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Third-quarter surge leads ELCO to non-league win over rival Annville-Cleona
 

Third-quarter surge leads ELCO to non-league win over rival Annville-Cleona

Written by: TJ Eck on January 31, 2024

 

The message in the ELCO locker room at halftime Wednesday night was a simple one.

“Something we always say is ‘punch in’,” said ELCO senior guard Camden Marquette. “It’s time to do our work, punch in. (Coach) told us to punch in and get it done.”

Leading 29-25 at halftime, the Raiders exploded with a 30-point effort in the third quarter en route to a 70-50 win over non-league rival Annville-Cleona in Myerstown.

“We made an adjustment and the defense responded…from that point on the defense turned into offense,” said ELCO head coach Brad Conners.

The adjustment Conners is referring to was for ELCO to focus on shutting down Annville-Cleona standout junior guard Elisa Slabach. After scoring 10 points in the first half, Slabach was held to just four points in the final two quarters. 

ELCO’s defensive effort against Slabach and the rest of the Dutchmen led to multiple A-C turnovers and easy buckets on the offensive end.

“It started on the defensive end and it spilled into the offensive side,” said Conners.

The benefactor for ELCO was Marquette. He scored 11 of his game-high 19 points in the third quarter. The six-foot-three guard knocked down four three-pointers on the night.

“They were switching a little bit so we knew if they switched we could get a little skip (pass) to pull the trigger,” said Marquette. “We can all shoot the ball so it was just my night, I guess.”

Marquette added 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double. He also tallied three assists and three steals. The Raiders, as a team, had 21 assists on 28 made field goals.

“Loved the assists,” said Conners. “We talk about…a good shot always starts with a good pass. Get that hockey assist, that extra pass that leads to the assist.”

Marquette added: “We just look to each other in transition a lot. We want to get out quick, find teammates, and get the easy bucket.”

Aside from Marquette, ELCO had three other players score in double-figures Wednesday night. Senior guard Dallas George logged 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Fellow senior guard Logan Kless and junior guard Micah Gray scored 11 points apiece. Sophomore guard Kaden Shultz Tillison knocked down three three-pointers and finished with nine points for the home team.

“I think we all just came out firing and wanted to get the job done,” said Marquette. “We want to keep rolling.”

Slabach led Annville-Cleona with 14 points and four assists. Junior forward Jonathan Shay tallied 11 points and six rebounds for the Dutchmen while senior guard Ben Morcom scored 10 points off the bench.

Annville-Cleona suffers its fifth straight loss and drops to 7-11 overall. The Dutchmen entered Wednesday night clinging to the sixth spot in the Class AAA District 3 power ratings. The top six teams qualify for the district tournament.

ELCO, meanwhile, stretches its winning streak to three games. The Raiders are now 11-8 overall and No. 9 in the latest Class AAAA District 3 power ratings. The top ten teams qualify for the district tournament.

“We don’t take anybody for granted,” said Conners. “We can’t take anybody for granted.”

Marquette added: “We started a bit slow. We are starting to get hot and we just wanna keep it going.”

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