Wildcats fall in D6 final

Photo – Butch Miller

WINGATE, PA – The third time proved to be the charm for the Shikellamy Braves. Dusted by Central Mountain, 49-41 on Feb. 3 and downed, 63-57 by the ‘Cats on March 1, Shik won the big one Thursday night, a resounding 59-42 triumph in the District 4/6 Class 5A title contest on the Bald Eagle Area gym floor.

The Braves led from the get-go, opening on a 9-1 run and never looking back. They had a double-figure lead after one period and stretched it out to 13 by the half and 40-22 to start period three; for all intents, the game had been decided. Central Mountain could never get into an offensive rhythm as Shik pressed from the outset and the Wildcats had trouble getting good looks at the basket.

Meanwhile Brave big man Dave Marshall (6-5) was unstoppable inside; he torched Central Mountain for 8 points in period one and even went outside, draining two 3-pointers later on, finishing with 29 points.

Wildcat coach Tyler Bardo acknowledged his team was “pretty tight” at the start. He said the Braves did not do anything the Wildcats did not anticipate. Unfortunately for Central Mountain, this was a not the Wildcats could not stop them.

Bardo lauded his senior players, citing Trevor Adair, Nick Long and Aidan Major for accepting their roles as the season progressed. Sophomore Jack Hanna led the Wildcats with 11 points, Adair next with 10, Long off the bench with 8. Major and Cayde McCloskey had 4 each, Brett Gerlach 2. Senior Ryan Alexander came off the bench and drained a late 3-pointer. Central Mountain made only two 3-pointers on the night and none until the final quarter, Alexander with one, Hanna with the other.

Central Mountain ends its season with a 7-13 mark. Shikellamy (9-12), winning its first district title since the 1970s, moves into PIAA play, an opponent, place and time to be determined.