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Little things mean a lot in Wellsville victory over Devils
By Joe Catullo Jr.
MCDONALD
The only aspects that differentiated McDonald High and Wellsville on Tuesday night was the little things.
McDonald did all the big things right, for the most part, but failed to capitalize even after a nine-point halftime deficit. Wellsville also struggled late in the game. However, The Tigers did the little things right that paid pivotal in their 76-72 victory.
“It was ours for the taking,” McDonald coach Jeff Rasile said. “There was an eight-minute stretch in the second half where we just absolutely owned them. Everything was going our way, but you got to do the little things in basketball. This group struggles with the little things.”
Troubles for the Blue Devils (8-3, 5-3) began after Seth Bradford nailed a go-ahead 3-pointer for Wellsville (10-1, 7-0). The Tigers led, 74-71, with 1:58 remaining.
“I didn’t want to take that shot, but Seth’s a shooter,” Wellsville coach David Thompson said. “You can’t tell him not to shoot, but that ain’t the shot you want. I’d rather have worked the ball around and get a layup. He had a wide-open 3. We always tell him if you’re open, take the shot.”
After Ken Greaver missed a jump shot, the Tigers took control with 1:35 remaining. They took the clock down to approximately 45 seconds left before McDonald fouled. Rasile said his team played a 2-3 zone with its hands in the air instead of trapping.
Later, Matt Seitz shot a desperation looking 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining and missed. Twenty seconds later, Anthony Pugh’s pass to Seitz went out of bounds.
Wellsville did not take advantage in the process by missing two free throws, but Nate Scott nailed two in a row after the turnover to seal the victory.
“We came out with a game plan, and the kids bombed the game plan right from the get-go,” Rasile said.
Scott hit a 3-pointer within the first four seconds to spark a 20-8 run. After McDonald ended the first quarter on a 9-2 run, the Tigers got hot again and took a nine-point lead into halftime.
Wellsville is all too familiar with second-half surges. On Dec. 21, they came back from an 11-point halftime deficit to defeat McDonald, 82-79.
“We knew that what we did from that halftime deficit, anything is possible,” Camden Douglas said. “This was the same way. They’re a great team. We had to come out and play physical.”
Scott led with 22 points (18 in the first half) and four 3-pointers. While he struggled in the second half, Jordan Sloan scored 15 after not making a basket in the first half. Douglas finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and a game-high 10 assists. Bradford also finished in double figures with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
For McDonald, Greaver finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds, both game highs. Seitz scored 18 points while Pugh had 11 and eight assists.