Spartans (pictured): Bottom L to R: Decan Price, Tucker Hedge, Jace Fletcher, Ethan Lang, Kason Herald, Noah Jefferson, Quinn Genescritti, Owen Garlock Top L to R: Head Coach Joshua Lowery, Davonte McMickens, Shaffer Early, Kohan Hall, Brayden Ramsey, Hoyt Glenn, Dominic Jefferson, Jake Hann, Karson Washabaugh, Kaden Marpoe, Galen Clevenger, Jett Sipes, assistant Arthor Jefferson, Reuben Knepper, assistant Coach Toby Brown
By Jeff Richards
BOYS BASKETBALL
McConnellsburg 49 North Star 39. On March 3rd, the Spartans (8-0 ICC South champs) and North Star (Boswell) Cougars (7-1 ICC West champs) battled for the coveted 20-team league Inter-County Conference championship at Claysburg-Kimmel High School. McConnellsburg and North Star had just won their respective District 5/8 Class 2A and Class 3A championships at UPJ. This contest was sure to pit two of the best teams for great high school basketball, and it did not disappoint as the Spartans’ fourth quarter scoring surge sealed the win and conference crown.
The Cougars took the first quarter by score of 13-8, but in the second quarter the Spartans essentially reversed the results that by halftime the teams were tied at 22 points apiece. In the first half the Cougars lead scorer Ethan Smith put in 14 of his 18 game high points with Andy Retassi adding nine of his 14 game points.
For the third quarter, the Cougars scored twice in two minutes. The Spartans took three minutes to respond on a short jumper from Hoyt Glenn. The Spartans’ shooting largely fell short and they were held to five points overall. The Cougars fared better and doubled that with ten points and by quarter’s end got back the lead from the end of the first quarter and now led 32-27.
In the final frame, the Spartans’ scrappiness tied it up at 32 apiece in the first three minutes, frustrating the Cougars. The Spartans got the lead at just under four minutes to go on a spin-move layup by Glenn, 34-32. Both teams exchanged threes, keeping it close at 39-37, with the Spartans leading with three minutes to go. By the final minute, the Spartans extended their lead by nine to 47-38, one opportunity at a time, while never stopping to pick and pawl away at the Cougar ball handling. The Spartans limited the Cougars to seven points while scoring 22, including 11 from Ramsey.
Coach Lowery added, “We had a very slow start, but we exploded in the 4th quarter. Our first 3 quarters were very stagnant on both ends. We made some adjustments late in the 3rd and it seemed to get us moving in the 4th to secure our conference championship.”
The Spartans had three players scoring in double figures: Brayden Ramsey with 17 points; Hoyt Glenn achieved a double-double with 14 points and ten steals; and Dom Jefferson added 10 points.
The Spartans [25-1 (.962-win pct.) overall], boast a unprecedented 24-game win streak, with 24 wins by double digits or more.
MCCONNELLSBURG
Hoyt Glenn 5 3-4 14, Dom Jefferson 4 2-4 10, Brayden Ramsey 7 0-1 17, Shaffer Earley 1 0-0 2, Jake Hann 1 4-4 6, Totals 17 9-13 49. 3-point goals: 4 (Glenn 1, Ramsey 3). FTM% 69.2%.
Team stats: Glenn 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 10 steals, 2 blocks; Earley 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 charge taken; Ramsey 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 2 blocks; Jefferson 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block; Hann 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks. Totals: 28 rebounds, 11 assists, 19 steals, 8 blocks, 9 turnovers, 16 team fouls.
NORTH STAR
Ethan Smith 4 8-9 18, Andy Retassie 5 2-4 14, Toby Sheehan 3 1-1 7, Totals 12 11-14 39. 3-point goals: 4 (Smith 2, Retassie 2). FTM% 78.6%. Team fouls 16.
North Star 13 9 10 7 — 39
McConnellsburg 8 14 5 22 — 49
Next Up: McConnellsburg (5-1) hosts Greensburg Central (7-5) March 8th 1pm for the first round of PIAA 2A playoffs. See further details on the school’s social media page.