Stacked deck: Shorthanded Gators fall to Aquinas Academy, 69-40
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� Geibel Catholic knew ahead of time its leading scorer, Evan Strimel, and one of its key reserves, Tony Nicksicher, wouldn无毛视频檛 be eligible for the WPIAL boys basketball playoffs due to the PIAA transfer rule.
However, late-season injuries depleted the Gators even more with concussions sidelining starters Mike Miller and Eahn Stevenon.
Despite being severely shorthanded, No. 5 Geibel put up a spirited fight for most of the first half against fourth-seeded Aquinas Academy in their WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game at Shaler High School Wednesday night.
The Crusaders无毛视频� depth and talent won out eventually.
Aquinas closed the second quarter on a 12-2 run and opened the third with a 17-3 burst to turn a six-point lead into a 30-point advantage on its way to a 69-40 victory.
The Crusaders (18-5) advance to play No. 1 Neighborhood Academy in the semifinals on Saturday at North Allegheny with a 1 p.m. tipoff.
Jake Guillen led Aquinas with a game-high 24 points to go along with seven rebounds and two blocked shots. Sam Duer followed with 14 points and five boards, and Jonah Burchill added 11 points, including three 3-pointers.
Geibel coach Gary Tarbuk pondered what might无毛视频檝e been had he had his full complement of players.
无毛视频淚 think it无毛视频檚 a different game,无毛视频� Tarbuk said. 无毛视频淭he style they play suits how we play. It would无毛视频檝e been a fun game to watch and very entertaining.无毛视频�
With four players missing from the Gators无毛视频� usual rotation, including three starters, senior Roman Riccelli stepped up and led Geibel with 18 points, including three 3-pointers, and junior Seth Dolan added four-3-pointers in tallying 14 points.
Gary Tarbuk and John Hess rounded out the Gators无毛视频� scoring with four points apiece.
无毛视频淩oman stepped up today,无毛视频� coach Tarbuk said. 无毛视频淗e无毛视频檚 a senior, last game, he gave it everything he had.
无毛视频淏ut Aquinas is big, physical and they can shoot. That无毛视频檚 a nice team they have over there.无毛视频�
Geibel started the game strong, taking an 8-2 lead thanks to a pair of 3-pointers by Dolan and a basket by Tarbuk. The Crusaders reeled off the next nine points to go up 11-8 and never trailed again.
The Gators pulled even twice more at 11-11 on a 3-pointer by Riccelli and at 13-13 on a basket by Hess with an assist from Dolan. Guillen, who rang up 13 points in the first quarter, hit a 3-pointer to put Aquinas ahead to stay.
The Crusaders upped its lead to 18-13 but Geibel, sparked by two more 3-pointers from Riccelli, whittled the gap to one before a basket by David Zaharko in the final seconds gave Aquinas a 22-19 edge after one quarter.
Another 3-pointer by Dolan got the Gators within 26-24 early in the second quarter but turnovers forced by the Crusaders无毛视频� trapping defense started to take their toll on Geibel and Aquinas extended its lead to 44-28 by halftime.
The Crusaders put the game away with a barrage of four 3-pointers early in the second half as they pushed their advantage out to 61-31 and cruised from there.
无毛视频淔or a quarter and a half we were competing, then we had a spell of about two or three minutes where it went downhill,无毛视频� coach Tarbuk said. 无毛视频淲e kind of regrouped a little bit but then come the third quarter we just ran out of gas.无毛视频�
The Gators close their season at 14-9, a 13-win improvement in Tarbuk无毛视频檚 second year as coach.
无毛视频淭o go from 1-21 last year to 14-9 this year, plus 13, I don无毛视频檛 think too many teams do that,无毛视频� Tarbuk said. 无毛视频淪o as a team it无毛视频檚 been a great year. We had some nice wins, over Monessen, Apollo Ridge. As a group they came together this year, and we无毛视频檙e a very young team.无毛视频�
Geibel only loses two players, Riccelli and Miller, to graduation.
Tarbuk commended his team after the game.
无毛视频淚 just told them keep their heads up,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淣o one expected us to win 14 games, finish third in a very tough section and make the playoffs. All the kids bought it and I think they无毛视频檙e very understanding of what we无毛视频檙e doing here.无毛视频