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MILTON — Secoy Roberts entered Monday’s game District 4’s leading scorer. Milton knew this and built its game plan around slowing him.
The Black Panthers succeeded to a degree. Roberts still played a strong game and scored a season-low 15 points in three quarters. But what Milton and several other South Williamsport opponents are learning is that this is not just a team with a really good player. South is a good team, period.
The Mounties continued collectively shining last night as 10 players scored, including eight by halftime. South played well in all facets, three players scored in double figures and it romped to a 70-36 win. South (5-2) won its fifth straight and inflicted the mercy rule midway through the third quarter with eight players scoring by halftime.
“We all love Secoy and all of us are scoring points now,” sophomore point guard Ben Manning said after scoring 9 points, dealing 5 assists, grabbing 4 rebounds and making 3 steals. “It used to be just be Secoy dropping 30 every game, but now we’re all dropping at least 10 so we have a lot of good teamwork.”
“I told the guys we can’t just rely on him. He is a great player, but teams are going to key on him and other guys have to step up and it showed tonight,” South coach Rob Houseknecht said. “Everyone was contributing and each and every day that confidence and chemistry is growing.”
South has won each of these five consecutive games by double-digit margins. Roberts topped 30 points in two opening losses against Mount Carmel and St. John Neumann and produced at least 20 in each of his first six games. Teams now are identifying the senior guard from New York, but Roberts’ teammates are making that plan backfire.
Really, now it is a case of pick your poison and whatever a defense has offered the last five games, South has produced an answer. Last night it was Landon Sanford (13 points) and Lee Habalar (10) providing big sparks off the bench while starters Grant Bachman and Evan Laudenslager combined for 10 rebounds.
Roberts did not attempt his first shot until a few minutes into the game and South already held a comfortable advantage. Sanford erupted for seven points in the first-quarter’s final 90 seconds and South led 21-2 by quarter’s end.
Oh yeah, Roberts still produced another strong game, going for 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals.
“I’m glad I can trust my teammates,” Roberts said. “It’s a new team and at first I didn’t know anybody that much. I knew some of them here and there, but now the more we’re together in practice and at school we’re just bonding and clicking.”
South continued clicking in the second quarter, leading 29-3 four minutes before halftime. Habalar and fellow reserve Aaron Akers scored 10 second-quarter points and the Mountie were as efficient as they were complete, dealing 20 assists on their 29 field goals.
Manning did an outstanding job running the offense and had a hand in 11 straight South third-quarter points as the Mounties imposed the mercy rule. He is one of several Mounties who received significant playing time a year ago when a young South team fought its way into districts and gave top-seeded Wyalusing a first-round scare. That experience is paying major dividends now.
“I definitely feel like I’ve been improving a lot. I haven’t been as worried and as anxious about the game,” Manning said. “Everyone has been less nervous and that experience from last year was a big help. That’s a big reason why.”
South moved the basketball especially well last night and set the tone with its blistering start. Five players scored by the first-quarter’s conclusion and Roberts was as potent setting up his teammates as he was blowing by defenders and finishing at the basket.
It often takes time for a new player and his teammates to jell. That went double throughout this chaotic offseason and preseason, but the Mounties now are forming a strong unit.
“The chemistry is better than we first started out,” Roberts said. “It went from us being a little off to us really clicking great. We have a good chemistry on defense and we’re doing well.”
Laudenslager is having a strong senior season and went he picked up his second foul in the first quarter it could have caused concern. Instead, Sanford entered and drained his first three shots, including a 3-pointer to cap his flurry. The bench was strong all night and Alex Neidig dealt two straight fourth-quarter assists with DJ Gantz adding a foul-line jumper.
It was never one or two players doing all the damage last night. It was different players at different times. The defense wreaked havoc, forcing 12 first-half turnovers and all the moving pieces continued falling into place.
“It helps a lot. The kids don’t have to be the main person all the time,” Houseknecht said. “Each one of them are playing a different role and it’s making our chemistry better and that’s a big reason we’re on a winning streak right now.”
SOUTH (70)
Secoy Roberts 6 2-4 15, Evan Laudenslager 2 3-4 7, Grant Bachman 3 0-2 6, Lee Habalar 5 0-0 10, Ben Manning 3 2-2 9, Trent Hampton 1 0-0 2, Landon Sanford 6 0-0 13, Alex Neidig 1 0-0 2, Aaron Akers 1 2-2 4, Rashard Green 0 0-0 0, Caden Harris 0 0-0 0, DJ Gantz 1 0-0 2, Noah Banzhof 0 0-0 0, Connor Apker 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 9-14 70.
MILTON (36)
Jace Brandt 3 0-0 6, Dillon Guinn-Bailey 5 2-4 12, Carter Lilley 0 0-0 0, Wade Young 0 0-0 0, Austin Gainer 4 0-0 9, Jamir Wilt 0 0-0 0, Jose Oyola 1 0-0 2, Ethan Rowe 3 0-0 7. Totals 16 2-4 36.
South 21 18 18 13-70
Milton 2 10 14 10-36
3-point goals: South 3 (Roberts, Manning, Sanford); Milton 2 (Gainer, Rowe).
JV score: South, 65-48
Records: South (5-2).