Chambersburg’s J.J. Kelly rises up before smashing in a dunk during the Trojans’ big third quarter that led to a 63-56 win over Carlisle (photo by Casey Kauffman). See photo gallery on TheSportsPage.blog.

CHAMBERSBURG — Carlisle had “it” in the first half.

Chambersburg caused a big turnover at halftime and had “it” for the second half.

The “it” factor was a source of energy and fighting spirit that gave each team a half of dominance. The Trojans, however, got more out of their turn and produced a rollicking 63-56 win Tuesday night in a District 3 Class 6A first-round playoff game at CASHS Field House.

Jacob Bassham of Chambersburg dribbles past Jaydon Smith of Carlisle during the Trojans’ 63-56 win Tuesday night (photo by Casey Kauffman).

Chambersburg (14-9), the No. 8 seed, will now play at Reading on Friday night at 7 against the No. 1 seed Red Knights (24-1). The Thundering Herd finished with a 13-10 record.

“We just had to come out and keep fighting, because we didn’t do it enough in the first half,” Chambersburg senior guard Jacob Bassham said. “We knew what we wanted to do … but we just weren’t doing it.”

Carlisle took advantage, combining a scrappy and quick defense with an offense that made 11 of 22 shots from the field to take an early lead of 25-9 and still led 27-18 at halftime.

Trojan coach Shawn Shreffler said, “The way Carlisle played in the first half had a lot to do with it. They played with a lot of energy — they rebounded well, played good defense in the paint and hit some big shots.

“We needed that energy in the third quarter.”

Chambersburg began its comeback by scoring 9 of the final 11 points of the first half, with Sedrick Vessah scoring two straight buckets (the second on a putback dunk) and Bassham hitting a three seconds after airballing a long shot.

“You just have to keep shooting; they will fall,” Bassham said.

The third quarter produced a dizzying array of points, with the Trojans putting up 29. Chambersburg hit five 3-pointers in the period, shot 12-for-16 and J.J. Kelly scored 12 points, including a thunderous dunk right in front of the CASHS Crazies.

At one point, freshman Colton Cornwell hit a three, then the Herd’s Parker Smith hit one. Then Cornwell made another, but Smith answered back.

Sedrick Vessah

The Trojans put together runs of 10-0 early in the third to take a 30-29 lead, and later used a 12-0 run to take a 47-39 lead by the end of the quarter.

Shreffler said, “The guards got some confidence (by hitting the threes) and the bigs got active, and it became a track meet. It had to be fun to watch.”

As soon as Chambersburg started hitting 3-pointers (the first two were from Carter Fogal and Vessah), Carlisle’s defense became looser. That allowed the Trojans to get the ball down low and Kelly cleaned up.

Shreffler said, “We talked at halftime about the different defenses we were likely to see and how we wanted to attack them. Sedrick set a tone early and J.J. followed his lead, and we got a lot of second and third shots.

“In the second half we had five scoring threats on the floor and we moved the ball around until we got a good shot.”

In the fourth, it was Bassham’s time to shine, as he scored 12 points, including a pair of bank shots and a neat reverse layup. Carlisle never got closer than six points down the stretch.

Meanwhile, Parker Smith was basically unstoppable for Carlisle. The sophomore scored 9 in the first quarter, 10 in the third and 10 more in the fourth and finished with 31 points. He had a sweet move in which he drove into the lane, then pulled up for a jump shot and Chambersburg just couldn’t stop it.

“He was impressive,” Bassham said.

Shreffler said, “Smith just wouldn’t let us separate from them.”

But the difference was, he was the only real scoring threat for the Herd in this game. The Trojans, in contrast, put four players in double figures for the first time this season — Bassham (17), Kelly (14), Fogal (11) and Vessah (11).

“Sedrick was a little tentative early, but after the first quarter he did a lot of things really well,” Shreffler said.

NOTES: Chambersburg was 7-for-22 from the field in the first half, and 18-for-26 in the second … The Trojans also cleaned up some sloppy passes; going from 10 turnovers in the first half to just three in the second … Jeremiah Snyder scored eight consecutive points for the Herd to open the second quarter, but did not score again … Bassham said, “We feel pretty good about how we’re playing. We’re going to hit it hard in practice and be ready for Friday.”

Chambersburg 63, Carlisle 56
CARLISLE
Jeremiah Snyder 3 0-0 8, Parker Smith 13 2-3 31, Jaydon Smith 1 0-0 3, Julian Christopher 3 1-3 7, Spencer Griffie 1 0-0 2, Lucas Ream 2 0-2 5, Max Spradlin 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 3-10 56.
CHAMBERSBURG
Jacob Bassham 7 2-4 17, Carter Fogal 3 2-4 11, Stanley Lozius 0 0-0 0, Colton Cornwell 2 0-0 6, J.J. Kelly 7 0-0 14, Aden Swatsburg 0 0-0 0, Sedrick Vessah 4 2-2 11, Talon Brewer 0 0-0 0, Treyson Sarvis 0 0-0 0, Jermere Jones 2 0-0 4. Totals 25 6-10 63.
Carlisle                       15    12    12    17    —    56
Chambersburg           9       9    29    16    —    63
3-point shots — Car 7 (P.Smith 3, Snyder 2, J.Smith, Ream); Chbg 7 (Fogal 3, Cornwell 2, Bassham, Vessah). Shooting — Car 51% (23-45); Chbg 52% (25-48). Turnovers — Car 11; Chbg 13.