North East 66 Farrell 60

The North East Grape Pickers keep moving on as they beat the Farrell Steelers by 6 at McComb Fieldhouse in Edinboro. The Farrell girls started off the afternoon with with a solid win over the Avonworth Antelopes, final score 29-54. Best wishes to the Farrell girls as they move on.

The gym was packed and you could feel the intensity as the teams took the court. The Grape Picker student body was out in full force and added much to this playoff game.

The first quarter started off with NE in possession of the ball, however Farrell would be the first to shoot as NE turned the ball over on a walking call. Farrell missed their first attempt, NE hauled down the board. The first points of the game came from NE #20 Rouse at 7:10 as he nailed a trey - wow can he shoot. The fans loved it. Farrell missed their next attempt and NE #20 Rouse made quick work of adding 2 uncontested down the lane. Farrell's first points of the game came from the foul line at 6:11 as #21 Jackson connected on 1 of 2. Score 1-5 NE. NE next four possession saw 3 missed shots and a 3 second call. Farrell fared slightly better as they missed 2 shots, committed a charge and #34 hit for their first points from the floor. NE #3 Meehl scored next as he went 1 for 2 at the foul line. Farrell scored the next 4 points as #5 Chapman hit for 2 underneath and #2 Stubbs had an awesome move for 2. NE answered quickly with 2 of their own. NE #5 Kirsch then add 3 more as he was fouled shooting. Both teams turned the ball over on bad passes, where NE ended up committing a foul on the floor. Farrell's #21 Jackson added 2 more from the line as he was fouled while shooting. Score 9-11 NE. NE #00 Szwejbka added to their lead as he hit a long 3. Farrell found themselves at the line again, hitting 1 of 2. NE #00 Szwejbka took it to the hoop this time and ended up with 2 more for the Grape Pickers cause. Farrell added 2 more before the quarter came to a close as #21 Jackson hit a nice turn around jumper. Score 12-16 NE.

Farrell ball to start the second. Farrell missed shots on their first 2 possessions, but were able to come up with 1 point as #34 was fouled on a put back. He hit 1 of 2 from the line. The Grape Pickers added 7 points on their first 3 possessions before Farrell could call time with the clock reading 5:59, score 13-23. Scoring from NE came from a nice jumper from #5 Kirsch, #00 Szwejbka hitting for 3 and #20 Rouse adding 2. Farrell's #2 Stubbs hit a 3 pointer after NE committed a foul on the floor. Stubbs then committed his own foul on the floor followed by his teammate #21 Jackson fouling #20 Rouse while shooting. Rouse hit both from the line and NE was up 25-16. Farrell's #21 Jackson added 3 points, hitting a shot plus the foul. NE #20 Rouse had the next 5 of their 7 points as he hit another trey and had a great scoop shot under the hoop. What a move. NE #10 Traina had the other 2 points under the hoop. Farrell's #3 Holden hit for a 3 pointer then team mate #2 Stubbs came up with a steal ending with Holden at the line shooting 2, making only 1. Farrell #2 Stubbs then went coast to coast adding 2 more. NE time at 2:24, score 25-32. Farrell committed a foul on the floor and NE turned the ball over on a bad pass. Farrell's #3 Holden missed a 3 pointer, Farrell board, Farrell charge, NE board. Farrell would score the next 3 points, but NE #10 Triana would close the quarter with 2 more from the line, putting NE up by 6 at half, score 28-34.

NE started the second half with the ball, where Farrell came up with a blocked shot and scored first with a quick 2. NE #00 Szwejbka scored their first points of the half. Farrell's #2 Stubbs hit for 3. NE #10 Triana made a nice move and added 2 more. Farrell's next possession saw them crashing the boards as they had at least 4 put backs before the ball went out on NE. They then had 3 more put backs before #21 Jackson ended up with a 3 point play off the shot and foul. NE back to #20 Rouse for 2 points. Farrell was able to close the gap and tied it up at 42 with 3:21 left to play in the third quarter. NE #10 Triana then came up with a three point play as he was fouled shooting. This would be #2 Stubbs 3rd foul and he came out of the game with 3:20 to play in the quarter. Farrell hit for 2 points and #2 Stubbs came back in at 2:55. Stubbs was back out at 2:48 as he picked up his fourth foul. NE then missed their next shot, in and out. Farrell managed to take the lead with 2 points straight to the hoop. #5 Kirsch answered with a layup. NE called time with 1:51 on the clock, score 46-47. Final points of the quarter came from Farrell's #3 Holden as he was fouled while shooting a 3 pointer. He only converted 2. The quarter closed with Farrell leading by 1, outscoring NE by 5, score 48-47.

Quarter four, Farrell ball, Stubbs on the bench. NE causes jump ball, NE possession. The first 6 points of the quarter all came from the line. NE scored first from the line as #3 Meehl hit 1 of 2. Farrell's first points from the line came as a result of #4 Platterborze's awesome behind the back pass, ending with his team mate being fouled and hitting both his shots. NE #5 Kirsch added 2 from the line and Farrell #21 Jackson added 1, making 1 of 2. NE forced a pass causing a turnover and ending with Farrell #3 Holden connecting for 2. NE missed their next attempt and Farrell had to call time at 5:24 as they were trapped in the corner. Score 53-50. Farrell's Stubbs checked back into the game. Let the 3 pointers start flying. Farrell and NE both missed 3 pointers but then NE #10 Triana hit, then Farrell's #2 Stubbs hit, then NE hit again. Time out NE with 3:47 left to play all tied up at 56. I think this is when I heard someone say, "I'll be paying another $6 when I leave." What a game. Farrell came out and turned the ball over, NE converted into 2 points. Farrell then connected for 2 of its own. NE #5 Kirsch was fouled shooting and hit both free throws. Farrell missed their next attempt, NE board and time out at 1:32, score 58-60. The final ticks saw NE at the foul line several times, Farrell #2 Stubbs fouling out, and Triana stealing the ball going out of bounds yet flipping the ball ahead to his team mate. What a heads up play. Reminded me of the end of the 3rd quarter against Girard. Although Farrell outscored NE in the 3rd, NE was able to make up for it in the 4th and won by 6, which was their lead at the half. Final score 60-66.

