Gallagher nets 30 points for Mustangs

Laurel Highlands moving into PIAA 5A quarterfinals

Friday was a night of firsts for Laurel Highlands.

For the first time this season, the Mustangs trailed by doubledigits.

It also marked the first time they found themselves behind atthe half.

But these Mustangs rallied to win in overtime, and for the first time in 54 years are headed to the state quarterfinals.

Rodney Gallagher scored 30 points and Laurel Highlands remained unbeaten after storming from 13 points down to beat Highlands, 71-66, in a PIAA Class 5A second-round game at Norwin.

“It’s insane that we got that win,” said Gallagher, a junior point guard. “We need two more to get to the championship, but we know the next oneis going to be tough.”

After snatching its second overtime win in its past three games, Laurel Highlands (270) advances to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1968. The Mustangs next will face Gateway (17-6), the fourthplace finisher from the WPIAL, on Tuesday. High-lands finishes the season 19-8.

When Laurel Highlands and Highlands met two weeks earlier in the WPIAL semifinals, the Mustangs rolled to a 61-44 win. But the Mustangs had to work overtime to win a second time. Highlands led by 13points in the second quarter and held a 40-32 halftime lead.

“We knew the first time we played them wasn’t a real showing of the team that we have,” Highlands coach Corey Dotchin said.

Highlands led the entire game until Brandon Davis’ free throw with six minutes left in the fourth put Laurel Highlands ahead, 54-53. Gallagher scored Laurel Highlands’ next six points, giving the Mustangs a 60-56 lead with 30 seconds left. But Jimmy Kunst went 1 of 2 from the line to cut the Highlands deficit to 60-57 with 28 seconds left. And after a

Class 5A boys

turnover, Cam Reigard drilled a 3-pointer with 18 seconds left to make it 60-60.

It looked like Gallagher would again play the hero role after being fouled away from the ball with 12 seconds left. But Gallagher missed the front end of a 1-and-1. A jump ball was called on the ensuing rebound with Laurel Highlands getting possession, but Gallagher missed a 3-point attempt just before the buzzer.

“I told them that I was sorry about that,” Gallagher said of missing the free throw. “That’s unacceptable because usually I’m always hitting those. It looked good all the way, but it was just a little bit hard. I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Keondre DeShields knocked down a jumper 23 seconds into overtime to put Laurel Highlands ahead, 6260, and the Mustangs led the rest of the way. Jayden Pratt and Joe Chambers both scored on put-backs of missed shots, helping the Mustangs outscore Highlands, 11-6.

“It was whoever wanted to win it more,” Gallagher said. “Sowe just went out there and told ourselves to stay calm. We knew we just had to step it upa little bit more. We had the energy from the fans and that helped a ton.”

DeShields added 15 points and Chambers 11 for Laurel Highlands. All five Highlands starters scored in double figures. Kunst had 14, Carter Leri 13, Bradyn Foster 13, Chandler Thimons 12 and Reigard 11. The Golden Rams made eight 3-pointers.

Highlands was red hot in the first half. Its 40 points were only four fewer than the season-low 44 it scored in the first meeting. Friday, the Golden Rams shot a scorching 65% in the opening half (15 of 23) and was 54% for the game. Laurel Highlands was 27 of 54 (50%) forthe game.

Of his team, Laurel Highlands coach Rick Hauger said, “It shows the belief that they have in themselves in each other, because they weren’t panicked at halftime.”