RIDGWAY — Down seven and facing one of their toughest challenges thus far this season, the Elk County Catholic boys rallied to top Ridgway, 44-38, and remain perfect on the season.
The Elkers came out hot on their home floor, as Jake Reynolds sank three 3-pointers in the early going of the first quarter and helped Ridgway to a 16-9 advantage after one.
But the Crusaders clamped down and allowed just two long distance shots for the remainder of the game while getting their own offense going.
“Ridgway came out and played an excellent first quarter, shot the ball well, and out-played us as they built a 10-point lead in the first,” Elk Catholic head coach Aaron Straub said.
“I thought our kids held their composure and settled down, made some shots, and got back into the game.”
Regis Wortman and Alex Breindel each registered 13 points for the Crusaders (14-0), which scored 15 in the second 14 in the third to take a five-point lead heading into the final frame.
That quarter featured a defensive slugfest in which ECC outscored Ridgway by just one, 6-5, to close out the win.
“Tonight’s was a very good ‘team win’ as our starters and guys that came off the bench certainly came up with some big stops on defense and some key rebounds,” Straub said.
It’s the second tight game between the two schools this year, as the Crusaders topped Ridgway 43-40 in the championship game of the Elk County Tournament in late December. Other than those two battles against the Elkers, ECC has won its other 12 games all by at least eight points.
Will Thompson (10 points) was also in double figures for Ridgway (11-3), which lost for the second time in three games.
“Tonight’s game caps a two-week, four-game road stretch for our team,” Straub said. “Monday nights game is a rematch of our Jan. 2 meeting in Kane. We were very fortunate to beat Kane on their home floor as they had 3 shots to beat us in the last eight seconds before we escaped with a one point win.”
The Elkers return to action on Tuesday when they host Curwensville.
AT RIDGWAY
Elk Catholic (44)
Regis Wortman 4 4-4 13, Alex Breindel 4 2-2 13, Uberti 2 1-2 7, Wehler 2 0-1 4, Lindemuth 0 3-4 3, Schneider 1 0-0 3, O’Leary 0 1-2 1. Totals: 13 11-15 44
Ridgway (38)
Jake Reynolds 6 0-0 16, Will Thompson 4 2-3 10, Allegretto 1 3-8 5, Rohr 2 0-0 5, Dush 1 0-2 2, Totals: 14 5-13 38
Elk Catholic 9 24 38 44
Ridgway 16 22 33 38
Three-point goals: Elk Catholic 7 (Breindel 3, Uberti 2, Wortman, Schneider), Ridgway 5 (Reynolds 4, Rohr 1); Total fouls: Elk Catholic 15, Ridgway 13; fouled out: None
JV: Elk Catholic 26-20
Otto-Eldred 70, Oswayo Valley 29
DUKE CENTER — Andrew Sheeler scored a career-high 23 points and was credited with five assists to help Otto-Eldred roll to a 70-29 victory over Oswayo Valley in their North Tier League game Friday night.
Sheeler buried 10 field goals, two of them 3-pointers, and was perfect at the freethrow line.
The Terrors jumped on the Green Wave right from the opening tip-off, holding a 21-8 lead by the end of the first quarter. The difference was 20 points (36-16) at halftime, 48 points (64-16) after three and the final outcome was all but settled.
“We got out to a pretty good start and played pretty good defense throughout the night,” said Otto-Eldred coach Dan Dalton.
Away from the ball, the Terrors’ Cameron Grigsby pulled down eight rebounds and came up with five steals.
Otto-Eldred (6-7, 5-7 NTL) hosts Smethport next Wednesday.
AT DUKE CENTER
Oswayo Valley (29)
Graves 1 1-2 3, Stedman 4 0-0 9, Welch 1 3-4 5, Wichert 1 3-4 5, Bean 2 0-2 7, Gross 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 9-10 29
Otto-Eldred (70)
Chase Sebastian 3 0-0 6, Andrew Sheeler 10 1-1 23, VanScoter 2 0-0 4, Grigsby 4 1-2 9, Jimerson 4 0-0 8, Cole Sebastian 2 0-0 5, Braden Maholic 3 2-2 10, Quintero 2 1-1 5. Totals 30 5-6 70
Oswayo Valley 8 16 24 29
Otto-Eldred 21 36 64 70
Three-point goals: OV 2 (Stedman, Bean), Otto-Eldred 5 (Sheeler 2, Cole Sebastian, Maholic 2); Total fouls: OV 7, O-E 15; fouled out: None
JV: Otto-Eldred 39-19
Johnsonburg 56, Smethport 44
SMETHPORT — Smethport had a disappointing finish to a three-game week with a non-league loss to Johnsonburg Friday, 56-44.
Austin Green had 18 points and Isaac Schloder posted 15 to key the Rams offense.
Offensively for the Hubbers, Ian Woodruff scored 14 points.
“Johnsonburg shot really well. In the first quarter they had 15 points – all three pointers. They didn’t miss,” noted Smethport coach Jay Acker. “We had a bad second quarter, and we just couldn’t recover from that.”
Smethport, now 7-6 overall, returns to action Monday when the Hubbers host Austin.
AT SMETHPORT
Johnsonburg (56)
Isaac Schloder 6-1-3-15, Gregori 2-0-2-5, Zilkofski 1-0-0-2, Notarianni 1-1-1-3, Austin Green 7-0-0-18, Watts 2-0-0-5, Bliss 2-0-0-4, Stelene 2-0-1-4. Totals 23-2-7-56
Smethport (44)
Ian Woodruff 5-4-7-14, Lutz 3-1-2-9, Szarowicz 2-0-0-5, Costa 1-1-2-3, Alfieri 1-3-4-5, Peterson 0-2-2-2, Shall 0-2-2-2, Lent 1-0-2-3. Totals 13-13-21-44
Johnsonburg 15 35 48 56
Smethport 13 21 32 44
Three-point goals: Johnsonburg 8 (Schloder 2, Gregori 1, Green 4, Watts 1); Smethport 4 (Lutz 2, Szarowicz 1, Lent 1); Total fouls: Johnsonburg 15, Smethport 10; fouled out: None
JV: Smethport won 40-34
