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Bushor’s return has been big for Hughesville

Those inside the Hughesville program understood how valuable Devon Bushor was. They realized he could be a big difference-maker this season.

Those outside the program did not know. But they could not be blamed either. Bushor rarely played this season, missing most of the regular season with a broken finger. Bushor was on the verge of a breakout early this season, but the injury shut his season down, and Hughesville missed him a lot.

But now the secret is out. Bushor is back on the court and Hughesville is back in the district semifinals. It is not a coincidence either. Bushor’s return has given the Spartans a huge boost and he played his best scholastic game last Thursday at Mount Carmel, scoring a career-high 14 points as Hughesville won its District 4 Class AAA quarterfinal, 58-43. Bushor hit four first-half 3-pointers and Hughesville (14-9) led from start to finish against a team that had won nine of its last 10 games to earn a spot in the semifinals against Loyalsock.

“I was very sad for Devon, and for our team, that he wasn’t available much this season to show what he can do, because he deserves to have success,” Hughesville coach Nick Tagliaferri said. “We are thankful to have both he and Patrick Rogers (who also missed significant time because of injury) back in our rotation, even if not at full strength. The roles they both play for us are extremely crucial to our success.”

Whether scoring like he did against Mount Carmel or not, Bushor makes a big impact. He shined off the bench in Hughesville’s first five games and sets a tone with a ferocious drive. Bushor has made huge strides in each of the last two seasons and won the program’s Most Improved Player Award the past two summers.

The improvement has been evident whenever Bushor has been on the court. He returned late in the regular season and Hughesville is 4-1 since then. His versatility gives Hughesville an added dimension and further bolsters a rotation which features four players averaging more than eight points per game. It also helps open up the inside for 6-foot-10 Taylor Mason, who had 11 points and 12 rebounds against Mount Carmel.

More than anything, though, Bushor is a relentless worker. He has come to personify what has made the Hughesville program so strong over the past 12 seasons and the rest of the area now is learning all about him at the perfect time.

“Devon has worked his rear end off since the beginning of last season and has come out of nowhere to become one of our best players,” Tagliaferri said. “His work ethic and competitive nature have made him one of the guys we consider to be the real heart of our team.”

SECOND CHANCE: Williamsport overcame a slow start, foul trouble and the absence of Qayyim Ali on Saturday and rallied past Delaware Valley, 52-45, in the District 2-4 Class AAAAAA semifinals. Now the Millionaires have two coveted second opportunities. A year after squandering a fourth-quarter lead in the final at the Mohegan Sun Arena against Abington Heights, Williamsport has a shot to erase those memories.

Adding further incentive, the Millionaires face Hazleton, a team that beat it, 78-69, in December. It was not pretty Saturday, but Williamsport (19-4) now is exactly where it wants to be.

“We get a chance at redemption. It was ours to win last year and had a nice lead on Abington Heights and did some things to really implode. It was nothing special Abington did. It was more us. so we get a chance to correct some wrongs,” Williamsport coach Allen Taylor said. “It’ll be a fun game on a big floor in a nice arena. The guys are excited. They wanted an opportunity to get back to Mohegan. Now we’re there and we have five days to prepare.”

Many Millionaires are back from last year’s team that came so close to winning the program’s first district title since 2013. That loss provided offseason fuel and the Hazleton loss in December provided more motivation. Williamsport is 13-1 since that Hazleton game and is a healthier team than it was in that first game.

Williamsport and Hazleton (20-3) have played many thrilling playoff games and this one could be another. The Cougars were ranked among the state’s top 10 teams for much of the season and played a strong non-conference schedule which mirrored Williamsport’s. It will be a tough game for sure, but Williamsport is embracing the challenge.

“We’re very excited to play in the final. I was there last year as a freshman when we lost to Abington Heights and I can’t even describe how that felt,” point guard Marcus Simmons said after hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer against Delaware Valley. “I don’t want to feel that way again. Losing to Halzeton in the regular season and going to Mohegan, we want to come out with a win. We want to come out 10 times harder than we did late in December.”

DRIVE FOR FIVE: St. John Neumann will be trying to win its fifth straight District 4 Class A championship when it meets Mid-Penn rival Millville. The Knights are playing in their sixth straight final and earned that spot after routing Liberty and Sullivan County last week. Neumann (24-0) will have its hands full against a Millville team that overcame an eight-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat state-ranked Lourdes, 48-46, in overtime, but is excited about the opportunity it now has.

