Kehler on Hoops: Warwick defeats Central Dauphin 74- 57
Written by: Dell Jackson on March 1, 2022
WARWICK DEFEATS CENTRAL DAUPHIN 74-57
Warwick snapped host Central Dauphin’s nine game winning streak in a PIAA District 3 Class 6A playoff semifinal with a 74-57 victory on Tuesday night. With the win, Warwick advances to the PIAA District 3 Class 6A championship game vs. Reading on Saturday night at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Cohesive and disciplined, unselfish Warwick had no trouble overcoming Central Dauphin’s height advantage. From the outset, Warwick defenders collapsed on the ball when Central Dauphin tried to attack inside. On offense, Warwick moved the ball well, their outside shooting was very accurate early in the game, and every player who they put on the court was always a threat to score. Four different Warwick players made three pointers in the first half, and very effective shooting from beyond the arc at the beginning of the second quarter gave Warwick an insurmountable lead. Central Dauphin, plagued by ball security problems, only led three times in the game, all in the first quarter, at 4-2, 15-14, and 16-14. Otherwise, it was all Warwick.
Warwick scored first, on a jumper by 5′ 11″ senior Tate Landis. Central Dauphin responded with a drive by 6′ 8″ senior Donovan Hill and a drive by 5′ 9″ senior Christian Wilburn. Warwick quickly came back with a 7-0 run on a three pointer by 6′ senior Avery Sapp, a drive by Sapp, a hoop by 6′ 1″ sophomore Carter Horst, and a basket inside by 5′ 10″ senior Ryan Fink. So, within the first few minutes of the game, four Warwick players had already scored. Central Dauphin responded with their best offensive sequence of the game, a 12-3 run, consisting of two free throws by 6′ junior Travis Linn, a breakaway layup by Linn, a three pointer by Linn, a drive by 6′ senior Andrew Renaldi, and a hoop inside plus a free throw by 6′ junior Daron Haggans. That gave Central Dauphin a 16-14 lead, their last of the game. Before the first quarter ended, Warwick’s Sapp scored inside then made his second three pointer of the frame to give Warwick a 19-16 lead after one period. Central Dauphin’s Hill was injured and left the game with 2:10 left in the first quarter. Although he returned about two minutes into the second frame, he only scored two more points in the contest and, ultimately, was ejected for committing a flagrant foul.
The decisive sequence in the game occurred early in the second quarter, when Warwick hit four three pointers, one by Landis and three by 6′ 1″ senior Chase Krall. Krall’s third three pointer made it 34-19, Warwick. Early in the second quarter, Warwick switched to a 2-3 zone defense. When Hill reentered the game for Central Dauphin he was often positioned outside when the Rams were running their half court offense.
Warwick led 38-26 at halftime. Central Dauphin opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run on a steal and a fast break layup by Wilburn, a steal and a fast break layup by Renaldi, and a three point play by Haggans, cutting Warwick’s lead to 38-33. Warwick responded with a strong third quarter by 6′ 3″ sophomore Trevor Evans, who hadn’t scored in the first half. Evans scored eight points in the third quarter on two field goals and four free throws. Warwick led 48-37 after three quarters. Central Dauphin twice cut Warwick’s lead to seven in the fourth quarter, but it never seemed that Warwick’s lead was in jeopardy. Some late game fouling by Central Dauphin enabled Warwick to extend their lead.
With this decisive win, Warwick was able to avenge a loss suffered to Central Dauphin last season in the District 3 Class 6A tournament. That loss was Warwick’s final game of the 2020-21 campaign, due to the coronavirus’ abbreviation of the PIAA state championship tournament. This season, both Warwick and Central Dauphin have qualified for the state championship tourney.
Central Dauphin had a significant height advantage in this game, and they out rebounded Warwick 38 to 25. Warwick committed just eight turnovers, while Central Dauphin had 16 miscues. Warwick was 18 for 24 from the free throw line, while Central Dauphin was 12 of 20. In the most important statistic of this contest, Warwick made eight three point shots, three by Krall, two by Sapp, one by Landis, one by Fink, and one by 6′ 1″ sophomore Carter Horst. Central Dauphin sank three from behind the arc, one each by Linn, Renaldi, and 5′ 10″ senior Jaydon Laudermilch. There were two ties and four lead changes.
Warwick scoring: Tate Landis 16, Trevor Evans 16, Avery Sapp 11, Ryan Fink 11, Chase Krall 9, Carter Horst 7, and Caleb Johnson 4.
Central Dauphin scoring: Daron Haggans 17, Travis Linn 13, Andrew Renaldi 9, Keon Dockens 5, Christian Wilburn 4, Donovan Hill 4, Jaydon Laudermilch 3, and Wayne Fletcher II 2.
Warwick 19 19 10 26-74
Central Dauphin 16 10 11 20-57
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