Lancaster Mennonite 80 Antietam 67: Boys 2A Finals- wrap

Written by: Dell Jackson on March 9, 2021

Lancaster Mennonite 80 Antietam.67
Boys 2A District 3 finals
March 9, 2021

Lancaster Mennonite kept scoring and scoring and scoring. The game was top and down..and up and down- from runs, to three balls, to foul trouble by both teams. Antietam used a zone defense against the Blazers-sometimes effective, but LMHS would get out in the open floor led by the dynamic scoring duo of Cole Fisher(22) and Cam Hurst(32).

LMHS established itself early in the game. The Blazers posted up big-man, David Weaver, and he did his job drawing fouls and scoring. His presence opened up some driving lanes for the Blazers. LMHS was up at one point 20-10 as Jaeden McFadden got to the line posting 6 points in the stanza. Antietam answered the Mennonite run by closing out the first on a 6-0 run of their own. 20-16 after one. The tone was set for a high scoring affair.

LMHS would put together another 6-0 keyed by baskets from the dynamic duo. The Blazers would stretch their lead to 36-22 late in the second. Antietam was battling foul trouble all evening- Hector Tiburcio picked up his third late in the quarter and Aidan Freese picked up his fourth at the 3:37 mark of the quarter. To his credit, head coach Mike Green would massage the players minutes, as both of his key players would finish the game. The quarter ended with a sweet drive by Fisher near the buzzer at the half. 43-32.

Antietam would come back yet again. Hector Liriano would score 6 of the teams first 8 points on drives to the basket. A 7-0 run would pull Antietam to within 4 at 43-39 only to see Fisher hit a 3 point bomb (a repeating theme tonight). Antietam could not put together another string. Jaeden McFadden (he seems to come up with big plays when needed) would convert a HUGE and wide-open out a bounds play- three ball to keep the Blazers up …58-52 after 3 periods.

Never giving up, the Berks Co. boys would tie the score at 60 all on a three ball by Tovan Hollis, a drive by Hector, and a three ball by Freese. Coach Seth Buckwalter (LMHS) called a timeout when the score was 60-58 to try to settle the Blazers down. He told them to stay calm and execute—-hmmm- that worked. Hurst with 2 driving twisting layups (his speciality by the way) started the Blazers on a crushing 18-2 run to end the game. Back breakers included back to back three balls by the dynamic duo – who knows who is Batman or who is Robin? The turnover bug bit Antietam down the stretch (6 in the quarter). LMHS cruised onto the finish line and the 2A crown.

Final : 80-67

Points
LMHS– Cole Fisher 22, Cam Hurst 32, Jaeden McFaden 13
Antietam – Hector Tiburcio 29. Aiden Freeze 11, Tovan Hollis 12, Henderson Liriano 10

Sidelines…A bigger crowd at LMHS tonight..and loud and proud by both sides. …lots of fouls called tonight (38 total fouls), therefore lots of trips to the line. Shout-out to Cam Hurst 9/9….Good seeing Mark22 back taking picts – check out his work for LNP and his galleries on his site. …Dell gifted Mike Drago (Reading Eagle) an LLhoops t-shirt tonight- guess the squeaky wheel thing….LL boys win three games tonight- Cocalico, Lancaster Catholic and LMHS…One of the few games that was relatively close where LMHS only called one timeout…. The Blazers will play their first round PIAA game at Mennonite next Sat vs. The winner of District 2/4 winner – long bus ride for the visitors (the last few times the Blazers were in they had ling rides out West….Players of the game: Cam Hurst and Cole Fisher…we got an interview with Cole’s but messed up the interview with Cam.:(