Elkers beat Rams in OT to capture AML title

Sunday, February 19, 2012

ST. MARYS - The latest installment of the Ridgway-Johnsonburg boys basketball rivalry added a new ending Saturday evening at St. Marys High School.
This time the game needed overtime to determine a winner. And when it was all said and done, it was Ridgway that prevailed with a 49-46 overtime victory, giving the Elkers their first Allegheny Mountain League Title.
Meeting for the fourth time this season, the two foes battled down to the wire once again.
After a shakey start, both teams settled down in crunch time of the second half. It was the Elkers who dug a little deeper to overcome a seven-point deficit in the third and eventually prevailed in overtime to end the Rams' 11-game winning streak.
"It was a fun game to coach," Ridgway head coach Tony Allegretto said. "Both teams played hard and either one could have won."
Tied at 43 at the end of regulation, Ridgway's Jordan Lundin hit a short jumper to give the Elkers the lead. Johnsonburg answered about a minute later as Michael Shuey scored inside to even the score.
From there, it came down to free throws over the final two minutes of overtime, which played into the hands of the Elkers.
Ridgway made four of six attempts in the final 1:07 of overtime, while the Rams went 1-for-4.
Ridgway's Aaron Sorge gave his team the lead, making one of two attempts with 1:07 to play. Lundin grabbed the offensive rebound on his second attempt, but the Elkers turned the ball over seconds later.
Johnsonburg had a chance to take the lead, but the Rams missed two free throws with 56 seconds to go. Sam Roselli pulled down the rebound for the Elkers and they got the ball into Eric Matheson's hands before the Rams fouled him.
Matheson drained both free throws in the 1-and-1 situation, extending his team's lead to 48-45 with 42 seconds to go.
The Rams got off a couple shots with time winding down, but Cameron Grumley never had a good look from the corner as he attempted a contested 3-pointer. The Rams retained possession with the possession arrow in their favor on the loose ball.
Holding onto their three-point lead, Ridgway sent Johnsonburg to the foul line with four seconds remaining. Cole Peterson made the first one and missed the second, but Lundin secured the ball for the Elkers. Lundin went to the line with two seconds remaining and made the first and missed the second.
Johnsonburg's Mitch Holmberg had one last heave from half court, but his desperation shot came up short.
Ridgway finished 8-for-10 at the charity stripe and Johnsonburg ended 4-for-10.
Matheson hit all six of his free throws and finished with a game-high 18 points.
The Elkers led by as many as 10 in the first half. They made six straight shots at one point, including four of four from behind the arc, in the first quarter en route to an 18-8 lead after one.
Johnsonburg's youth showed in the first quarter, committing seven turnovers, but the Rams regrouped in the second.
Johnsonburg got to its game, forcing six Ridgway turnovers in the second quarter. The Rams ended the first half with seven unanswered points over the final two minutes, including a deep 3-pointer by Grumley at the buzzer to cut Ridgway's deficit to 24-23.
After the two teams combined for 19 turnovers in the first half, both Ridgway and Johnsonburg had more composure in the second half.
The Rams started the third strong and led 33-26 after a jumper by Holmberg rolled in.
Ridgway didn't back down and Tony Leithner's 3-pointer from the corner at the buzzer cut Johnsonburg's lead to 37-35 to start the fourth.
The Elkers regained the lead and led by as many as four after Jesse Reynolds' reverse layin. Johnsonburg chipped away and Peterson's jumper tied it at 43 with 3:16 to go.
Ridgway worked the ball for the final 1:53 of regulation before it finally settled for a shot, but Josh Mitchell's jumper from the elbow was off the mark and forced overtime.
Ridgway has won three of the four meeting between the two schools this season, but Johnsonburg holds a 1-point advantage in total points scored (175-174).
Both Ridgway and Johnsonburg have first-round byes in the District 9 Class A playoffs and are off until Friday. Ridgway (23-1) is the top seed and plays the Venango Catholic-Sheffield, while Johnsonburg (21-3) is the third seed. The Rams await the winner of A-C Valley and Coudersport.
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Reported by Bryan Swan, Tri-County Sunday Sports Writer. Email: bswan@thecourierexpress.com