Saegertown 66 Cambridge 72 Double Overtime

Whew. Double overtime. I sit at the computer in silence but can still hear all those faithful fans cheering these two teams on. No idle conversations tonight. Just lots of fans cheering.

I spotted the infamous Panther fans as soon as I pulled into the parking lot tonight in Cambridge Springs. They even bring it on the road. Once entering the gym in the final minutes of the JV game (Saegertown 25, Cambridge 43) I found a packed house. You could feel the emotion as these backyard rivals were about to go head to head. I'm a firm believer that you throw out the rankings and statistics when it comes to backyard rivals and I was not disappointed. I am not one to keep up with the records, but I have seen both these teams in action this year and went knowing that Cambridge would have their hands full, but anything could happen. Add into this backyard rival mix, Skinny who has coached the Saegertown starters and now coaches a younger Cambridge team. Process all this because we haven't even tipped the ball yet.

Saegertown went with their five I have seen start all season. Cambridge went with a much different and younger line up, including a freshman #15 Dustin Lewis. The opening tip went to Saegertown, however Cambridge was the first to score with a three pointer. Cambridge came out ready to play and hit the boards early while Saegertown racked up 6 fouls in the first quarter compared to Cambridge's one, which is alot if you think of playing double overtime. Cambridge hit at least three 3's in the first quarter but fell short 13-14 at the end of one.

The second quarter saw the Devils rack up the fouls and the Panthers held them scoreless until the clock read 6:26, which came in the form of foul shots. Saegertown called timeout with 4:49 left to play in the half, score Saegertown 21, Cambridge 17. Saegertown took advantage of the Cambridge fouls and a couple turnovers and led at the half 31, 27.

The Devils had possession at the start of the 3rd. Fouls and turnovers held both teams scoreless until 6:37 when Saegertowns #3 Ben Wetsell hit for two. As in the first quarter, Saegertown racked up at least 5 fouls before the quarter was even half over, with a technical called at the 4:50 mark. Score Panthers 35, Devils 27. Cambridge also had their fair share of fouls with starter #22 Colton Spaid being assessed his 4th before the quarter was even half over. The Panthers held the Devils scoreless until 3:35 left to play in the quarter. Devil timeout at 3:16 score Saegertown 39, Cambridge 30. The Panthers started to build on their lead and closed out the quarter leading 45 to 36.

Cambridge struck first and fast in the 4th quarter with a 3 pointer. The panthers took no time to answer with 2 of their own. Saegertown's #4 Kyle Beatty had a nice block but ended the play with his fourth foul. Cambridge put a run together and Saegertown called time score Panthers 47 Devils 43. Cambridge hit from 3 point land again - score 47, 46. Cambridge called time at 4:16 score all tied up at 48. Fouls, foul shots and time outs was the story of the last 1:54 of regulation with Panther #4 Kyle Beatty fouling out. Cambridge was up by as much as four at one point, but #3 Wetsell scored a 3 pointer and sent us to OT - score 57, 57.

What? OT? This backyard rival wouldn't end in regulation, but in double overtime. Cambridge's #24 Adam Sinclair fouled out and the first points of overtime came on foul shots by Cambridge at 2:08. Wetsell answered with 2 from the field. Cambridge time out at 1:19 score 59, 59. Cambridge held the ball down to :27 and turned it over without even shooting. Likewise, Saegertown held the ball to :07 turned the ball over on a travel call. End of 1st OT score 59 all.

Saegertown took the tip and turned the ball over on a travel. Freshmen #15 Dustin Lewis drove the lane and scored for Cambridge. The final 2 minutes can be summed up with fouls, turnovers, timeouts, nail biting and fans on the edge of their seats. Cambridge made their foul shots down the stretch and were up 70 -64 with :17 seconds left to play. Final score Saegertown 66 Cambridge 72.

Kudos to the officials tonight who kept the game in hand even with all the emotions backyard rivals bring. There were some very tense and very loud moments.

Ben Wetsell led the Panthers tonight with 23. Zach Beatty added 14 and Jared Campbell 10. Saegertown ran the ball when they had the opportunity and were able to score as I have seen them do before. I enjoy watching them every time I see them.

Cambridge was led by #10 Chris Young with 21 points. #24 Adam Sinclair added 15 and freshman #15 Dustin Lewis added 11 more. Lewis came in off the bench the last time I saw the Devils in action and started tonight. He is definitely one to watch and did I mention he is only a freshman. Cambridge worked hard for this win tonight and proved that anything can happen on any night.

Matching shoes tonight? Who knows - I could hardly keep up with the action.

Whew!

Cambridge 40 Maplewood 71

Big & I headed out to Cambridge Springs tonight to check out the Cambridge's Blue Devils take on the Maplewood Tigers. This was our first trip out together.

