Balance is path to final Other semifinal
points on 14-for-24 shooting.
“Britt is the best player we’ve seen all year, no doubt,” said Pine-Richland coach Jeff Ackermann, whose team has four players averaging in double figures. “But balance is what makes usgood.
beginning in “When double we only I of looked figures the had third two up and at quarterand guys the a bunch if guys we to with get step one two up, or points, we’re two I going more said to guardfour win this guys.” game. It’s hard to
Jurkovec, a senior forward and four-year starter, finished with 20 points and nine rebounds. Junior guard Dan Petcash scored all of his 16 points in the second and third quarters. Junior guard Greg Shulkosky scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half and scored Pine-Richland’s final five points.
Woodland Hills had cut an eight-point lead to one when Shulkosky nailed a gigantic 3-pointer from the left corner with 1:30 left. He added two free throws with 21.6 seconds left.
Besides Jurkovec, Shulkosky and Petcash, foot-6 junior Andrew Kristofic had eight points.
“I think to win a big playoff game like that you need to have different guys step up every minute, and that’s what happened,” said Jurkovec. “We just kept feeding off halftime, Kristofic Jurkovec Pine-Richland’s offensive Woodland each other.” doing and 35-33, sets, Hills the “high-low” damage the but 6-foot-5 led Rams with in at opened the their “I game size think a 50-43 and was the strength,” lead. difference their height, said in Woodland Miller, whose Hills team coach was Odell outrebounded, 40-23. “I think their size and strength hurts you more than their balance. balance. And not only are they 6big, but they’re athletic.” Still, Woodland Hills had a chance to win. After a Kristofic miss, the Wolverines had the ball, trailing, 63-61. But Britt mishandled a pass near midcourt and was called for an over-andback violation with 42 seconds left. Then, Shulkosky hit the clinching free throws 21 seconds later.
Myles Yarbrough missed a shot inside, but made the putback and got fouled. He missed his chance for a three-point play, but grabbed his own miss again, got fouled again, and made both free throws for a fourpoint possession late in the third quarter.
Before the quarter ended, Yarbrough pulled off another putbackof his own miss — no foul this time — to bring his total to six points and three rebounds in the final minute of the third. That persistence wassymbolic of Penn Hills as a team, as the No. 4 seed Indians rallied from a 12-point deficit early in the second half to knock off top-seeded Mt. Lebanon, 69-66, in overtimeat Baldwin.
Penn Hills (22-3) trailed, 45-33, midway through the third but chipped away until taking its first lead at 60-59 with 3:50 left in regulation. Section 2 champion Mt. Lebanon (20-4) came in averaging 27 3-point attempts per game,but finished just 3 of 13 fromlong range.
Cory Fulton scored 11 of his 18 points in the second half, Cam Wiley added 14 and Daivon Stephens was his do-it-all self with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists for Penn Hills.
Mike Palmer was a force for Mt. Lebanon, finishing with 22 points, while center Caden Hinckley had a double-double with 10 points and11 rebounds.