A photo of the mirror by Chase Kissel from Patrick Waxmunski BG is sandwiched between Penn Cambria defenders Brady Jones (left) and Gavin Harold.
The Bishop Guilfoyle Academy Boys Basketball Team has so far created the bad habit of digging into holes in the District 6 Class 3A playoffs.
The second seeded marauder took over as many as 10 points against Central Cambria in the quarterfinals last Friday night, and the deficit was even greater against No. 6 Pencambria on Tuesday evening.
BG dragged 16 points against the Panthers in the first half, but returned to three points at halftime. With all the momentum on their side, the Marowders completed another double-digit comeback in the second half, holding the Panthers 76-68 at Pleasant Valley Gymnasium.
“Fortunately, we talked about it in the practice that led to this. BG coach Ryan Lestochi said, “Tonight has gotten even worse. I’m not really happy with the start. I have credit for our kids. They just stayed calm and kept playing.”
“We have a very close team. They trust each other. They believe in each other. They are not just going to roll over. That’s real trust for them.”
Penn Cambria, who was caught up in the semi-finals after knocking off No. 3 Tyrone in the quarter-finals, was a major factor in delving into a 12 three-pointer in the game, leading to a maximum of 16 points in the first half.
“We just know how aggressive they are,” Penn Cambria coach Jim Ronan said. “When they get hot, they become a big squirt and you can’t run out of all your timeouts with two or three minutes of stretches. You had to find a way on the floor to calm the storm, and at that point we were still on the lead.
“They are undefeated around this area for a reason. We knew it would be a really difficult test. We gave them everything we had.”
The Panthers took a 13-12 lead with Kaeden Gibbons 3 in two minutes to play in the first quarter. He grew with a pair of free throws from Brandon Rabish’s Trey and Landon Semelsberger as Penn Cambria took a 18-15 lead after the first quarter.
Pencambria’s lead remained at 3 until the first two minutes of the second quarter before the Panthers made a 13-1 run over the next three minutes and went 35-20.
Another Rabish Three gave the Panthers a 38-22 lead, but Bishop Guilfoyle finished the first half with a 15-2 run, leading 40-37 on the break.
BG regained the lead with a nick for three pointers in the first minute of the second half.
Foor led the Marauders with 20 points overnight. Tyson Restuch and Hamilton Gates each had 15 points.
“This feels good,” Gates said. He got off the bench and scored 15 points. “I lost this game last year. It’s great to be able to play in the D-6 Championship.”
Pencambria scored just nine points in the third quarter with Semelsburger, Brady Jones and Gavin Harold’s Tray. BG led 57-49 in 8 minutes.
The Panthers lowered the game to three in the final minute, but a deliberate foul of 30 seconds doubts much hope for Tyson Restoch and Fore.
BG will face top seeded Forest Hills at the district championships held at Mount Aloysius on Friday night.
“Forest Hills is a great team,” Lestochi says. “They have really good players. They can shoot the ball. They have a handful to deal with. We played an amazing game with them in the Laurel Highlands Semis (78-69 BG win). Hopefully, we’re ready to start the game better.”
Pencambria will play at Westmont Hilltop, fourth in Friday’s comforting game.
“We’ll take it tomorrow and Thursday and just lie down low and rest,” Ronan said. “We need to be mentally prepared for Westmont.”
Pencambria (68): Harold 2 0-0 5, Gibbons 6 1-3 15, Rabish 8 3-3 23, Lilly 2 0-0 4, Semelsberger 4 2-4 13, Jones 1 0-0 3, Farabaugh 1 2-2 5, Strittmatter 0 0-0 0. Total – 24 8-12 68.
Bishop Guilfoyle (76): Lestochi 3 8-12 15, Consiglio 5 3-4 14, Ruggery 3 3-6 9, Foor 5 7-8 20, J. Kissell1 0-0 3, C. Kissell 0 0-4 0, Gates 7 1-1 15, Okonak 0 0-00. 2422-35 76.
Quarterly score
Pencambria 18 22 9 19 – 68
Bishop Guilfoil 15 22 20 19 – 76
3-point target: Pencambria 12 (Harold, Gibbons 2, Leibish 4, Semersberger 3, Jones, Farrabow); Bishop Guilfoil 6 (Lestochi, Consiglio, Food 3, J. Kissell).
Records: Penn Cambria (14-9); Bishop Guilfoyle (22-3).
Officials: Jim Rockini, John Nepsha, Douglas Steve.
