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Potters outrun Panthers
By Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
In a game of runs, the last flurry by the East Liverpool High boys basketball team proved costliest for East.
The Potters hit nine of 12 free throws in the final quarter to pull away for Saturday’s 65-54 victory in the 6th Annual Youngstown-Warren Holiday Basketball Classic at the Covelli Centre.
The win, the first for new Potters coach Nate Conley, denied Panthers coach Mark Cherol, a four-decade veteran, his first win at the Covelli Centre.
“You always remember your first win because it is so very special, but the way we won and the emotion with which we played this afternoon is what I will remember most,” Conley said. “We didn’t have our best shooting night yet when faced with adversity, we dug in and were able to weathered the storm.”
The Potters (1-2), who sank all but four of their 21 free throw attempts, outscored the Panthers 23-14 in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Conversely, the Panthers (0-2) struggled from the free throw line as they canned just 10 of 26 in the game and were only six of 16 from the stripe in the second half.
“It really was a game of runs by both teams and they had the one that counted most; the last one,” Cherol said. “Despite the loss, I honestly felt like we made great strides from our season opener with Cardinal Mooney.
“We were much better with our half court defense and we moved the ball better offensively as well,” Cherol said.
“What we need to do is improve our foul shooting and grow as a team; fast, with the schedule that we have upcoming,” Cherol said.
With the game knotted at 4-all about two minutes into the game, East Liverpool’s Jason Dickey reeled off seven of his game-high 18 points to help the Potters on a 14-5 run as they closed the quarter with an 18-11 advantage.
Four points by Lee Johnson then keyed a 10-4 run by the Panthers to knot the score at 22-all, but the Potters, on the strength of Christian Kyle’s six points, closed with a 10-2 run of their own to forge a 32-24 halftime margin. Johnson scored 14 points.
“It’s fun to play on a court as nice as the one at the Covelli Centre, but it did take a while for us to adjust to the depth perception and the hoops,” Dickey said.
“The key for us today was our defense as we forced some key turnovers that led to some easy buckets.”
East High’s Joe Villaneuva scored eight of his 12 points in the third period.