OCTORARA RALLY FALLS SHORT; WARWICK ADVANCES IN L-L PLAYOFFS WITH 51-49 WIN: KEHLER ON HOOPS

Article by David Kehler

 

Trailing 46 to 25 early in the fourth quarter to Warwick, Octorara launched a furious rally fueled by pressure defense but fell just short in a Lancaster-Lebanon League playoff quarterfinal on Monday night in Lititz.  Host Warwick, which led from the second minute of the game, held on for a 51 to 49 win, with two Octorara shots missing the mark in the final seconds of what became an exciting contest.

 

Warwick had a significant height advantage in this matchup, but Octorara was quicker.  Octorara’s offensive strategy at the beginning of the game was to rush the ball down court and attack the basket before Warwick’s defense could get into position.  However, Octorara committed four turnovers in the first four minutes of the game, and Warwick capitalized on these errors to forge an early lead.  A fast break layup by 6′ 3″ Warwick senior Caleb Johnsen gave his side a 10 to 4 lead. A couple of minutes later, Warwick went up 14 to 8 on a 3-pointer by 6′ 2″ senior Caleb McCamant.  Octorara repeatedly tried to score from inside, but Warwick blocked shot after shot, with most of the blocks coming from 6′ 4″ junior Ya’Majesty Washington, who is a terrific leaper.

 

Warwick had a strong second quarter, with five players on the home side scoring in the frame.  Warwick’s interior defense during this stage of the game was very effective, and, after ten minutes of play, they had blocked six shots.  Leading 21 to 16 in the second quarter, Warwick went on a 6 to 0 run on a twisting drive by 5′ 10″ senior Parker Horst, a couple of free throws by Horst, and a couple of free throws by Washington.  That made it 27 to 14, Warwick.  Octorara countered with a 3-pointer by 5′ 9″ senior Jason Johnson, but Warwick closed the first half scoring with a 3-pointer by 5′ 11″ junior Gavin Sturgis and a free throw by Washington.  Warwick led 31 to 17 at halftime and seemed to be in control of the game.  Warwick blocked eight Octorara shots in the first half.

 

Warwick’s Caleb Johnsen opened the second half scoring with a 3-pointer to put his side up 34 to 17.  Later in the third period, Warwick’s lead extended to 20 points, 41 to 21 on a 3-pointer by 6′ 5″ junior Brody Clausen.  Octorara closed out the third quarter scoring with four free throws.  Nothing that had happened through the first three quarters suggested that Octorara could get back into contention.  But, there was no quit in the scrappy visitors.

 

Warwick scored the first five points of the fourth quarter on a follow by Washington and a fast break layup plus a free throw by Johnsen, and the home side had their biggest lead of the game, 46 to 25.  Then, paced by pressure defense, Octorara launched a 16 to 0 run on two free throws by Johnson, a hoop by 6′ junior Vincent Thaller, a 3-pointer by 5′ 9″ junior sharpshooter Chase Fetrow, a jumper by 6′ 1″ junior Vito Vespe, a jumper by Fetrow, another 3-pointer by Fetrow, and a hoop inside Thaller.  That made it 46 to 41 in favor of Warwick.  While Octorara’s offense was surging at this point in the game, Warwick’s was sputtering, with some damaging turnovers, some suboptimal shot selection, and some shot blocking by Octorara defenders.  With 1:40 left in the game, the flow of play was all in favor of Octorara.  Then, Warwick’s McCamant scored a crucial hoop on a drive, was fouled on the play, and sank the free throw to give his side a 49 to 41 lead.  On the ensuing possession, Octorara’s Fetrow hit his third 3-pointer of the fourth quarter, and he was fouled on the play.  Fetrow, a wonderful shooter, made the free throw, cutting Warwick’s lead to 49 to 45 with 1:36 left in the game.  Warwick countered with a layup by Horst with 1:19 left and led 51-45.  Octorara responded with a couple of free throws by 5′ 8″ junior Lazo Christou and a baseline pull-up jumper by Fetrow, and with 35 seconds left, Warwick’s lead was cut to 51 to 49.  With 26 seconds left Octorara gained possession on a Warwick turnover.  Octorara got off a couple of shots in the waning seconds, but they didn’t fall.  Even though they were shaky down the stretch, Warwick held on for the win.

 

For the game, Octorara out-rebounded Warwick 45 to 42.  There were a dozen turnovers each.  Warwick was 10 of 15 from the free throw line, while Octorara was 12 of 18 from the stripe.  Each team made five 3-pointers.

 

Warwick scoring: Caleb McCamant 14, Ya’Majesty Washington 11, Caleb Johnsen 10, Parker Horst 8, Brody Clausen 3, Gavin Sturgis 3, and Jahkai Dixon 2.

 

Octorara scoring: Chase Fetrow 21, Vincent Thaller 11, Lazo Christou 7, Jason Johnson 6, and Vito Vespe 4.

 

Octorara 8 9 8 24-49

Warwick 14 17 10 10-51

 

On X (formerly Twitter): @david_kehler