of the favorites to win the District 6 Class 3A championship.

"We have to just keep battling and getting better," Aliquo said. "That's just the way we've got to be. We started off the year playing Westmont -- the District 6 champ -- and then a good Tyrone team that was really good last year and has a lot of guys back. They are well coached."

For the game, Tyrone outrebounded Bishop Carroll, 26-18, and forced 19 turnovers while turning it over itself just 10 times.

"The sky is the limit," Tyrone's Kendall Lehner said. "We have guys that can spot up and shoot and guys down low. I think we can do anything we want if we keep working. We can play anyone on our team. We are 20 guys deep."

Both teams will be on the road Monday with Tyrone at Bald Eagle Area and Carroll at Bedford.

"We have to work on everything," Aliquo said. "There's not one thing we're doing well right now. We just have to keep battling."

BISHOP CARROLL (42): Becquet 0 0-2, Casses 11 4-4 29, Lucko 0 0-0 0, Tremel 2 0-0 6, J. Phillips 0 0-0 0, Walker 0 3-4 3, Conner 0 0-0 0, Seymour 0 1-2 1, Lauer 0 0-0 0, Beiswenger 0 0-0 0, P. Phillips 0 0-0 0, Stohon 0 0-0 0, Hall-Campbell 1 0-0 3. Totals -- 14 8-12 42.

TYRONE (76): Crilly 4 0-0 11, A. Walk 1 0-1 2, Escala 3 0-0 7, Lehner 3 2-2 8, Woomer 10 1-2 27, Hamer 3 0-0 6, Adams 1 0-0 2, A. Emigh 1 4-4 6, M. Emigh 0 0-0 0, Oakes 0 0-0 0, Novak 1 0-0 2, Dasher 0 0-0 0, Harpster 0 0-0 0, Parsons 1 0-0 2, Gwinn 1 0-0 3, B. Walk 0 0-0 0. Totals -- 29 7-9 76.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Bishop Carroll 9 11 14 8 -- 42

Tyrone 25 18 22 11 -- 76

3-point goals: Bishop Carroll 6 (Casses 3, Tremel 2, Hall-Campbell); Tyrone 11 (Woomer 6, Crilly 3, Escala, Gwinn).

Records: Bishop Carroll (0-2); Tyrone (2-0).

JV: Tyrone, 39-25. High scorers--Ben Walk/Carter Gwinn, T, 10 each; Joe Phillips/Winston Hall-Campbell, BC, 6 each.

Officials: Billy Pfeffer, Craig Andros, Kevin Laird.