Ellwood City run snapped
Brookville wins on last-second layup
One of the most remarkable runs in WPIAL basketball history came to an end Saturdayfor Ellwood City, but not before adding one final chapterto its story.
Playing host to a state playoff game for the first time in program history, the Wolverines battled back and forth for 32 minutes against District 9 champion Brookville, only to come up short in a heartwrenching 62-60 defeat. Brookville senior Jace Miner scored 28 points and stole an inbounds pass before converting the winning layup with less than 10 seconds left, sparking a frenzied celebration for the visiting team and silencing the Ellwood City faithful.
“The kids had the energy, they were excited to come, they wanted to come and play, and they were ready to play,” said Brookville coach Dalton Park. “[Jace] has really matured as a player. That’s the reason we are where we are. … He did a great job tonight onboth sides.”
Freshman Joseph Roth scored a team-high 22 points for the Wolverines, while juniors Steve Antuono and Alexander Roth finished with 18 and14, respectively.
“There’s kids in there that are bawling their heart out,” said Ellwood City coach Steve Antuono. “No one thought we’d be here. That game could have gone either way, and we could be going to the semis witha chance at a state title.”
Ellwood City (14-5) began the season with a record of 5-4 before rattling off nine consecutive wins on its way to its first WPIAL title, shocking top-ranked South Allegheny in the Class 3A title game as a No. 11 seed, 53-50. The Wolverines also upset the No. 2, No. 3 andNo. 6 seeds on their way to thetitle.
“To be honest with you, I’m just happy it didn’t end like that during the WPIAL run, because then all the magic would have ended,” Antuono said. “When they get a chance to sit back — when they open their jewelry, they’ll be happy at the banquet. Chins up all theway.”
Many likely expected a bit of a letdown for Ellwood City coming off such an exhilarating win, but there was no championship hangover Saturday for the Wolverines.
A fastbreak dunk by Miner gave Brookville an early fivepoint lead, but Ellwood City battled back to make it a 16-15 Brookville lead after the first quarter. The teams then traded leads throughout the second quarter as Brookville took a 31-29 advantage into the break. Brookville led throughout most of the third, but Antuono tied the score at 45-45 going into the final quarter with anifty layup.
Antuono drained a goahead 3-pointer to give the Wolverines a 50-49 lead early in the fourth, then he drilled an off-balance 3 to tie the score at 59-59 with a little more than a minute to play. The teams traded free throws and two turnovers each in the final minute as the pressure started to mount. Then, with the score tied at 60-60 and less than 10 seconds left, Miner jumped in front of an inbounds pass and laid it in the other way for the dramatic win.
“They were a great team,” Alexander Roth said. “We tried to contain [Miner] as much as possible, but he’s a great player. … We’ve always got next year.”
Fresh off winning PIAA gold medals Friday for Riverside in the 200 freestyle relay, the Roth brothers capped their unprecedented dualsport winter season Saturday by combining for 36 points. They now have WPIAL and PIAA swimming gold medals and a WPIAL basketball gold medal in their collection — and both will be back for an encorenext season.
“I hope people are afraid of us [next year],” Joseph Roth said. “[This loss] will motivate me. I’m just going to come out and try to dominate next year and try to make it further in the state.”