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Tigers rebound to extend streak
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Springfield’s Brandon Chamberlain goes for a layup against McDonald’s Jake Reckard during the first quarter of their game Tuesday at Springfield High School in New Middletown. Chamberlain scored 12 points for the Tigers, who earned their 20th straight victory with a 70-56 win over the Blue Devils. Springfield’s Graham Mincher had a game high 24 points. High scorer for McDonald was Brad Woodley, who had 22.
Springfield dominates second half
By Tom Williams
NEW MIDDLETOWN
Unbeaten teams don’t often see 10-point leads evaporate completely, so when McDonald’s Jake Reckard hit a 3-pointer late in the second quarter for a two-point edge over Springfield, was there concern?
Not to Tigers senior Mark Schuler.
“Doubt didn’t really start to creep in,” Schuler said. “We knew [we’d be fine] if we are able to turn things around on defense, get some more stops.
“Our offense was doing a pretty good job.”
The Tigers’ defense tightened in the second half, allowing them to pull away for a 70-56 victory, their 20th straight.
“We haven’t been tested in that style of basketball all year,” Springfield coach Eric Fender said. “That’s a credit to McDonald. They put a lot of pressure on you for 32 minutes.”
After going scoreless in the first quarter, Graham Mincher scored 24 points to lead the Tigers, champions of the Inter Tri-County League Tier One (14-0). Schuler contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds while Brandon Chamberlain scored 12.
“The key to the game was they killed us on the boards,” McDonald coach Jeff Rasile said. “We knew we had to keep control of our turnovers and rebound.
“We didn’t do either.”
Springfield had a 20-8 edge in rebounds. Both teams had 13 turnovers.
Brad Woodley led the Blue Devils (14-5, 10-3 ITCL Tier Two) with 22 points. Reckard finished with 15 points and Anthony Pugh hit four 3-pointers for 12 points.
When the Tigers opened up a 23-13 lead in a run-and-gun first quarter, a romp appeared to be blossoming.
Then the Blue Devils went on a 10-4 run to climb back into the game.
“They were pressing us, trapping us,” Mincher said of the Blue Devils’ surge. “We knew we were going to have to be smart and take our time.”
After a 3-pointer by Pugh, Reckard stole a pass and scored, then hit a 3-pointer for McDonald’s last lead, 33-31.
“We were opening windows on defense, we were getting a little too out-in-front,” Schuler said of the second-quarter collapse. “That was giving them seams so they could drive-kick it for some easy layups.”
Ahead 37-34 at halftime, the Tigers immediately regained control with a 7-0 run that included five points from Mincher.
Down 10 again, the Blue Devils scored the next five points on a 3-pointer by Pugh and a basket by Matt Howard.
“We cut it to five and we’ve got the ball but then there is a silly pass on the wing that gets stolen for a layup [by Mincher],” Rasile said. “Against good teams, you can’t do that.
“They’ve got a special season going.”
Pugh’s final 3-pointer just before the end of the third quarter kept the Blue Devils within striking distance, 53-45.
But the Tigers regained control, nursing a double-digit advantage for most of the final quarter.
“It was fun playing them,” Mincher said. “We had to run up and down the whole game, but it was a good experience for us.
“It was good win for us to come back in the second half.”
Up next for Springfield is a visit from Girard.
“It’s going to be a good game on Friday night,” Rasile said.
Fender agreed, calling his team’s final three games (McDonald, Girard and Salem) a “good measuring stick for us.”