For two quarters, it looked like Bradford might be playing the role of Cinderella in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA playoffs against Beaver.
Unfortunately for the Owls, the clock struck midnight in the third quarter.
Beaver went on a 20-5 run in the final 5:24 of the third and topped Bradford 60-46 Friday at the KOA Arena on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
“Our guys played their butts off,” said Bradford coach Brian Hobbs. “I don’t think anybody expected us to be within two at halftime (22-20). They (Beaver) were expected to win the WPIAL and we were expected to do nothing. These guys persevered.”
The key in the second half was transition offense for the Bobcats. Bradford did a great job of playing its tempo in the first 16 minutes, but the Beavers were able to use their athleticism to go on the third quarter surge.
Much of the run was due to easy buckets off turnovers and leak outs. Austin Logan was the primary beneficiary, scoring 11 of the 20 points.
“All year we’ve been able to generate offense off getting stops and that was a big thing for us and a big reason why we won,” said Beaver coach Andy Podbielski.
A three from Anthony Zimbardi temporary halted Beaver, but they were able to stay in control and went up 16 (45-29) on a dagger three by Aaron Barlow as time expired in the third.
“They’re very athletic and create their own shots and that’s tough,” Hobbs noted. “ The third quarter we kind of let it get away. They leaked out a couple times and when you have a 6-5 and 6-4 kid you can afford to leak guys out.”
The first half, it was Bradford that dictated the style of play. In fact, the Owls limited Barlow, who was averaging 20 points per game coming in, to just one free throw in the first half.
“Defensively, I thought Tyler did a pretty good job on him (Barlow),” Hobbs said. “We had help from the weak side and I don’t think they expected that.”
Mikey Wilber heated up in the second, scoring seven points, including a triple that made it 15-14. Neither team led by more than four in the second quarter. Matt Yurkewicz’ layup tied it at 20-20.
Corey Nesmith, who finished with 17 in the game, closed out the half with an easy deuce to put the Bobcats up by two at intermission.
“It was like we were running in quick sand in the first half,” Podbielski said. “They played pretty good defense and I thought, with the long trip up here, we came out tight and we had to get our legs underneath us.”
The Owls tried to cut into the deficit in the fourth quarter, as back-to-back three-point plays by Zimbardi and Yurkewicz cut the margin to 10, 48-38.
Bradford couldn’t get it any closer, however, as the Owls were forced to scramble and Beaver was able to capitalize on some easy chances.
With the outcome in hand with 57 seconds left, Hobbs took out his seniors to a rousing and well-deserved ovation from the Bradford faithful.
“I told them I loved them and they really played their butts off,” Hobbs said. “They’ve (the seniors) been with me since I started; they were sophomores when I started. I told them I’m proud to be their coach and I consider them my kids.”
Beaver will move on to play General McLane, in easy winner over Thomas Jefferson, in the round of 16 Tuesday.
