Wildcats win at ‘Shore, clinch at least a Heartland title tie
JERSEY SHORE, PA – It was a raucous crowd, a fast-paced basketball game staged Tuesday night at the Jersey Shore High School gym and when it was over, the Central Mountain boys’ team went home with a 78-70 win over a spirited Bulldog team.
The CM win clinched at least a tie for Coach Tyler Bardo’s team in the Heartland Conference Division I. Tuesday also saw Shamokin down Selinsgrove by a 52-34 score. Conference regular season final games will be played Friday. The Wildcats, 16-1 overall, are 6-1 in conference play, Shamokin (15-5) second at 5-2 and Selinsgrove (14-8) third at 4-3. Central Mountain hosts the Seals Friday and a win would give the Wildcats undisputed possession of the first place and the league crown.
CM jumped to an 11-0 lead Tuesday night but ‘Shore battled back, trailing 15-13 after one and 36-32 at halftime. But the Wildcats used a 25 point third quarter to gain some breathing room, up 61-51 after three. Jersey Shore got within four points, down 63-59 with six minutes to go, but would get no closer.
The Wildcats at that point went on an 8-point run, the first six from Jack Hanna, then a Levi Schlesinger put-back for a 71-59 lead. Xavier Persun dropped in two 3-pointers in the third period, part of a season high 14 points for the Wildcat reserve.
The Wildcats had balanced scoring: Hayden Pardoe with 17, Hanna with 15, Persun with 14, 9 for Essex Taylor, 8 from Schlesinger, 7 from Hunter Hoy and 4 each from reserves Brady Myers and Dom Longworth. Myers left the game in the second period with an injury but returned to the bench for the second half.
Gage Mosier paced the Bulldogs with 21 points.
Coach Bardo saluted Jersey Shore (2-15) for its effort, noting that the Bulldogs are one of the few teams who play a fast-paced game similar to his team.
CM 15 21 25 17 = 78
JS 13 19 19 19 = 70
