Westmont boys Hoops are titlist @ Windber
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THE CHOPS
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Westmont boys Hoops are titlist @ Windber
Westmont Hilltop captures Rotary title
From the Tribune-Democrat....
WINDBER — On a night when Windber celebrated part of its basketball heritage, Westmont Hilltop gave the Ramblers a lesson in current events at the 47th annual Windber Rotary Tournament.
The Hilltoppers (9-0) claimed their second straight championship at the longest running boys tournament in the commonwealth with a 71-52 victory Thursday night over Windber. It is Westmont’s fourth tournament title overall.
“This is the classiest tournament around and we love coming here,” Westmont coach Dave Roman Jr. said. “The kids know all the history here, so this is special.”
Westmont played without team member Nick Khuri, whose father passed away on Wednesday evening.
“We had heavy hearts with John Khuri passing last night,” Roman said. “We had a lot on our minds and I think we got off to a slow start for that reason. These kids are all like family and really pulled together.”
The Ramblers (5-2) were able to stay with Westmont for a quarter, trailing 15-11 after the first. But Westmont’s shooting from 3-point range picked up in the second with Joey Stephenson hitting three and one apiece from Joe Balog and David Young as the Hilltoppers moved ahead 36-23 at the half.
“In the second quarter when they hit all those 3s in a row, I think that really dampened our spirits,” Windber coach Kevin Charney said about Westmont. “We can’t play catch up that fast.”
Westmont’s playmaking continued in the third quarter with five different Hilltoppers scoring, led by eight more points from Stephenson, who finished with a game-high 21.
“I told the kids that the first five minutes in the third quarter would decide it,” Roman said. “We really took control of it at that point.”
Young added 16 points and nine rebounds for Westmont (9-0).
Dan Gardner topped the Windber scoring with 14 points with sophomore Steve Sulosky coming off the bench to supply 13 and Derek Crognale adding 10.
“They are a very good team and shoot the ball well,” Charney said about Westmont. “We came out and hung with them for a while. We played physical but they are too athletic for us and they shot the ball real well and it opened it up for them.”
Between games, the Ramblers honored the team members, manager and coaches of Windber’s 1986-87 squad which went to the PIAA championship in Hershey, losing to Columbia.
In the consolation game, the tournament’s high-scorer, Jake Bertin of Lakeview, had 20 points and teammate Caleb Holland supplied 15 as the Sailors (8-3) downed Everett 56-38.
The Warriors (6-4) got 14 points from Boyd Beegle and 12 from Ryan Decker.
Tournament team members included Westmont’s Adam Watson and Balog, Windber’s Josh Kotula, Beegle and Lakeview’s Michael Philson. The Ramblers Crognale was selected tournament MVP.
On a personal note:
I don't know how they pick the M.V.P.'s each year at the tournament (BUT), I think that the Stephenson Boy from Westmont, would have been the clearer choice ( My opinion) :roll: :oops: :shock: :?
The Chops....
From the Tribune-Democrat....
WINDBER — On a night when Windber celebrated part of its basketball heritage, Westmont Hilltop gave the Ramblers a lesson in current events at the 47th annual Windber Rotary Tournament.
The Hilltoppers (9-0) claimed their second straight championship at the longest running boys tournament in the commonwealth with a 71-52 victory Thursday night over Windber. It is Westmont’s fourth tournament title overall.
“This is the classiest tournament around and we love coming here,” Westmont coach Dave Roman Jr. said. “The kids know all the history here, so this is special.”
Westmont played without team member Nick Khuri, whose father passed away on Wednesday evening.
“We had heavy hearts with John Khuri passing last night,” Roman said. “We had a lot on our minds and I think we got off to a slow start for that reason. These kids are all like family and really pulled together.”
The Ramblers (5-2) were able to stay with Westmont for a quarter, trailing 15-11 after the first. But Westmont’s shooting from 3-point range picked up in the second with Joey Stephenson hitting three and one apiece from Joe Balog and David Young as the Hilltoppers moved ahead 36-23 at the half.
“In the second quarter when they hit all those 3s in a row, I think that really dampened our spirits,” Windber coach Kevin Charney said about Westmont. “We can’t play catch up that fast.”
Westmont’s playmaking continued in the third quarter with five different Hilltoppers scoring, led by eight more points from Stephenson, who finished with a game-high 21.
“I told the kids that the first five minutes in the third quarter would decide it,” Roman said. “We really took control of it at that point.”
Young added 16 points and nine rebounds for Westmont (9-0).
Dan Gardner topped the Windber scoring with 14 points with sophomore Steve Sulosky coming off the bench to supply 13 and Derek Crognale adding 10.
“They are a very good team and shoot the ball well,” Charney said about Westmont. “We came out and hung with them for a while. We played physical but they are too athletic for us and they shot the ball real well and it opened it up for them.”
Between games, the Ramblers honored the team members, manager and coaches of Windber’s 1986-87 squad which went to the PIAA championship in Hershey, losing to Columbia.
In the consolation game, the tournament’s high-scorer, Jake Bertin of Lakeview, had 20 points and teammate Caleb Holland supplied 15 as the Sailors (8-3) downed Everett 56-38.
The Warriors (6-4) got 14 points from Boyd Beegle and 12 from Ryan Decker.
Tournament team members included Westmont’s Adam Watson and Balog, Windber’s Josh Kotula, Beegle and Lakeview’s Michael Philson. The Ramblers Crognale was selected tournament MVP.
On a personal note:
I don't know how they pick the M.V.P.'s each year at the tournament (BUT), I think that the Stephenson Boy from Westmont, would have been the clearer choice ( My opinion) :roll: :oops: :shock: :?
The Chops....