Sabers’ run ends in quarterfinals

BY COREY GESFORD

Correspondent

When you’re one of the last eight teams playing in your classification in the PIAA Boys State Basketball playoffs, there are a ton of attributes that get you there, but for Susquehanna Coach Lawrence Tompkins one stands out – unselfishness.

“They were a team in every sense of the word,” said Tompkins as he described his Susquehanna Sabers who completed their season Friday night at Wyoming Area High School.

“There was no selfishness. Guys accepted roles, and when they had to step up or fill in for a teammate, they did,” added Tompkins. “We were 3-6 at one point, made a couple adjustments and the guys bought in.”

That led to Susquehanna to capture the Lackawanna Division IV title and win the District 2/11 Sub Regional to advance to the state playoffs. The Sabers reached the state quarterfinals before bowing to Lourdes Regional 64-44.

Lourdes Regional jumped out quickly on Susquehanna on Friday, scoring the first 14 points of the game and putting the Sabers in a hole that they could not climb out of.

“You take away that start, and it’s a five, six-point ball game,” said Tompkins. “At this level, you can’t spot a team that good, that much of a lead.”

Lourdes’ size and length proved problematic for Susquehanna. Led by Thomas Schultze out front and Larry Czeponis inside the Red Raiders were able to suffocate the Sabers offense early and finish the first quarter with a 17-3 lead.

Schultze’s length out front kept Susquehanna’s leading scorer Mason Deakin out of the lane, and when the ball got inside Czeponis was able to frustrate Susquehanna big man Bryce Baldwin contesting the Sabers forward’s shots on a consistent basis.

“I thought we were very hesitant to take shots that were available, and the one’s we took were not the best shots,” said Tompkins.

Susquehanna became more aggressive in the second quarter and got better shots, and after CJ Stone hit the second of his three-pointers the Sabers had cut the lead to 26-16. But after a couple costly turnovers, the Red Raiders were able to get out in transition and finished the quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 35-16 lead into halftime.

After intermission Susquehanna came out on their own 9-2 run to cut the lead to 37-25, but Czeponis tipped a Susquehanna shot and fed Schultze who converted the layup and was fouled to ignite 12-2 to end the quarter.

Susquehanna salvaged a win of the fourth quarter outscoring Lourdes 17-15 to finalize the score 64-44. Deakin led the way for the Sabers finishing with 15 points.

The Sabers reached the state quarterfinals by defeating Lancaster Country Day 57-54 behind the inside-outside combination of Baldwin and Deakin, clutch free throw shooting, and the stifling defense of Travis Craig.

With Deakin returning to the lineup after missing the two previous games, the Susquehanna offense was methodical and patient in building an early lead and withstanding a late first quarter run to lead 16-15.

Baldwin was able to establish himself down low and timely drives to the basket from the perimeter enabled the Sabers to shoot nearly 60 percent (13-22) from the floor and withstand a 17-point first half effort by the Cougars’ Andrew Williams and take a 31-27 lead into halftime.

In the second half Craig stepped up his pressure and intensity on Williams holding him to four points over the final two quarters. The Sabers defense forced Lancaster Country Day into several turnovers, and the Cougars were called for three illegal screens as Susquehanna began to take control of the game. 

Despite increased defensive pressure Susquehanna was able to control the ball, and Baldwin and Eric Lee controlled the offensive glass, as Susquehanna was then able to stretch their lead to 47-37 with 6:30 to go in the fourth quarter.

“We basically told Travis he had no other responsibilities on defense other than Williams,” said Tompkins.

Down 10, Lancaster Country Day went to a trapping pressure defense that the Sabers were able to handle but couldn’t finish several shots inside that enabled the Cougars to go on a 10-1 run and cut the lead to one.

Baldwin then made a key block on Lancaster Country Day’s Sam Duncan at the 3:30 mark and converted a free throw on the ensuing possession.

Deakin scored two of his eight fourth-quarter points when he converted a drive the next possession as the Sabers assumed control.

In the final 90 seconds of the game Deakin went for 6-8 from the line and Craig converted one of two and forced a turnover with three seconds enabling Susquehanna to close out the 57-54 win.

Baldwin led the way with 20 points and Deakin finished with 19. Lee chipped in with 10.

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