The Tigers took the opening tip down the lane where Cambridge was called on a shooting foul. Maplewood converted the first of two. The Devils took their first possession and turned it over which was followed up by a Tiger turnover. Cambridge got things going and at the 5:26 mark the Tigers called for time with the score Devils 8, Tigers 3. Maplewood put their own run together and the Spa answered with a time out with 1:52 left to play in the first quarter, score Devils 12, Tigers 10. The quarter closed with Cambridge up by two, 16 to 14.

Maplewood started the second quarter driving the lane just as they did in the first, but this time it ended in a charge. The Tigers like the fast break and were looking for the open man down the court - usually #44 Aaron Bryant - he was also posting low and making the shots. Cambridge was held to one point and called time with 4 minutes left to play in the half; score Cambridge 17, Maplewood 25. Maplewood was crashing the boards both offense and defense. Cambridge saw little of the second shot on offense. The half ended Cambridge 21 Maplewood 31.

Maplewood forced a turnover on Cambridge's first possession of the second half. Cambridge had a hard time taking care of the ball tonight, turnovers off of forced passes and guys not coming to the ball. Maplewood continued with the fast break, worked the ball in the paint and increased their lead closing out the third quarter with a score of Cambridge 27 Maplewood 59.

The fourth quarter saw playing time for both benches, with the young Devils outscoring the Tigers. Cambridges #15 Dustin Lewis came in off the bench and did a great job. Final score Cambridge 40 Maplewood 70.

Cambridge spread their scoring out evenly with #10 Chris Young leading them with 10, #5 Tyler Dunton, #24 Adam Sinclair and #25 Michael O'Malley each adding 8.

The Tigers were led by inside man #44 Aaron Bryant who had 18 and I'm sure multiple rebounds. He did a great job working the post tonight. #21 Robert Cierniakoski and #22 Andrew Hamilton each add 12 more for the Tigers.

No concession stand trip tonight. Big did mention that it would be nice in our paperless money world if they accepted debit cards. Side note - even Big pointed out the nice black and yellow shoes some of the Maplewood players wore - they really took the uniform to another level.

Pictures from the game are posted at http://www.devilshoops.com/photos.htm

I can be reached at heather@bigskinnyonline.com

Saegertown 72, Cochranton 50

The Saegertown Panthers hosted the Cochranton Cardinals where as always the Panther student body was dressed and ready to go. Playing in Saegertown? These fans are definately something to check out.

Tonights first half was plagued with turnovers and time outs. The opening tip went to Saegertown and so did the first turnover. The Cardinals took advantage and struck first off the fast break. Saegertown turnover number 2. The Panthers were held scoreless until 6:35 when #3 Ben Wetsell sank a three pointer. Let the time outs begin. The Cards called time at 4:21. Saegertown timeout at 3:37 score Panthers 7, Cardinals 9. Saegertown timeout at 2:16. Cochranton timeout at :37 score Panthers 20, Cardinals 15. The first quarter came to a close score Panthers 22, Cardinals 15. Turnovers: Panthers 3, Cardinals 7.

The second quarter saw much of the same. Cochranton called timeouts at 6:11 with the score now Panthers 26 Cardinals 17 then again at 5:24 with the score 28 to 17. The Cardinals went on a 9 to 2 run. Followed quickly by a Saegertown timeout with 2:07 left to play in the first half. Halftime score Panthers 37, Cardinals 30. Turnovers: Saegertown 5, Cardinals 12.

Cochranton opened the second half with back to back turnovers which Saegertown converted into points. The Cards were held scoreless until 5:37 in the 3rd quarter. #3 Ben Wetsell led the Panthers attack. Saegertown was crashing the boards both offense and defense. Cochranton didn't see too many second shots and were still turning the ball over. Saegertown worked the ball around nicely and scored numerous points off the fast break. Guys were filling the lanes, keeping their heads up and finding the open man. Saegertown began to increase their lead and closed out the third with a score of 58 to 37.

Saegertown and Cochranton used their bench to finish out the fourth quarter. I was impressed by Panthers #15 Dylan Johnston a 5'4" sophomore who came in and kept the Panthers offense going. He moved the ball around well and saw the whole court.

Saegertown was led by #3 Ben Wetsell with 28 points, followed by #21 Jared Campbell and #22 Zach Beatty with 11 points each. #4 Kyle Beatty added 8 more, plus lots of boards and a couple very nice blocks. Saegertown is moving the ball around well and finding the open man. The Panthers capitilized on the Cardinals too many turnovers. The Cards were led#4 Andrew Boughner with 12 points and #24 Adam Roche with 11.

For anyone keeping track - there were no matching shoes tonight.

The Panthers held all the "Cards" tonight with a final score Saegertown 72 Cochranton 50.