ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 37, KEYSTONE 36, OT

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Feb. 25, 2009 - District 9 Class A Boys' Semifinals

By Andy Close

CLARION- Robby Wortman hit two free throws with 30 seconds remaining in overtime to give Elk County Catholic a hard fought 37-36 win over Keystone in the District 9 Class A semifinals Wednesday at Clarion University’s Tippin Gym.

“I’m really proud of the kids,” said ECC head coach Aaron Straub, who earned the 600^th boys’ win of his career with the victory, said.  “We beat an excellent team tonight, and there is nobody I respect more than (Keystone head coach) Greg (Heath) for the job that he does year in and year out.”

The sixth-seeded Crusaders (18-7) move into the District 9 championship game Saturday where they will play Johnsonburg, who beat North Clarion in overtime in the nightcap. 

Ben Marchand hit a three ball with just under a minute remaining in overtime to give second-seeded  Keystone (22-3) a 36-35 lead before Wortman’s free throws.

Marchand then had a chance to win the game for Keystone but his 15-foot jumper bounced off the back of the rim as time expired.

With the score tied at 19-19 at halftime, each team hit the wall offensively, scoring only ten points each in the third and fourth quarters combined.

“This is exactly what I expected,” said Keystone coach Greg Heath.  “Both teams were patient and deliberate on offense and were stingy on defense.”

After Brock Witkowski’s layup at the start of the fourth quarter, ECC went on a mini 4-0 run that was capped by Joe Jacob’s layup with 6:24 to play in regulation that put the Crusaders up 29-27.  It would be the last points the ECC would score until overtime. 

Keystone did not score again until Dan Reed’s jumper from the left baseline with 1:47 to play tied the game at 29.

From there the Crusaders were content to hold the ball for the last shot.  They did not get that shot however, as they turned the ball over with 3.7 seconds remaining.

“I think we would have got we wanted on that last possession, but we usually run that play from the other side and one of our guys wasn’t where he should have been and ultimately his defender was where he shouldn’t of been and that’s who stole the pass,” said Straub. “Believe me, there is no bigger proponent of the shot clock in high school basketball then me. But it until there is one, if we need to get that last shot and there’s a minute to go, then that’s what we’re going to do.”

Keystone’s desperation attempt at the buzzer fell short sending the game to the extra period.

The first half was a back and forth affair with the biggest lead coming after a Kyle Detsch jumper put ECC up 12-7.

Nate Higgins scored 9 of his 11 points in the first half while Witkowski scored seven in the opening two quarters, which ended in a 19 all tie.

“We went to a little bit of a box and one on Higgins after halftime and tried to limit his touches,” said Heath.

Wortman joined Higgins in double figures for the Crusaders with 11 points.  Witkowski finished with 13 for the Panthers while Dan Reed added 10.

Keystone will meet North Clarion for the third time this season in the consolation game on Saturday.  The Panthers have won the two previous meetings this season

Elk County Catholic 37, Keystone 36, overtime

Score By Quarters

ECC                                                                           10        9          6          4          8- 37

Keystone                                                         7          12        6          4          7- 36

Elk County Catholic 37

Matt Bauer 2 0-0 4, Kyle Detsch 2 0-0 4, Joe Jacob 2 0-0 5, Robby Wortman 4 3-4 11, Nate Higgins 5 1-1 11, Tony Chiodo 1 0-0 2, Tyler Herzing 0 0-0 0, David Rupprecht 0 0-0 0, Tyler Healy 0 0-0 0.  Totals: 16 4-5 37

Keystone 36

Brock Witkowski 5 2-2 13, Ben Black 0 2-2 2, Dan Reed 5 0-0 10, Brian Long 1 1-2 3, Jake Knight 0 0-0 0, Ben Marchand 2 0-0 5, Brett Zuck 1 0-3 2, Lexan Montana 0 1-2 1, Chandler Clark 0 0-0 0.  Totals: 14 5-9 36

Three Pointers

ECC 1 (Jacob), Keystone 3 (Marchand, Witkowski, Long)