City of Basketball Love

Michael Bullock (@thebullp_n)
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HERSHEY — Bob Strickler dug a bit deeper into Mechanicsburg’s defensive playbook than he normally does, calling for a look the Wildcats seldom turn to.

Yet with a Springfield-Delco side struggling to find the hoop from deep on the perimeter — and the Cougars ability to get to the basket off the dribbled hindered significantly — why wouldn’t Mechanicsburg flash plenty of its fairly compact 3-2 zone?

Especially since it was effective throughout the second half.

And, especially since the season and plenty of careers were riding on an outcome that took plenty of free throws to finally decide. A late skirmish initiated when a scramble for a loose basketball ensued also had both sides plenty, plenty edgy.

No wonder Mechanicsburg’s 13th-season head coach was quoting the late Jim Valvano as he stood somewhat relaxed in a Hershey High School hallway.

With big man Cade Alioth ringing up a beastly double-double (18 points and 18 rebounds) and lead guard Kyle Scheib chipping in 12 points, Mechanicsburg kept its season moving forward by using one of its typically gritty efforts to squeeze past Springfield-Delco 49-45 in the opening round of the PIAA’s Class 5A playoffs.

“Those guys in there, they’re not ready to be done,” Strickler said. “They bought themselves at least one more round. To steal a line from Jimmy Valvano, it’s survive and advance and that’s what it was.

“There’s 32 teams with a chance to win a state title, there’s 16 now.”

Mechanicsburg also picked up nine points off the bench from Ty Deiter — the 6-2 sophomore was a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor — a clutch trey late in the third quarter from Adam Laudenslager and five assists from both Alioth and Shane Homick.

“That’s his confidence,” Laudenslager said of Deiter. “He’s no longer a sophomore that just came up. He’s now maturing into a varsity basketball player.”

“Ty played great,” Strickler added.

The reward for Strickler’s Wildcats (23-6) — Mechanicsburg logged its first state-level victory since guards Chris White and Jake Zeigler led the ‘Cats past State College in a Class AAAA opener — is a date with District 12 hammer Archbishop Wood in Tuesday’s second round at a site and time to be determined.

Wood, which has spent all season at No. 1 in City of Basketball Love’s Class 5A state-wide rankings, walloped New Oxford 92-62 in its state opener.

“We know we got a bear coming at us on Tuesday,” Strickler added.

“But what a great measuring stick.”

“We’re not gonna back down,” Alioth said. “Why not?

“The pressure’s not on us, it’s on them.”

Ja’Den McKenzie and Great Orjih netted 11 points apiece for Springfield-Delco (15-12), which took a 33-32 lead with just under three minutes remaining in the third quarter on a Mike Webb trey. Webb finished with nine points, all in the second half.

Moments later, Deiter connected from the right baseline to complete the lead swapping and pop the Wildcats back in front.

Laudenslager bumped Mechanicsburg’s lead to four (37-33) with just over a minute left in the third with a trey from the top of the circle off a Deiter dish.

“His 3 from the top of the key in the second half really got us a little bit of breathing room,” Strickler recalled. “It really brought the place down.

“Riding five guys like we did, I thought the emotional lift was big.”

“We shoot all the time,” Laudenslager said. “It’s just repetition, repetition, knock down shot after shot a ton of times.”

The Wildcats, who were bothered by Springfield-Delco’s physical man defense throughout, would lead the rest of the way.

“I think we did a good job battling through that,” Alioth admitted.

And while an Alioth stickback with a minute to play had the Wildcats holding a 44-39 lead, that advantage suddenly was two following Zach Chevalier’s 3-pointer.

On the ensuing possession, Scheib coughed up the ball and a number of players promptly hit the deck. Although shoves were exchanged and the temperature quickly rose among those engaged, there did not appear to be a punch thrown.

Once the York County crew finally restored order — and began sorting things out — technical fouls were assessed to Scheib, McKenzie and Webb. Scheib wound up at the free-throw line, while McKenzie and Webb were announced as ejected.

“High school kids, anything can happen,” said Laudenslager, whose father, Steve, coached at nearby East Pennsboro for a number of years. “Emotions were flying. They were losing and I don’t think there was anything dirty.”

“I just think that shows their competitive spirit,” Alioth added. “I think it just shows how they really wanted it as well.”

While Scheib knocked down a pair — and then went 1-for-2 on another trip — the Cougars’ final gasp came when Kyle Sullivan canned a 3-ball with 18.4 to play to make it 47-45. Two more Scheib freebies made it a two-possession game and sealed it.

Plenty of credit should go to the 3-2.

Especially since Springfield-Delco was just 18-for-51 from the floor — although the Cougars were 10-for-21 in the first half — and 4-for-24 from beyond the arc.

“Had to swallow my pride tonight,” said Strickler, whose Wildcats trailed 24-23 at the break. “I pride our program on being able to sit down and guard you, but I thought they penetrated us. That was our biggest concern at halftime, so we made the decision if we at least got the lead we were gonna make them show us what they had against the 3-2.

“I didn’t think they responded well to it.”

Plus, every time Mechanicsburg needed someone to make a play, someone made a play — whether it was a pass, a defensive stop, a rebound and even a free throw.

“I’ve said all along that it’s not always the most beautiful basketball in the world, but they find a way,” Strickler said. “There was a time when you could have looked at us and said they’re in trouble, but we stuck together and found a way.

“That’s what I’ll remember about this group. They’ve got 23 wins.”

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CLASS 5A
FIRST ROUND
Friday, March 10
Hershey 51, Penncrest 42
Chester 72, Milton Hershey 53
Abington Heights 67, Lampeter-Strasburg 48
Martin Luther King 43, Bishop Shanahan 33
Mechanicsburg 49, Springfield-Delco 45
Archbishop Wood 92, New Oxford 62
East Stroudsburg North 58, Manheim Central 55
Spring Grove 49, West Scranton 48
Northeastern York 78, Wissahickon 66
Upper Merion 62, Greencastle-Antrim 46
Archbishop Carroll 61, Great Valley 48
Palmyra 58, Pottsville 43
Mars 85, Hampton 81
Erie Cathedral Prep 55, Central Mountain 46
Franklin Regional 52, Moon 51
Meadville 55, Chartiers Valley 45

SECOND ROUND
Tuesday, March 14
Sites and times, TBA
Hershey (3-10, 14-13) vs. Chester (1-5, 21-6)
Abington Heights (2-1, 23-3) vs. Martin Luther King (12-2, 21-9)
Mechanicsburg (3-2, 23-6) vs. Archbishop Wood (12-1, 24-3)
East Stroudsburg North (11-1, 18-10) vs. Spring Grove (3-4, 21-8)
Northeastern York (3-1, 28-2) vs. Upper Merion (1-2, 17-11)
Archbishop Carroll (12-3, 19-8) vs. Palmyra (3-6, 22-5)
Mars (7-4, 16-9) vs. Erie Cathedral Prep (10-2, 14-12)
Franklin Regional (7-5, 14-11) vs. Meadville (10-1, 23-1)

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