Manheim Central 59 Gettysburg 47: 5A First Round – wrap
Written by: Dell Jackson on February 19, 2024
Manheim Central 59 Gettysburg 47
First Round 5A District 3
Feb. 19, 2024
To say that the Manheim Central Barons start slow, would not be an understatement. The last 2 games (Cedar Crest and Gettysburg) saw Manheim Central fell behind by double figures. Central came all the way back vs. Crest but couldn’t quite get over the proverbial hump. Tonight they did. How slow are we talking? How about 14 – 3 near the end of the first quarter. The string was broken as Mason Rodgers was fouled on his three attempt – he made all three. Could be the beginning of a good night for the number 13? Yep.
The Gettysburg Greyhounds (16-6 entering the game) got off to a nice start as Josh Herr 6”4” senior netted 9 points in the quarter. Herr displayed a variety ways of scoring especially on raising up on drives and jumpers. Kayson Johnson, 6’3” sophomore scored on a tough drive at the 1:55 mark of the first to give Gettysburg a 10-2 lead. The Greyhounds played an excellent match-up zone- denying the Barons their usual drive and kick game. Central close the quarter on a 5-0 run , the last on a Jason Enterline drive, to cut the gap to 6 at 14-8.
Gettysburg was dominating the glass in the first (8-4).
Coach Charlie Fisher, “That was the biggest thing…we were just giving up rebounds.”
Central switched its defense to a 1-3-1 with Enterline on the top. Gettysburg was not making perimeter shots vs the zone. The Barons started pounding the glass as they out rebounded Gettysburg 8-4 in the quarter. How do you attack a zone? It helps to have some movement and to bring off the bench some three point shooting. Enter the game Mason Rodgers, 6’1” junior. Rodgers scored 14 points in the quarter, using the three-ball as his main weapon (4). Central would go on a 14-2 run to take the lead at 24-20 with 2:03 on the clock. Brody Wagner, 6’6” senior, ended the scoring on a put-back for Gettyburg. 27-24 Central at the break.
Gettysburg switched its defense to man-to-man in the third. Manheim Central started getting to the rack – Enterline drive, 3 by Ryan Kenneff, runner by Jackson Tracy, another drive by Kenneff. Central was up 37-27 with 2:27 on the clock. Gettysburg battled back by hitting triples by Wagner and Charlie Shull to cut the lead to 5 after 3 (40-35).
With the score 40-37 in Central’s favor, Sam Witmer score on a layup off a turnover caused by the 1-3-1 slides that the Barons were using. With Enterline on top, the Baron wings started timing the skips vs. the zone. Central had many deflections, which caused Gettysburg to move their offense farther and farther away from the bucket. A sweet reverse by Enterline put the Barons up by 5 and Gettysburg could not string together points to case much grief for the home team. Central spread the floor, took layups when the middle opened up, and hit some fouls shots to ice the game.
Quotables
Mason Rodgers, Manheim Central…” We started of very shaky ….They were really tall…#35 (Josh Herr) was a great player…I like to think I can bring some energy. Go into the game and have confidence in my shot.”
John Pogorzelski, Mason Rodgers (POG), Dell
Photo Credit: Zach Aumen
Charlie Fisher, Central’s Head Coach…”We have that hunger when we get into the playoffs…our players got a taste of it last year and they wanted to do it again…We believe in ourselves..We have mult -sport athletes…We started a bit slow..I’m very proud of them.”
Points
Manheim Central: Mason Rodgers 23, Aaron Enterline 16, Sam Witmer 10
Gettysburg: Josh Herr 27
Unofficial Stats
Rebounds: Gettysburg 23, Manheim Central 25
Turnovers: Gettysburg 13 (6 in the 4th), MC 8
Blocks: Gettysburg 4 MC 1
Up next: Manheim Central (20-5) moves on. They play Greencastle-Antrim Thursday Feb. 22, 2024 at G-A.
POG Mason Rodgers man central pic.twitter.com/oQs0bSVvqY
— LLhoops (@LLhoops) February 20, 2024
Mason Rodger’s one of his three balls pic.twitter.com/v4oIsN8tWi
— LLhoops (@LLhoops) February 20, 2024
~Dell Jackson
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