Dutchmen advance to D9 4A title game with win over Chucks
The last time the St. Marys Area Flying Dutchmen faced off with Punxsutawney, the matchup ended with the Dutch being dealt a 46-40 overtime loss by the Chucks on their home court. St. Marys made sure there was no repeat of that outcome on Thursday night in the teams’ D9 4A semifinal matchup at DuBois Area High School. The Dutchmen limited the Chucks to just two points in the opening quarter while scoring 11 of their own, leading all the way to advance to the D9 4A title game with a 41-31 win.
Seniors Tanner Fox and Charlie Coudriet both had big nights for the Dutchmen. Fox led all scorers with 15 points, and Coudriet was one back with 14.
Noah Weaver was the leading scorer for the Chucks with 10 points.
Fox and Coudriet each scored four points for the Dutchmen on a pair of twos in the opening frame, and Quin Gavazzi made a three. Punxsy’s two points came on a field goal by Weaver. Weaver had a chance at a three-point play but came up empty on the foul shot.
The Chucks edged the Dutchmen 8-7 in the second quarter, but St. Marys still led by eight, 18-10, at halftime.
Jimmie Neese led Punxsutawney in the quarter with a pair of twos, and Weaver and Cooper Hallman each added a bucket. Fox hit a three for the Dutchmen, Coudriet made a field goal, and Ben Paul went two-fortwo from the foul line.
A 15-9 advantage in the third quarter allowed St. Marys Area to stretch their lead to 14 points, 33-19.
Fox and Coudriet each scored six points in the frame on a trio of twos, Tyler Mitchell made a bucket, and Gavazzi went one-fortwo from the foul line. Neese led the Chucks with four points on a pair of foul shots and a field goal, Ryen Heigley made a three, and Weaver added another bucket.
In the final quarter, Punxsutawney outscored St. Marys 12-8, but the Dutchmen still won by 10, 41-31.
Weaver led the way for the Chucks with four points on a field goal and a pair of foul shots. Heigley and Zach Presloid each made a three in the frame, and Noah Kengersky went twofor-two from the foul line. Fox and Coudriet each made their final buckets of the night for the Dutchmen, and Anthony Nedzinski and Paul each went two-for-two from the foul line.
The Dutchmen will now take on top seeded Clearfield for the D9 4A boys’ title on Friday, March 3 at Clarion University at a time to be announced.
Punxsutawney 31
Ryen Heigley 0-20-0-6, Jimmie Neese 3-0-2-2-8, Zach Presloid 0-1-0-0-3, Beau Thomas 0-0-0-2-0, Noah Weaver 4-0-25-10, Mason Nesbitt 0-0-0-1-0, Cooper Hallman 1-0-0-0-2, Noah Kengersky 0-0-2-2-2. Totals 8-3-6-12-31.
St. Marys Area 41
Tanner Fox 6-1-00-15, Anthony Nedzinski 0-0-2-2-2, Tyler Mitchell 1-0-0-0-2, Quin Gavazzi 0-1-12-4, Charlie Coudriet 7-0-0-0-14, Ben Paul 0-0-4-4-4, Dan Schutz 0-0-0-0-0. Totals 14-27-8-41.
Score by quarters
Punxsy 2 8 9 12 31 SMAHS 11 7 15 8 41