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Trevouledes shines late, helps Hughesville capture tournament championship

By Chris Masse 7 min read

HUGHESVILLE–Nick Trevouledes provides Hughesville so much. The senior point guard scores, facilitates, defends like crazy and provides strong leadership.

He added a new role the past two nights at the Bill Babcock Christmas Tournament. Trevouledes became The Closer.

A night after dominating the second half and igniting a game-clinching run in the semifinals, Trevouledes was virtually unstoppable late against Jersey Shore. The lone four-year starter at Hughesville over the past 20 years scored 13 points in the final five minutes after Jersey Shore had pulled within four and scored 17 second-half points, helping Hughesville capture the tournament championship with a 60-45 victory.

All the Spartans delivered well on a night they played without a starter and quickly lost three more to injury and foul trouble. It was a team effort but the team leader and tournament MVP was at his best again when his team looked toward him the most.

“I’ve been a four-year starter and I know the guys look up to me, so it’s my job to be able to take on that pressure and make sure that we handle ourselves well in tough situations,” Trevouledes said. “I started to relax. I was playing the game that I’ve loved to play since third grade. It all kind of felt natural to me.”

Trevouledes scored 10 straight Hughesville points in the semifinals when the Spartans put away pesky Sullivan County. This time, Hughesville (7-1) turned a five-point halftime deficit into a 10-point fourth-quarter lead until Tristan Gallick’s steal and layup pulled the Bulldogs within 44-40. Like Batman seeing the Bat Signal go up, Trevouledes again sprang into action and answered when called upon.

Relentlessly attacking the basket and defending, Trevlouedes made things happen on both ends and his driving layup ignited a 16-2 run which sealed the championship. Trevouledes made six of seven fourth-quarter shots, missed just once in the second half, added three steals and had Hughesville’s boisterous student section rocking when his steal and layup made it 56-42 late. Oh yeah, he then added another basket and then an assist to close this dazzling performance.

“He’s unbelievably underrated. Early on he was a big-time defender when he was a sophomore for us, but he was the MVP for us that year in terms of his balance of play and his scoring and assist to turnover ratio. He’s tremendous and he’s really figuring out how to keep himself even keel and keep the offense flowing until we need him to be more aggressive,” Hughesville coach Nick Tagliaferri said. “I’m thrilled with him. He’s figuring it out. He’s really showing his value and where he ranks locally and I hope he keeps it up. I love that kid.”

Tagliaferri loved his team’s effort as well. Josh Heiney has emerged as the team’s top perimeter defender but was a late scratch. Luke Kaiser has been flourishing and hit an early 3-pointer before suffering a first-quarter injury. Heiney’s replacement Ethan Woolcock (9 points, 6 rebounds) played well but picked up three first-quarter fouls as did super sub Cam Fetterman.

Obviously, the adversity level was high and Jersey Shore built a 25-20 halftime lead after Owen Bloom hit a buzzer-beating putback. Hughesville has shown how talented it is this season, winning seven of its first eight games, but Thursday the Spartans showed how tough they can be.

The Spartans dominated all facets in the second half, adjusted to new roles well and put everything together. Three-year starter Carter Cowburn (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Dylan Bieber (14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) are the team’s most experienced players behind Trevouledes and that trio shined. Fetterman, Jeff Fenstermacher and Landen King were dynamos off the bench and Hughesville produced a 20-7 third-quarter run, while building an eight-point advantage.

“Dylan had the worst game I’ve ever seen a good player have (Wednesday). Dylan didn’t just climb off that mat he jumped off the mat on both ends of the floor,” Tagliaferri said. “Those three guys really stabilize us. They keep guys in line. Our game plan was a little bit complicated for early in the season for young guys to have to slide into veteran roles. All the credit to Nick, Carter and Dylan for really driving the bus out there for us and not coming off the floor either.”

Although disappointed it did not win the championship, Jersey Shore takes plenty of positives from its runner-up finish. The Bulldogs (2-6) were playing their third game in three nights but never let up. Damian Williams scored a game-high 18 points, made four steals and earned All-Tournament honors. Gallick added 10 points and Damian McAllister grabbed six rebounds.

Jersey Shore has the pieces to become a District 4 Class AAAA title contender but had lost five straight games entering the tournament. Rallying from a 17-point halftime deficit and beating defending District 4 Class AA champion Wyalusing in the semifinals and giving Hughesville a tough game could be just what this team needs entering the new year.

“Hughesville is a pretty good team. They’re well-coached always and I think they’re a Triple A title contender. I told my guys in the locker room this is not a loss to hang their heads about,” Jersey Shore coach Scott Munro said. “We’ve lost some games where we didn’t play well and weren’t a team at all, but this wasn’t one of them. They fought until the end and played hard. I think we’re going in the right direction. I think we’re still in the mix. I think we’re there and we have the talent to do it and the guys’ heads are back in it.”

Hughesville players kept their heads in it despite Jersey Shore storming out to an 8-1 lead. The Spartans pulled within one after a quarter and the lead changed hands five times in the second quarter before Jersey Shore closed on a 10-3 run and built a five-point halftime advantage.

All the excuses were there for Hughesville, but the Spartans refused them. Like it did against Southern Columbia last week when it turned a six-point halftime deficit into a 15-point victory, Hughesville came together, played with passion and flipped the game’s script.

“That’s something we’ve been preaching all season,” Trevouledes said. “It’s something we struggled with our first couple games but as we’ve progressed we’ve gotten more mature.”

As it did in the semifinals, Hughesville’s bench again made a big difference. Fetterman was all over defensively and also kept possessions alive with his hustle. Ditto Fenstermacher and King who played vital roles in the defense surrendering just 17 second-half points until the closing seconds.

Trevouledes took charge late but it was different players at different times altering the game’s complexion. On a night where it would have been easy to come apart, Hughesville pulled closer and delivered a strong performance.

“It feels great. We go into every game and know if one guy is not at their best there’s always going to be a group of different guys who can pick him up,” Trevouledes said. “It’s one of the tools we use going into the game. It’s just the way that we play.”

JERSEY SHORE (45)

Tristan Gallick 4 1-1 10, Damian McAllister 1 0-0 3, Damian Williams 6 4-4 18, Cayden Hess 1 0-2 3, Owen Bloom 2 0-0 4, Kaimen West 2 0-2 4, Mason Miller 0 0-0 0, Karter Peacock 0 0-0 0, Spencer Brion 0 0-0 0, Kyle Mundrick 1 0-0 3. Totals 16 5-9 45.

HUGHESVILLE (60)

Carter Cowburn 4 2-2 11, Dylan Bieber 6 1-2 14, Nick Trevouledes 8 1-3 17, Luke Kaiser 1 0-0 3, Ethan Woolcock 3 3-4 9, Jeff Fenstermacher 0 0-0 0, Cam Fetterman 0 3-4 3, Landen King 1 0-0 3, Mason Thomas 0 0-0 0, Brady Snyder 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 10-15 60.

Jersey Shore 13 12 7 13-45

Hughesville 9 11 20 20-60

3-pointers: Jersey Shore 6 (Williams 2, Gallick, McAllister, Hess, Mundrick); Hughesville 4 (Cowburn, Bieber, Kaiser, King).

Records: Hughesville 7-1. Jersey Shore 2-6.

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