Millionaires struggle to match up inside vs. SC
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With just under five minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Williamsport's Keith Jason drilled a 3-pointer to cut down State College's deficit to seven points.
The way the first three quarters went -- a bit of a cat-and-mouse game with the lead never safe -- it was looking like Williamsport would again keep it close and possibly swing some momentum.
But for the Millionaires, that trey was the second to last shot they would make remainder of the game.
Following Jason's 3-pointer, the Little Lions proceeded to go on a huge 13-0 run to go ahead by double digits for good and lead by as many as 20 as Williamsport couldn't claw back.
It was that run and fourth quarter that proved to be the difference as State College left Williamsport's Magic Dome with a 61-41 victory on Friday night.
"The fourth quarter was the difference. We gave up 21 points in fourth, all the other quarters it was a low double digits, but we were double digits, so kept us within that seven or eight (points)," Williamsport coach Allen Taylor said. "I just think their overall size kind of overwhelmed us. The turnovers, I think we had maybe 22 turnovers, but we didn't shoot a good percentage from 2s."
Williamsport shot 41 percent from inside the arc and ended the game shooting 16 for 44 as no Williamsport player got into double digits scoring.
Credit State College's defensive presence as to part of the reason why.
"Playing in zones and changing them up a little bit, different pace, throwing full court press on them and surprising teams and not letting them get comfortable is kind of what we like to do," State College coach Joe Walker said.
Williamsport and State College went back and forth in the first half especially, as neither team had a huge lead. Williamsport took a brief 2-point lead in the first quarter. And even after a 9-0 run in the second by State College, a basket by Al-Tamar Jason with 10 seconds remaining in the half cut the deficit down to seven heading into halftime.
"Credit to them, their defense is always in your face and makes everything you try to do tough. So we just couldn't get over that hump until late in fourth quarter," Walker said. "We switched out to a 2-1-2 and I don't think they could really figure it out. We started taking the middle away, which they were killing us in high post flash and just duck-in or kicks to corner and drives. I think just that change up changed pace for them on offense, but we could never get over the hump until that point."
The Little Lions spread it around and had four players in double figures as Tommy Friberg and Drew Friberg led State College with 14 points. Max Benner came off the bench to score 12 points and Ryan McNulty added 10 and a game-high seven rebounds.
The Millionaires were led by Nassir Jones, Ethan Williams, D'Angelo Strachon and Jason, who all scored six points. Marcus Simmons and Keith Jason chipped in five each. Jason led the tema as well in rebounds with seven, six of which were on the defensive end.
In the third quarter, Williamsport cut the deficit down to five points when Jones hit two free throws to make it a 30-25 game, but that was the closest Williamsport came to tying the game in the second half. The Millionaires tied it five times in the first half.
In the fourth quarter, Williamsport only got it down to seven points twice and were outscored by State College in the final eight minutes, 21-10.
"I felt we did a better job competing on the defensive boards because we gave up 10 offensive rebounds in the first half, so I thought we did a better job of rebounding in the second half. We just have to do a better job of execution," Taylor said. "Some of it was couple of guys not being in right place. When they look to move the ball and guys not there, they're kind of stuck. … They're very solid. I was proud of our effort for three quarters, wasn't particularly happy with the last quarter."
State College (61)
Ryan McNulty 3 4-7 10; Tommy Friberg 5 2-2 14; Cam Villarouel 0 0-2 0; Drew Friberg 6 1-2 14; Brandon Clark 2 0--0 4; Keaton Ellis 0 4-4 4; Johnny Friberg 1 1-1 3; Maxwell Benner 5 2-3 12; Anthony Mobley 0 0-0 0; Nathan Lusk 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 14-21 61.
Williamsport (41)
Nassir Jones 1 4-6 6; Marcus Simmons 2 0-0 5; Al-Tamar Jason 3 0-0 6; Darryl Wilson 1 1-2 4; D'Angelo Strachon 3 0-0 6; Ethan Williams 3 0-0 6; Keith Jason 2 0-0 5; Tyler McCann 0 0-0 0; Ahmir Ellzy 1 0-0 3; Steel Segraves 0 0-0 0; Isaac Ritter 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 5-8 41.
State College 13 15 11 21 -- 61
Williamsport 11 10 10 10 -- 41
3-point goals: State College 3 (T. Friberg 2, D. Friberg 1), Williamsport 4 (Ellzy 1, Wilson 1, Simmons 1, Jason 1).
JV score: Williamsport, 60-48.
Records: State College (20-1), Williamsport (10-8). Next game: Danville at Danville, today, 7:30 p.m.