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Southern shows ability to contend
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Gerrod Hrusovsky (4) shoots for two as Erik Baker (10) tries for the block during their game Tuesday night in Lowellville.
GAME TIME
Next: Southern vs. Sebring, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Next: Lowellville vs. Western Reserve, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
By Tom Williams
LOWELLVILLE
The worst thing to happen to the Lowellville High boys basketball team during Tuesday’s 58-40 loss to undefeated Southern was the second-quarter buzzer sounding.
Refreshed and advised to slow down, the Indians (8-0, 4-0 Inter Tri-County League Tier Two) regained control of the contest by outscoring the Rockets 20-3 in the third quarter.
The Rockets missed their first eight shots and made seven turnovers before Gerrod Hrusovsky’s basket in the final seconds of the third quarter.
“We just weren’t ourselves, Southern is a great team,” Lowellville coach Mike Mangine said. “The third quarter, we weren’t getting back fast enough. I felt that we were one, two steps behind the whole night.
“They’re 8-0 and they deserve to be at the top of the league,” Mangine said.
Senior post player Jake Boyle led the Indians with 24 points and eight rebounds.
“This is huge, Lowellville is a good team,” Boyle said. “This is our gauntlet, the meat of our schedule. We’re just trying to prove ourselves in the league.”
He’s referring to playing Sebring (6-1), McDonald (5-0) and Wellsville (6-1) over the next 10 days. “This is number one of four important games.”
After falling behind by 10 points early in the second quarter, the Rockets (4-2, 1-2) scrambled to post a 6-0 run to reduce the Indians’ lead to 26-25 in the final seconds of the half.
During that run, Anthony Alfano made two free throws and a basket while Mike Matisi scored a bucket.
“We were feeling confident going into halftime,” said Mangine who has several players fighting the flu.
But Boyle’s basket at the buzzer set the tone for the Indians’ second half.
Boyle scored eight points in the third quarter while Eric Baker and Trey Griffith each had four.
“Coach told us at halftime to come out and pick up the defense,” Boyle said. “We kept the turnovers down.”
Southern coach George Whittaker credited the Rockets for speeding the game up and climbing back.
“Their press speeded us up a little bit,” Whittaker said. “We can run down the floor, but they are just small and quick. We’re a little bit slower and a little bit bigger.”
Baker said the Indians felt a little frustration at halftime because they weren’t ahead by more.
“We came in and just said that we need to slow down,” said Baker who scored 12 points and made three steals and eight rebounds. “We played good defense.”
Griffith finished with 11 points. Of their next three games, Baker said, “It’s going to be tough, we’re not going to have an easy game.”
Whittaker was happy to see their streak extended.
“This is our first real test from a team that is considered one of the top four in the league,” Whittaker said. “And it’s on the road so it’s a real big win for us. We’re real pleased.”