Hollidaysburg Outlasts Wildcat Basketball for D6 Crown

ALTOONA – The third time proved not to be the charm for the Central Mountain basketball team, falling in the District 6 Class 5A title game by a 62-55 score to top-seed Hollidaysburg.

A year ago Central Mountain had lost two regular season games to the Golden Tigers but gained revenge in the 2017 championship contest. The same thing happened in the regular season this year, Hollidaysburg edging the Wildcats in both games. But on Saturday the Tigers answered when the Wildcats challenged for their third straight win this season over Central Mountain.

After an early 2-2 tie Hollidaysburg led for the remainder of the half, the Wildcats with a flurry at the end to pull within three at 30-27. The Golden Tigers went cold in period three and CM pulled ahead for the first time at 31-30 on an Izzy McCann field goal. The third period ended with the ‘Cats up 39-37. However Tiger star Ethan Haupt drained a 3-ball and Hollidaysburg regained the lead at 40-39 early in the fourth. The Wildcats tied things up at 40-all and stayed closed, down by just one at 50-49 on a Collin Jones field goal with 3:00 to go. But that is as close as CM would get.

A few Wildcat shots were missed, a few Hollidaysburg opportunities converted and the top-seeded Tigers stretched out the lead to 58-51 with 40 seconds to go. A Trevor Hanna two with 24 seconds remaining made it 58-53 Hollidaysburg, but the Wildcats would get no closer.

Jones led Central Mountain with 18 points but was held to five in the second half. Matt Storeman finished with 16, including several gravity-defying layups. McCann ended with 10 points, Hanna with 7. Tanner Lavelle and Jake Skrtich each added two points. Haupt paced Hollidaysburg with 21.

The Wildcats finished with the Heartland Conference crown and an overall mark of 12-11. Hollidaysburg is now 15-6 and will be off until March 9, a first round PIAA playoff game against the District 10 runner-up to be determined.