Down eight early in the third quarter and with two key players in foul trouble, Nanticoke head coach Zach Pientka called junior center Jaidyn Johnson over to tell him one thing. "You have to take over." Johnson scored 21 of his 32 points in the second half en route to a 58-51 over Wyoming Area at Greater Nanticoke Area High School. "I'm happy we got the win." said Jaidyn Johnson. "We were down 10 and eight really fast with their hot shooting. We got the lead down to two at half. We came out confident in the second half that we could win this." Johnson continued. Ibn Jordan-Thomas added 11 for the Trojans. Coming up big with several offensive rebounds an a big steal late in the game. "He's an absolute animal. He comes into the gym everyday. It's crazy, the energy he brings. He just wants it more than anyone else". Pientka said about his senior. Johnson on his teammate. "That's my guy, he's my bash brother. We wouldn't be in this situation if it weren't for him. He's an absolute monster on the offensive board. It's great to have a guy like him on the team."
Jaidyn Johnson started off the game by scoring Nanticoke's first two baskets to make 4-0 but Wyoming Area went on a 12-0 run, highlighted by big three pointers by Tyler Sciandra and Lucas Burakiewicz. Ibn Jordan-Thomas ended the scoring drought for Nanticoke to make it 12-6 but Burakiewicz sank another three pointer to make it 15-6 and the Warriors led 15-8 at the end of the first quarter.
Anthony DeLucca hit a three pointer early in the second quarter to make it a ten point Wyoming Area lead. Nanticoke got a basket from Johnson and a free throw from Gavin Turak. Dane Schutter got a basket to increase the lead to nine. Johnson scored five straight points but Burakiewicz hit his third three pointer of the half to get the lead to seven. The Trojans got a basket by Turak then a free throw by Jordan-Thomas. Just as the half was coming to an end, Nanticoke got a steal and Gavin Turak hit a layup just as the buzzer sounded to make it 23-21 Wyoming Area at the half.
Early in the third quarter, Johnson tied the game up but Schutter hit a pair of free throws to give the Warriors back the lead. Burakiewicz hit his fourth three pointer of the game and Matt Little hit another three to make it an eight point Wyoming Area lead. After a Johnson three pointer, Little answered with a basket to make it 33-26. The Trojans went on a run Jordan-Thomas started it with a basket then Johnson hit a three pointer then a basket to tie the game up. Liam Mullery then hit a three pointer as the Nanticoke crowd erupted with cheering to make it 36-33 as the third quarter came to an end.
Johnson started the fourth quarter with a three pointer to make it a six point game. It was a back and forth for the early parts of the fourth. Matt Ruscinchak hit a three pointer to make it 46-43 then Schutter hit three of four free throws to tie the game up at 46. Johnson and Schutter traded a pair of free throws to make it 48-48. With 1:27 remaining in the game, Caleb Butczynski found Johnson who hit the basket off the glass to take a 50-48 lead. Jordan-Thomas then stole the ball and hit the layup to increase the lead to four. After a Nanticoke stop, Ethan Spencer then put back a missed shot to make the lead six. The Trojans then hit their free throws and advanced to the District 2 4A Semifinals with a 58-51 victory over Wyoming Area. Dane Schutter had a team-high 19 points and Lucas Burakiewicz added 12.
No comments:
Post a Comment