Loyalsock was the last team that won five straight District 4 titles, doing so from 2001-05, and now the Knights have quite an opportunity.

“Our motto is drive for five,” Andrew Fish said after scoring 12 points in Friday’s 50-27 semifinal win over Sullivan County. “We know that we’re playing a good team and we’re going to have to have good practices, stay focused and be ready to play hard.”

Fish has been key to Neumann’s success and scored 23 points in last week’s wins. Kevin Anderson dealt 12 assists against Liberty and scored 23 points against Sullivan County, and Jaiden Lynch had 16 points against Liberty.

“We want to win another district title and we know we’re going to be challenged,” Neumann coach Mike Kirby said. “We’re going to have to play well.”

LOOKING FOR A BREAKTHROUGH: Wellsboro has established itself as one of the area’s premier programs over the last decade but a district championship has eluded it. Actually, a district title has eluded Wellsboro since 1952, so the Green Hornets are especially excited that they have a shot at ending that drought this week.

Top-seeded Wellsboro (21-4) faces Southern Columbia in the District 4 Class AAA semifinals at Williamsport and is hoping this is the year that title drought ends. The Hornets captured the NTL championship two weeks ago and as nice as that was, that is not the crown it covets.

“We’ve been here four of the last five years and the kids are hungry,” Wellsboro coach Todd Outman said following Thursday’s 64-37 quarterfinal win over Warrior Run. “We’ve talked about it since Day 1 when Coach (Charlie) Griscavage and I took the job. That was our goal. It wasn’t about winning the league titles. It was if you practice hard and play for a district title the league titles will come. That’s all we really focus on and hopefully we can get back there and be successful.”

Wellsboro faces a surging Southern team that thumped Central Columbia in the semifinals and that has won seven of its last eight games. The Hornets counter Southern’s explosiveness with good balance and depth. Wellsboro has had 10 players score in double figures this season and the bench shined against Warrior Run with sophomores Andrew Brelo and Brandyn Tuttle playing a super second half.

Collin Pietropola is tough inside and scored 13 points. Dalton Prough and Jake Singer average double figures. Wellsboro has played in three of the last four district finals, including the last two, but this might be its best team during that time. And the Hornets sure would love to carve out a special niche in program history.

“It feels good to be back (in the semifinals),” Brelo said. “Our old coach (Griscavage) wanted it so badly and I never had the time to play with him so I’m so happy to try and get this win for him.”

AROUND THE AREA: North Penn-Mansfield will play in its first district championship since 2011 when it faces Northeast Bradford in the Class AA final. The Tigers (20-5) earned their spot, holding off a Muncy comeback and winning Saturday’s semifinal, 68-55. Mansfield is seeking its first championship since 2010 and has clinched a state tournament berth. Shane Kelly scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds … Muncy (12-12) can still earn a spot in states if it beats Canton in the consolation game. The Indians are trying to reach states for the first time since 2013 and Canton for the first time ever. The Warriors (14-11) won only the third playoff game in program history, defeating Williamson in the quarterfinals, 54-40 … Lewisburg is in the district semifinals for a fifth straight year after winning a tough 53-46 District 4 Class AAAA semifinal against Shikellamy. Sal Brown scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Nate Liscum scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. Lewisburg (17-6) meets Danville in the semifinals after the rivals split two regular-season games … Loyalsock won its seventh straight game and earned a spot against Hughesville in Tuesday’s Class AAA semifinals, defeating Troy, 64-47. Michael LaPoint scored 14 points and Mitch Klingerman continued his strong play off the bench, adding 10 … Central Mountain (17-8) captured its first District 6 championship, beating Hollidaysburg 65-53 in the Class AAAAA final. The Wildcats also are state-tournament bound for the first time.

Dr. Masse’s Top Five

1. Williamsport (19-4); 2. Neumann (24-0); 3. Loyalsock (20-5); 4. Wellsboro (21-4); 5. Central Mountain (17-8)

Players of the Week

Brock Burleigh, Mansfield Jeff Fry, Muncy

Burleigh and Fry both dazzled in Saturday’s semifinal. Burleigh has built off his 2016 all-state season this year and scored 30 points while grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds. Fry was sensational in two playoff games, averaging 30 points. Fry helped Muncy erase an 11-point deficit, scoring 28 points in a quarterfinal win over Sayre. Fry then recorded his second double-double in four games against Mansfield, scoring 32 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

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