Basketball
Rangers upset Wildcats in overtime, 48-46, but York is victorious in two out of three recent games
By Stan Ross
Wildcats basketball is having a strong season with a 7-4 record and wins in two out of three of their most recent games. Pictured here is Joe Corsello (23) keeping the ball from Cape Elizabeth at a game held at home during the holiday break where York defeated Cape by a score of 63 to 58. Also pictured are several of Corsello's teammates, including Pat Cartier (11) and Dan Sheehan (41). In the past week, York was victorious over Freeport and Gray-New Gloucester before falling to Traip in overtime on Saturday.
Photo by Kate Rasche
York (7-4) played their third overtime game in five nights when they lost at Traip Academy (6-4) last Saturday night, Jan. 13.
Andre Plummer (game high 17) paced the Ranger attack while Prugar, with 15 points including four treys, led the Wildcats.
York took an early lead of 10 to 5 after the first period, but Traip rallied to even the score after three quarters at 26 to 26. Each team managed 18 points in the final period, but the Rangers outscored the Wildcats 4 to 2 in overtime to make the final score 48 to 46.
Wildcats outlast Falcons, 63-59 in overtime
Last Thursday night the York Wildcats (7-3) played host to a strong Freeport Falcons (6-4) club, and for the second time in three nights, were forced to go to overtime for the win by the final score of 63-59.
Dan Sheehan opened the scoring for York when he was fouled on a put-back and drained both free throws.
Phil Alibrandi (game high 20 points) scored on a slash to the hoop and after a Sheehan block, Corsello fed Romano on a drive to the basket. The Falcons were countering every Wildcats move in this tightly-played game and despite a base line bucket by Alibrandi and a slash to the hoop by Corsello Freeport led 12-10 after six minutes of action.
Then Sheehan "took one for the team" when he drew a charging foul, negating a Freeport basket. Alibrandi followed with a feed to Prugar for a pop from the corner and then made three the old fashioned way when he was fouled during a put-back.
York led 16 to 14 at the quarter, but the Falcons nailed nine quick points and regained the lead 23 to 21 at the 4:34 mark. Then Corsello closed out the half with six points on his patented slash to the hoop and the Wildcats led 34 to 27 after a high-scoring first half.
Alibrandi got York on the board with a put-back, but Freeport countered with a drive plus a trey from the top by Jon Klages (team high 19). The Wildcats countered on a steal by Alibrandi and a fast break feed to Corsello plus a trey from the wing by Prugar and another trey by Pat Cartier. But the York fouls were adding up and Freeport made nine of 10 free throws in the quarter. Alibrandi drew a charge and then fed Matt Prewitt who came off the bench to score on a reverse lay-up.
The Wildcats led 47 to 45 going into the final period when the "chess match" began. First, York scored five quick hoops but Freeport countered five of their own and the Wildcats now led 58 to 53 with just one minute to play when Freeport called a strategic timeout. Klages tallied two more hoops as Freeport called time after each basket. Corsello was fouled on a slash to the hoop for York and made one free throw, but Freeport countered on a pair of free throws by Luke Charles to even the score at 59-59 at the and of regulation.
Now both teams were playing for one good shot and, after a strong York defense forced a Freeport travel, the Wildcats went to the wheel. Alibrandi found Romano on a reverse slash to the hoop and York led by two.
When the Wildcats regained the ball on a rebound by Romano, the Falcons were forced to foul. Prugar drained both free throws with just eight seconds to play and the Wildcats had a well-earned win, 63-59.
Alibrandi, in addition to his 20 points, led York with nine rebounds, eight assists and seven steals.
York wins in O.T. over GNG, 50-45
Last Tuesday, Jan. 9, the third-ranked York Wildcats traveled to Gray and built a 26 to 16 halftime lead but had to overcome foul trouble and come from behind to defeat the pesky Patriots.
Co-Captain Alibrandi paced York with 18 points, including a lay-up with 10 seconds left in regulation, to tie up the game.
Alibrandi also tallied four points in overtime as the Wildcats outscored GNG 7 to 2 to win by the final score of 50 to 45.
This week there are just two games: York will play at Yarmouth on Friday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m., and will host Falmouth on Sat. at 6:30 p.m.
| York vs. Traip Score by Quarters |
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| Wildcats | 10 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 2 | 46 |
| Rangers | 5 | 9 | 12 | 18 | 4 | 48 |
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York scorers: Romano 7, Prugar 15, Alibrandi 8, Wilson 4, Corsello 10, Sheehan 2 Three pointers: Prugar 4 |
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| York vs. Freeport Score by Quarters |
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| Wildcats | 16 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 63 |
| Falcons | 14 | 13 | 18 | 14 | 0 | 59 |
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York scorers: Cartier 3, Romano 13, Prugar 7, Alibrandi 20, Corsello 13, Prewitt 2, Sheehan 5 Three pointers: Alibrandi 1, Cartier 1, Prugar 1 |
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| York vs. GNG Score by Quarters |
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| Wildcats | 15 | 11 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 50 |
| Patriots | 7 | 9 | 18 | 9 | 2 | 45 |
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York scorers: Alibrandi 18, Corsello 6, Prugar 8, Romano 9, Sheehan 1, Wilson 5, Zotos 3 Three pointers: Alibrandi 1, Zotos 1 |
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