J.H.S. -vs- Them ~there Rangers !!
Posted: January 22nd, 2005, 2:08 pm
'Grand' scoring helps Rangers upset Trojans....
SIDMAN - Jeff Rolla certainly had a memorable Friday night.
The Forest Hills' senior guard not only topped the 1,000-point career scoring mark, but he and his Rangers' teammates handed visiting Johnstown its first Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference loss, 48-47, before a capacity crowd.
"Coming into this game, I told people I really didn't care about the 1,000, that I would much rather beat Johnstown, but that topped it off to do both," said Rolla, who came into the game needing 15 points and finished with a game-high 17. "We played like a team and not like individuals. This was probably the biggest crowd we've had here for a basketball game in 10 years and they played a big part in the win."
The Trojans (13-2) made a run at Forest Hills in the waning moments of the game. With the Rangers leading by six with 34.5 seconds left, Johnstown's Aireon Jefferson hit a 3-pointer and the team called time out.
After the Rangers (10-6) inbounded the ball, Johnstown fouled Dan Myers, who hit one of two free throws for a 48-44 Forest Hills advantage.
Xavier Thomas added a Trojans' 3-pointer with 5.5 seconds left. A pair of missed free throws by Rolla with 4.6 seconds remaining gave Johnstown hope, but a Thomas 3-point attempt at the buzzer clanked off the rim and the Rangers faithful breathed a collective sign of relief.
"We were the underdogs obviously," said Forest Hills coach Lance McGough. "We had some kids execute and defensively, we tried to limit Johnstown's chances."
Forest Hills took an 8-0 lead to open the game then ended the first quarter with a 13-4 lead. The Rangers were up by 10, 24-14 at the half and led by as much as 13 points early in the third quarter before the Trojans began their comeback, trailing by six, 34-27, heading into the fourth.
Johnstown got back-to-back 3-pointers by Steven Lee and Thomas to open the final frame and the Trojans took their first lead on a Derek Rose bucket at 5:12. Another Lee 3-pointer gave Johnstown its biggest lead but the Rangers clawed back.
"They wavered a little bit when they got down, but I reminded them to play like they did in the first half and not be scared," McGough said.
Two more lead changes and two ties later, Myers put Forest Hills into the lead for good with 2:24 left, setting up the final scenario.
"Give Forest Hills credit. They didn't buckle," said Johnstown coach John Fuschino. "We made some bad decisions down the stretch and they made some plays."
Myers finished with 15 for the Rangers while Thomas and Lee each had 12 points for Johnstown and Jefferson added 11.
"THE CHOPS".
SIDMAN - Jeff Rolla certainly had a memorable Friday night.
The Forest Hills' senior guard not only topped the 1,000-point career scoring mark, but he and his Rangers' teammates handed visiting Johnstown its first Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference loss, 48-47, before a capacity crowd.
"Coming into this game, I told people I really didn't care about the 1,000, that I would much rather beat Johnstown, but that topped it off to do both," said Rolla, who came into the game needing 15 points and finished with a game-high 17. "We played like a team and not like individuals. This was probably the biggest crowd we've had here for a basketball game in 10 years and they played a big part in the win."
The Trojans (13-2) made a run at Forest Hills in the waning moments of the game. With the Rangers leading by six with 34.5 seconds left, Johnstown's Aireon Jefferson hit a 3-pointer and the team called time out.
After the Rangers (10-6) inbounded the ball, Johnstown fouled Dan Myers, who hit one of two free throws for a 48-44 Forest Hills advantage.
Xavier Thomas added a Trojans' 3-pointer with 5.5 seconds left. A pair of missed free throws by Rolla with 4.6 seconds remaining gave Johnstown hope, but a Thomas 3-point attempt at the buzzer clanked off the rim and the Rangers faithful breathed a collective sign of relief.
"We were the underdogs obviously," said Forest Hills coach Lance McGough. "We had some kids execute and defensively, we tried to limit Johnstown's chances."
Forest Hills took an 8-0 lead to open the game then ended the first quarter with a 13-4 lead. The Rangers were up by 10, 24-14 at the half and led by as much as 13 points early in the third quarter before the Trojans began their comeback, trailing by six, 34-27, heading into the fourth.
Johnstown got back-to-back 3-pointers by Steven Lee and Thomas to open the final frame and the Trojans took their first lead on a Derek Rose bucket at 5:12. Another Lee 3-pointer gave Johnstown its biggest lead but the Rangers clawed back.
"They wavered a little bit when they got down, but I reminded them to play like they did in the first half and not be scared," McGough said.
Two more lead changes and two ties later, Myers put Forest Hills into the lead for good with 2:24 left, setting up the final scenario.
"Give Forest Hills credit. They didn't buckle," said Johnstown coach John Fuschino. "We made some bad decisions down the stretch and they made some plays."
Myers finished with 15 for the Rangers while Thomas and Lee each had 12 points for Johnstown and Jefferson added 11.
"THE CHOPS".