Basketball

York downs Falcons and Rangers

By Stan Ross

YORK - Last Saturday, Feb. 3, the York Wildcats (11-5) started cold and trailed 31-20 at the half but clawed their way back with some strong defense and good shooting to roll over Freeport (9-7) by outscoring them 30-10 in the second half.

In the game that was postponed from Friday, Zach Prugar had a game high of 19, including four three-pointers to lead the York scorers while Joe Corsello and Phil Alibrandi each had eight points in the second half to lead the comeback.

The Wildcats rallied to down the Falcons, 50-41.

Earlier in the week, an overflow crowd saw the York Wildcats (10-5) avenge an earlier loss to the Class C Traip Academy Rangers (11-5) last Tuesday, Jan. 30, by the final score of 60-40.

On Jan. 13, Traip had defeated York in overtime 48-46, and Andre Plummer (game high 18) led the Rangers out of the starting gate to an 8-1 lead in the first three minutes. The York fans, which included 30 members of the Coastal Ridge Elementary School fourth-grade dribbling team, were never quiet, but they were concerned.

York countered when Corsello drained a trey from the top and Tony Romano "took one for the team" when he drew a charge negating a Traip basket. Then Alibrandi made a baseline bucket and converted the free-throw.

The Wildcat defense stiffened, sparked by Corsello with a steal and two blocked shots. George Zotos came off the bench and quickly scored on a feed from Alibrandi and then added a trey from the wing on a pass from Corsello to give York a 13-9 lead at the quarter.

After the game Coach Rick Brault would say, "The improvement of Zotos has been a key factor for us. He gives us solid minutes off the bench."

The Rangers were still scrapping and Plummer added five more points before Cody Abbott scored on a put-back and then fed Eric Modica on a breakaway to even the score at 18-18 at the 4:28 mark. York countered when Pat Cartier fed Dan Sheehan for a lay-up and Alibrandi combined with Corsello on a fast break.

Alibrandi added a pop from the corner and Zach Prugar took a feed from Zotos to drain a trey from the top at the buzzer to give York a 28-20 lead at the half.

Traip kept battling, but York scored on an end line move by Romano, and Corsello matched him with a baseline bucket. Then, after Alibrandi drew a charge, Corsello scored again on a smooth spin move. Plummer had added two more hoops for Traip, but York still led 35-28 at the 3:36 mark.

Now the Wildcats took control as Alibrandi scored on a slash to the hoop, Prugar drained two free-throws after a technical on the Rangers, Sheehan scored again on a feed in the lane and Prugar (team high 14) added a trey from the corner to give York a 44-28 lead and force Traip to call time at the 1:28 mark. Prugar added another trey from the top before Traip countered with a pair of hoops.

York was still playing tough defense as Romano and Zotos each drew charging fouls and York scored 10 quick points to build their lead to 57-35 when each team emptied its bench at the 3:09 mark. Bryce Fountain scored on a feed from Zotos to give York its final points and a win by the final score of 60-40.

York closed out the regular season at Cape on Tuesday, Feb. 6, in a game that ended after press time, and will be at home against Wells tomorrow, Thursday, Feb 8.

In the latest HEAL standings, York was listed second, closely followed by Mt. Valley and Lincoln Academy. Quarter finals of the playoffs will start on Feb. 17.

York vs. Freeport
Score by Quarters
Wildcats 7 13 16 14 50
Falcons 15 16 6 4 41
York scorers: Zotos 3, Romano 4, Prugar 19, Alibrandi 11, Corsello 10, Sheehan 3 Three pointers: Prugar 4, Zotos 1

York vs. Traip
Score by Quarters
Wildcats 13 15 19 13 60
Rangers 9 11 12 8 40
York scorers: Fountain 3, Zotos 5, Romano 7, Prugar 14, Alibrandi 12, Wilson 3, Corsello 11, Sheehan 5 Three pointers: Zotos 1, Prugar 3, Corsello 1

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