ST. MARYS — Elk County Catholic overcame a two-point halftime deficit with a strong third quarter to win its fourth Elk County Holiday Tournament in the last five years. A 10-2 ECC run in the third quarter proved to be the major difference, as the Elkers mustered just a single field goal in the third quarter.
The Elkers got out to a quick 7-3 lead over the Crusaders with two-point field goals by guard Matt Dush and forward Dan Park, along with a three-pointer by guard Domenic Allegretto. A three by guard Will Uberti was the lone basket for the Crusaders in the first quarter.
ECC was able to cut the lead to just two heading into the break. Junior Mark Kraus scored all six of his points in the second period to help narrow the deficit. Alex Bon and Dush each chipped in four points to help the Elkers maintain a narrow lead headed into the intermission.
The key to any Tony Allegretto and Aaron Straub matchup is the third period, and this time, Straub was able to win that third quarter battle. The Crusaders used six points from Regis Wortman to take the lead while also getting the Elkers in foul trouble. Dush picked up his third and fourth fouls of the game in the third quarter, but remained in the game.
The Crusaders led 25-19 heading into the final quarter, and went into “dribble spread” formation to work the ball and look for the high percentage shot. Five fourth-quarter points from senior forward Leo Gregory proved to be key in ECC trying to build upon its narrow margin in the second half. Despite 11 combined points from Elker senior guards Zack Zameroski and Dush in the period, it proved too little too late for the Elkers. Wortman and Dush each led their teams in scoring with twelve points respectively.
Ridgway shot only five three throws in the game, and made just one in comparison to ECC’s 10-for-13 night at the charity stripe.
The win moves ECC to 8-0 on the season, and the loss is Ridgway’s first of the season, dropping the Elkers to 5-1. Elk County Catholic returns to action on Friday as it travels to take on Class A rival DuBois Central Catholic at 7 p.m. Ridgway will be back in action on Friday as well, when it squares off against Coudersport in a home game slated to also tip off at 7 o’clock.
AT ST. MARYS
Ridgway (30)
Matt Dush 6 0-1 12, Zameroski 3 1-2 7, Allegretto 2 0-1 5, Bon 2 0-0 4, Pack 1 0-0 2 Totals: 14 1-4 30
Elk County Catholic (38)
Regis Wortman 5 2-4 12, Kraus 4 0-0 8, Uberti 3 0-0 7, Gregory 2 1-2 5, Breindel 0 4-4 4 Lindemuth 0 2-3 2 Totals: 16 9-13 38
Ridgway 7 17 19 30
Elk Catholic 3 12 25 38
Three-point goals: Ridgway 1 (Allegretto), ECC 1 (Uberti); Total fouls: Ridgway 14, ECC 12; Fouled out: Isaac Wortman (ECC)
