Central Dauphin 62 Altoona Area 51: Wrap – Kehler on Hoops

Written by: Dell Jackson on December 20, 2022

Central Dauphin defeats Altoona Area 62-51

A 30-0 run spanning the middle of the first quarter to the middle of the second frame propelled host Central Dauphin to a 62-51 win over Altoona Area in a Mid Penn Conference Commonwealth Division league game. This observer, who has seen over 2000 high school basketball games, had never before seen a 30-0 run in a high school contest.

Because high school basketball games are lower scoring than college or professional games, scoring runs are more significant to the outcome of the contest than is the case at upper levels of the sport. Very rarely does a high school team win a game in which the opponent has scored ten consecutive points. As a consequence, teams need to take time outs to blunt the opponent’s momentum. Statistically, a time out should be taken when the opponent has scored seven consecutive points, in an effort to normalize the flow of the game. If the opponent continues its run, additional time outs should be taken, lest the game get totally out of reach. What good is it to have time outs available late in a game when your team has gotten blown out?

In Tuesday night’s contest at Central Dauphin, Altoona Area was too passive and failed to make adjustments during the second quarter as the home side piled up the points. Altoona Area had severe ball security problems as Central Dauphin filled the hoop. The visitors had nine turnovers in the second quarter. Altoona had no answer for Central Dauphin senior Daron Haggans in the second frame, as he scored 10 points in the quarter.

Altoona’s offense was more productive in the second half, and they were far more effective on both boards in the final 16 minutes. However, the intensity of the game diminished in the final two quarters.

For Central Dauphin, senior Keon Dockens had 20 points, while teammate Wayne Fletcher II added 13 and Haggans finished with 12. Altoona Area senior Ashton Neely led his team in scoring with 18 points, 13 of them in the second half.

Central Dauphin is now 2-4, while Altoona Area falls to 1-5.

Altoona Area 8 6 18 19-51
Central Dauphin 17 18 12 15-62

Follow LLhoops on Twitter @LLhoops