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Cedar Crest holds off Wilson, advances in District 3 6A tournament
 

Cedar Crest holds off Wilson, advances in District 3 6A tournament

Written by: TJ Eck on February 20, 2024

 

For the Cedar Crest senior class, it was simple Tuesday night.  The Falcons didn’t want their time together to come to an end.

“Our team chemistry is like no other,” said Cedar Crest senior forward Aiden Schomp. “We were not ready to give that up yet.”

The No. 7 seed Falcons got their wish by holding off No. 10 seed Wilson for a 55-50 victory in a win-or-go-home first round matchup in the PIAA District 3 Class AAAAAA tournament at Cedar Crest High School.

“Basketball (is) a game of runs,” said Cedar Crest head coach Tom Smith. “Thank goodness we were able to make the last one.”

The teams battled through a back-and-forth first half with the home squad holding a two-point advantage at the break. Cedar Crest appeared to take control of the game with an 11-2 run in the third quarter that featured eight consecutive points scored from Schomp. The Falcons led by as many as 13 before Wilson opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run of its own. 

Cedar Crest struggled at times against Wilson’s pressure defense, committing multiple turnovers in the fourth quarter. One of those turnovers led directly to an old-fashioned three-point play by Correll Akings that pulled the Bulldogs back within two points, 52-50, with 1:20 to play. But Wilson would get no closer.

Cedar Crest seniors Fernando Marquez and Leo Tirado combined to make three free throws and junior forward RJ Young came up with a blocked shot on a Wilson three-pointer to help seal the deal in the final minute.

“It means everything,” said Cedar Crest senior guard Owen Chernich. “We lost this exact game against them last year. So it was big for us, getting a little revenge, and also just being able to move on and keep our season going.”

Chernich scored only five points Tuesday night but might have been the most impactful player on the floor. He played intense defense and came away with seven steals while dishing out three assists and grabbing three rebounds.

“I was just trying to do whatever it takes to win,” said Chernich. “I knew defensively I could contribute the most. Whenever I get an opportunity, I try to make the most of it.”

Smith added: “It’s what he does night-in and night-out. He does whatever it takes to win…he does so much for us. He’s our leader.”

While Chernich was getting it done on the defensive end, Schomp was a force offensively. The six-foot-seven forward, who will play NCAA Division I football at Lehigh, finished the night with 15 points to go along with five rebounds and two assists.

“I was just taking what the defense is giving me,” said Schomp. “Letting my offense flow through the continuity of everything that was working. It just came to me…I gotta give credit to my teammates too, who really helped me get my shots.”

Marquez added 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists for the Falcons. 39 of Cedar Crest’s 55 points came from the senior class that wasn’t ready to be done playing.

“Seniors don’t want to go home,” said Smith. “They’re not finished playing yet. They just do whatever it takes to win and I think tonight was a great example of that. All of them at some point and time put their thumbprint on this game.”

Cedar Crest improves to 20-5 overall. The Lancaster-Lebanon League champions have won seven straight games. Next up is a PIAA District 3 Class 6A quarterfinal matchup at No. 2 seed Cumberland Valley Friday night. The Falcons are guaranteed three more games in the district tournament and will clinch a state tournament berth with one more win.

Wilson finishes the season with a 17-9 overall record.  Akings paced the Bulldogs Tuesday night with 17 points. Madyx Gruber added 15 points and Luke Levan tallied 10 points and six rebounds in the loss.

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