Central Dauphin Advances to Semifinals in District 3 Class 6A Tournament: Kehler On Hoops

Article by David Kehler

 

Central Dauphin defeated host Cumberland Valley 78 to 74 in overtime on Friday night to advance to the semifinals of the PIAA District 3 Class 6A tournament in an exciting game before a capacity crowd.  It was the third game between the two Mid Penn Conference Commonwealth Division rivals this season, the first two of which were won by Cumberland Valley.  Both teams have abundant talent and excellent coaching, and they were very evenly matched in this contest, which had eight ties and seven lead changes.

 

The teams’ familiarity with each other was evident throughout the game.  Central Dauphin’s swarming defense focused on forcing turnovers, while Cumberland Valley’s strong interior defense intended to thwart drives to the hoop.  On offense, CV knew that CD would have difficulty defending against powerful 6′ 3″ senior Nolan Buzalka inside and that there would be opportunities to score from beyond the arc when CD defenders collapsed on Buzalka.  Central Dauphin, on the other hand, had a quickness advantage that would make their slashers hard to check on the perimeter.  Both squads played with terrific composure, and players on both sides stepped up with clutch baskets when needed.

 

It was high scoring game from the start.  Central Dauphin ran at every opportunity, and Cumberland Valley also hustled the ball up the floor on most possessions.  From the outset, CV had ball security issues, committing seven turnovers in the first quarter.  However, the home side was able to play on an even basis in the early going due to strong rebounding.  CV led for most of the first frame, but CD tied the game at 19 at the end of the quarter on a fast break layup by 6′ 4″ senior Wayne Fletcher II.

 

Early in the second period, CD took a 23 to 21 lead on a drive by 6′ 2″ sophomore Shakur Starling, and they wouldn’t surrender the lead until the beginning of the overtime period.  Central Dauphin had a strong second quarter, out rebounding CV seven to six and outscoring the home side 17 to eight.  Ball security was a problem for CV, with six turnovers in the second frame.  The first half ended with CD’s Fletcher scoring a layup on a clever inbounds play on the baseline. Central Dauphin led 36 to 27 at halftime.

 

Both teams opened the second half with pairs of scores from beyond the arc, and a 3-pointer by 6′ 1″ CD senior Richard Chase put his side up 44 to 33.  CV quickly responded with an 8 to 0 run with a three point play on a power move by Buzalka, a 3-pointer by 6′ 2″ sophomore Jared Dolimpio, and a layup by 6′ 3″ senior J.J. Lebo.  That cut CD’s lead to 44-41.  In the pattern that the rest of the game would follow, Central Dauphin then went on a run, scoring nine consecutive points, the last two coming on a spectacular one handed ally oop dunk on an inbounds play on the baseline by 6′ 5″ junior Jelani Easter.  With that, CD led 53 to 41, which would prove to be the largest margin in the game.  CV immediately countered with a 3-pointer by Lebo and a hoop inside by Dolimpio.  CD led 55 to 46 at the end of the third quarter.

 

Although down by nine points, there was no quit in Cumberland Valley.  This cohesive, unselfish, unrattled squad roared back into contention.  In the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, CV scored on a three point play by Buzalka, a 3-pointer by 6′ 4″ senior Creston Austin III, and a three point play by Austin on a power move.  That cut CD’s lead to 61 to 55, then CV’s  Dolimpio sank a 3-pointer to make it 61 to 58.  Central Dauphin retained their composure and responded with a couple of free throws by Fletcher and hoop by Shakur Starling.  6′ 6″ Cumberland Valley sophomore Aiden Diehl fired back with a 3-pointer with 2:59 left in the fourth quarter, cutting CD’s lead to 65-61.  CV’s Buzalka and Austin were terrific down the stretch, and a drive by Buzalka tied the game at 69 with 1:06 left in the fourth frame.  CD recaptured the lead on a hoop by Fletcher, then Buzalka tied it again at 71.  The teams each had one more chance to score in regulation, but both were unsuccessful, and the game went to overtime.

 

CV scored first in extra time on a free throw by Lebo, and the home side had their first lead in the game since the first quarter.  CD recaptured the lead on a reverse layup by Shakur Starling, but CV then went up 74 to 73 on a hoop by Buzalka.  CD’s Easter tied the game at 74 on a free throw, then Easter scored the decisive basket with 18 seconds left to give Central Dauphin the win.  Two turnovers in overtime were costly for Cumberland Valley.

 

Cumberland Valley has qualified for the PIAA state championship tournament and will next play seeding games.  Central Dauphin will host Governor Mifflin next week in a District 3 semifinal.  CD also qualified for the PIAA state championship tourney.

 

Cumberland Valley out rebounded Central Dauphin 26 to 20.  CD had seven turnovers, while CV had 21 miscues.  Central Dauphin was eight of 10 from the free throw line, and Cumberland Valley was five of nine.  Central Dauphin made four 3-pointers, as four players made one each.  CV scored nine times from beyond the arc, eight of them in the second half.  

 

Central Dauphin scoring: Wayne Fletcher II 26, Shakur Starling 19, Jelani Easter 18, Khalil Roberts 7, Richard Chase 5, and Kyle Sucheski 3.

 

Cumberland Valley scoring: Creston Austin III 23, Nolan Buzalka 20, Jared Dolimpio 15, J.J. Lebo 11, and Aiden Diehl 5.

 

Central Dauphin 19 17 19 16 7-78

Cumberland Valley 19 8 19 25 3-74

 

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