They say games can be won and lost at the foul line. I am not sure of the percentages, but it seemed as though NE took full advantage of those shots, where Farrell struggled from the line today. That is not to take away from the Pickers win as even those few times they didn't hold the lead, they were still hustling. NE makes such great heads up plays. I thought Farrell would have a slight size advantage, but it never came into play. I really enjoyed watching #4 Platterborze come in off the bench for Farrell. What a game!

High scorers: #21 Jackson led the Steelers offense with 18 points. The Pickers were led by #20 Rouse with 21 points and #10 Triana adding 20.

On to Sharon where NE will meet up with Jeannette at 7:00 PM Wednesday.

Jeannette 67 Girard 35

Packed parking, could only mean a packed house at Sharon High School tonight as the Jeanette Jayhawks took on the Girard Yellowjackets.

The opening tip went to Jeannette as did the opening shot from the Jayhawks #22 Grant. Girard came up with the board off the missed shot. Jeannette #3 Hall was called for a foul as Girard was bringing the ball up the court at 7:28. Girard's #15 opened up their shooting which was blocked by #1 Pryor. The Jayhawks lost possession out of bounds on the fast break as they tried to feed #1 Pryor. The first points of the game came from Jeannette's #22 Grant at 6:29. Girard turned the ball over and Jeannette went for the fast break and came up empty. Girard's #23 Ferrick got the board. Girard's first points came from the line as #54 McDonald was fouled while shooting. He hit only one of two. Jeannette's next possession saw shots from #3 Hall and #1 Pryor both coming up empty. Girard's #15 Rickard came up empty at his end too, Jeannette ball out of bounds. Jeannette #10 drove the lane and came up with 2 points. Another Girard turnover led to Jeannette's #1 Pryor taking it to the hoop but again coming up empty. Girard had a nice shot that went in and out. Jeannette answered with 2 points. Girard was unable to get the ball in bound and turned the ball over where Jeannette's #1 Pryor came up empty inside. Girard's #23 Ferrick tried to feed #15 Rickard inside, resulting in a turnover. Jeannette's #1 Pryor missed from 3 point range, however his team mate #3 Hall drove and picked up 2 points. Girard called time with 1:49 to play in the first, score 8-1. Girard broke the press out of the time out but weren't able to add to their cause as they missed another shot, Jeannette answered with a 3 pointer. #15 Rickard had a nice inside move and scored the first points from the floor for Girard. Jeannette missed their next shot and #23 Rickard came up with the board. #15 Rickard fed #23 Ferrick for a quick 2 for Girard. The quarter closed with a score Jeannette 11, Girard 5.

Girard started the second quarter with great ball movement as #23 Ferrick fed #15 Rickard inside, Rickard kicked the ball out to #54 McDonald who hit a trey. Jeannette missed their first shot of the quarter and #23 Rickard picked up the board. Girard missed two shots, which was answered by Jeannette's #1 Pryor hitting his first points of the game with a nice turn around jumper. Wow can he jump. Jeannette's #3 Hall caused a turn over as Girard was bringing the ball up which was finished with the first of three dunks from Jeannette's #1 Pryor. Time out at 5:05, Jeannette 18, Girard 8. Jeannette's #11 Baradziej was called on a charge. #23 Ferrick hooked up with #15 Rickard again for 2 points inside. Jeannette answered with 2 of their own. #15 Rickard had a nice drive but came up empty. Jeannette's #11 Baradziej hit for 2 plus the foul. Score 20-10. Girard missed a layup and Jeannette added to their lead with 2 points inside. Time out with 2:36 left to play in the half. Girard missed their next shot, but got the board only to turn it over on a walking call. Jeannette answered with another 2. Girard was held scoreless in the last 2 plus minutes of the half and Jeannette increase their lead for a score of 26-10 at the half.

Jeannette opened the third quarter with the the ball and continued to build on their lead. Girard was held scoreless until 3 minutes into the quarter when they hit a three pointer. Jeannette's #1 Pryor showed us his dunking ability 2 more times in the 3rd quarter, the last to finish out the quarter. Score at the end of three was 45-22.

The fourth quarter started with Girard's #15 Rickard taking it to the hoop and picking up 2 points, however Girard was outscored in the final frame by 9. The final 3 minutes or so saw both teams finishing up with players from their benches. Final score Jeannette 67, Girard 35.

Girard was still in this after one, as Jeannette didn't capitalize on Girard's turnovers. Girard was getting open looks at the hoop, they just couldn't get anything to fall. I was impressed with their continuous effort and they are to be commended for a great season. I was looking forward to seeing Jeannette. Several people had told me about #1 Pryor before I got there. He's good, but they definitely have the total team effort going on. He was held scoreless in the 1st quarter, yet they were still up. Loose balls tonight typically ended up with Jeannette, they are quick.

I hear Farrell and North East play Saturday, should be a great game.