DISTRICT 10-AAAA George Junior struggles past Erie Central for district title

Bradley Warner's clutch shots helped the Tigers survive a 73-71 decision to win the district 10 title.
By BILL ALBRIGHT
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
EDINBORO, Pa. -- It's difficult to defeat a team twice in one season.
That was the case during the boys basketball game Thursday night between George Junior Republic and Erie Central High at McComb Fieldhouse. But George Junior managed to do it.
In the first meeting between the Quad-A teams, George Junior won 73-57. Thursday, the Tigers repeated with another win by hanging on for a 73-71 victory to claim the District 10 crown.
"It doesn't seem to matter whether we are up by three or by 40, we find a way to make things interesting," George Junior coach Bob McConnell said. "It is just a lack of concentration, but tonight we lost Cedric [Horace] to foul trouble and that hurt us, as well."
Held leads: The Tigers held six-point leads at the end of the first two periods, were up by 12 heading into the fourth quarter, then led by as many as 15 on three occasions. That's when the Falcons began to climb back into the game.
"From about the 4:30 point on, we just seemed content to trade baskets with them," McConnell said. "We were up by 14 or 15, but we just quit playing defense and relaxed. They get a couple of steals and we just didn't execute."
George Junior senior Bradley Warner, who scored 19 points, sank four straight free throws to keep his team ahead by two possessions.
"He stepped up big, because if he misses the front end of either of the two situations, they have a chance to tie or win," McConnell said. "He has hit some huge ones for us in the last 10 or 12 games."
Roger Randolph added 19 points for George Junior, while Horace had 16 and Karl Holmes 14.
Stripped: Due to an alleged violation of PIAA rules, the Tigers were stripped of the opportunity to play in the 2000 postseason. That makes this year's district crown even more enjoyable.
"It is just unbelievable because there is a lot of bad taste in my mouth as well as in the mouths of the players," McConnell said.
"I only wish the [seniors] I had last year would have had the chance to come back and do it," he said.