By Levi Cressler
The Boiling Springs Bubblers, led by senior guard Trey Martin came into Shippensburg High School Friday night with the idea of an upset on their mind. After one half of basketball things were certainly trending in that direction, before the Greyhounds rolled to a 23-7 third quarter advantage to finish off a 70-57 victory.
Martin scored 20 first half points, after scoring just 14 total points the previous meeting between the two clubs. Maddox Labuda chipped in 13 points in the opening half for the Bubblers. The Greyhounds received scoring from its three top threats, Jayden Statum, Anthony Smith and Jeremy Thomas early, but it was also the 5 first quarter points from Grayson Michaljuk, which helped the Greyhounds stay within striking distance early. After the end of an action packed first half the Bubblers led 36-33.
The third quarter was a different story. Shippensburg held the Bubblers to just one field goal the first 4 minutes of the second half, while finding their own offensive rhythm. Smith was the beneficiary of multiple passes from his teammates on his way to 13 third quarter points. Smith used a wide range of moves in the post to help the Hounds push the lead to 56-43 after three quarters. When prompted about his teams defense in the third quarter, Staver said, “ We did not do a good job in the first half of keeping Martin from the rim.” He then added, “In the second half we did and made him play from the perimeter much more.”
Both teams traded defensive stops and occasional buckets in the fourth quarter, but in the end the Greyhounds proved to be too much. A late alley-oop from Statum to Smith brought the finishing touches to a 70-57 victory for Shippensburg. With the victory the Greyhounds clinched a share of the Mid Penn Colonial championship with the Waynesboro Indians. However, due to the Greyhounds finishing with a higher power rating, they will represent the Colonial Division in next weeks conference tournament. “ Our kids worked very hard and they wanted this division title badly,” said Staver.
The Greyhounds will match up vs the Trinity Shamrocks, who won the Capital division with a 16-4 record. “I can tell you that our seniors very much wanted to be in the conference tournament, they want to compete against the best,” said Staver.
Shippensburg 70 Boiling Springs 57
Shippensburg
Jayden Statum 8 5-5 22, Trey Kater 1 0-0 2, Carter Funk 2 2-2 4, Jeremy Thomas 4 0-0 8, Grayson Michaljuk 3 2-3 8, Anthony Smith 11 4-6 26 Totals: 29 13-16 70
Boiling Springs
Trey Martin 9 15-17 34, Brayden Ritchie 3 0-0 8, Daniel Decker 1 0-0 2, Maddox Labuda 5 2-2 13.
Totals: 18 17-19 56
Shippensburg 18 15 23 12—-70
Boiling Springs 20 16 7 14—-57
Three point shots: Shippensburg 1 (Statum) Boiling Springs- 4 (Martin, Ritchie 2, LaBuda)