WAYNESBORO — The James Buchanan boys basketball team was obviously ready for the season to begin.

The Rockets took it to Greencastle-Antrim in a dominating first quarter, building a 20-8 lead, and never let the Blue Devils get closer than an eight-point deficit from there on out, capturing a 53-39 victory in a first-round game of the Franklin County Tip-Off Tournament on Friday evening at Waynesboro.

Eli Sterling

JB will face Chambersburg in the championship game Saturday, with the estimated game time around 8 p.m. Greencastle will face Waynesboro for third place around 6:15.

The Rockets were feeling it in the first quarter against G-A’s man-to-man defense, connecting on 8 of 10 shots from the field. They got the ball inside, took good shots and four players scored at least four points each. The defense also helped stake JB to a 15-3 lead, with consecutive steals and baskets by Trenton Miller.

For the game, the Rockets hit on 16 of 33 shots from the field. Ironically, they made only 15 of 26 free throws.

After G-A pulled to within 35-25 midway through the third period, the Rockets’ James Salovich was fouled in the act of taking a 3-point shot on two consecutive possessions, and sank 4 of the 6 free throws. A 3-pointer by Trent Amsley closed out the quarter and put his team up 42-25.

For James Buchanan, Amsley led with 15 points, Miller had 12 and Jayce Piper and Salovoch each had 7.

Greencastle had only four players hit the scoring column, with Shadoan (14), Conner Wright (12) and Eli Sterling (11) reaching double figures.

James Buchanan 53, Greencastle-Antrim 39
GREENCASTLE
Bobby Emberson 0 0-0 0, Ethan Shank 0 0-0 0, Adam Horst 1 0-0 2, Conner Wright 5 1-3 12, Blake Shadoan 4 2-2 14, Tavon Cooper 0 0-0 0, Eli Sterling 5 1-2 11. Totals 15 4-7 39.
JAMES BUCHANAN
Jayce Piper 3 1-6 7, Trenton Miller 5 0-0 12, Trent Amsley 4 6-7 15, Cade Layton 3 1-3 7, Garrett Hann 1 1-2 3, Bryce Hissong 0 2-2 2, James Salovich 1 4-6 7, Dylan Swailes 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 15-26 53.
Greencastle                  8    5    12    14    —    39
James Buchanan        20   8    14    11    —    53
3-point shots — GA 5 (Shadoan 4, Wright); JB 4 (Miller 2, Amsley, Salovich).