GYMS HEAT UP IN JANUARY

By Greg Gulas

Jenkins

has key point at line

East High’s Jarelle Burt had 13 of his 26 points at the foul line in the one-point win over Youngstown Christian.

YOUNGSTOWN — Trumane Jenkins’ free throw with two seconds remaining lifted the East High boys basketball team to a 59-58 decision over Youngstown Christian Tuesday.

The Panthers’ win ended the Eagles’ 10-game winning streak while extending their win streak to three.

Jenkins, whose only two free throw attempts came with the game on the line, was certain that he would convert if given the opportunity.

“I just knew that if I was given the chance with the game on the line that I would hit my free throw,” Jenkins said. I was practicing from the free throw line prior to the game and at halftime so I would be ready.”

If there was any part of the game that stood out for either team, it was at the free throw line. The Panthers canned 19 of 31 attempts compared to the Eagles, who struggled with just four of 12 charity tosses.

Panthers leading scorer Jarelle Burt, who had a 26 points, canned 13 of his 16 free throw chances, making one more than the Eagles attempted in the game.

“This was a total team effort with each player contributing something tonight,” Burt said. “We encouraged each other and didn’t let anyone get down when we fell behind.

”Everyone from starter to those coming off the bench knows his role,” Burt said. “That is what made this win so very special.”

Panthers coach Mark Cherol praised Burt’s effort, noting that playing a more deliberate style than they did in their first outing against Youngstown Christian was key.

“We kept Jarelle [Burt] in the game because he is an excellent free throw shooter,” Cherol said. “He’s come a long way since the beginning of the season and that strategy really paid off for us.

“We shot poorly from the field the last time we played them, stressing this time that we must play under control, attack the hole and try to get to the free throw line,” Cherol said. “It really worked for us tonight.”

Youngstown Christian (12-2) has had a storybook season thus far under head coach Dolph Carroll.

During their 10-game run, the Eagles trailed just twice at halftime and never heading into the final eight minutes of the game.

“We had our chances and had plenty of good looks at the bucket,” Carroll said. “The ball just wouldn’t drop for us and that’s going to happen some nights.

“East is an excellent team,” Carroll said. “We’ll just have to learn from this game.”

The Eagles streaked to the early 8-2 lead, only to have Kenny Carter’s jumper with three seconds remaining knot the game at 16-all heading to the second quarter.

Youngstown Christian’s Olonzo Johnson, who had a game-high 27 points, hit a jumper to give the Eagles a 31-28 lead with 1:50 remaining, but Burt’s “trey” with two seconds left in the half knotted the game at 31-all at halftime.

Six points each by Burt and Carter sparked a 14-point third period as East built a 45-41 advantage.

A Johnson jumper at 3:11 gave the Eagles a 53-50 lead and after East’s Anthony Bowers connected on the second of two charity tosses with 25 seconds remaining, the Panthers forged a 58-55 advantage.

Victor Shaw’s bucket from beyond the arc for the Eagles knotted the game at 58-all, setting the stage for Jenkins’ game-winning free throw.

East (6-5) was 19 of 49 from the field and two of nine from beyond the arc while the Eagles, 24 of 65 from the field, could connect on just six of 31 from three-point range.

Youngstown Christian enjoyed a 33-30 rebound advantage with the Eagles’ John Pecchia hauling down a game-high 11 caroms.