Central Mountain boys edge Tyrone, 76-73
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – It was a game that went to the wire at the Central Mountain High School gymnasium Monday night. Visiting and Mountain League-leading Tyrone gave Heartland Conference-winning Central Mountain everything it could handle before the Wildcats pulled out the 76-73 win.
It was the often-unheralded Xavier Persun, Essex Taylor and Hunter Hoy who made the big plays down the stretch as the Wildcats overcame a 71-70 deficit in the final moments of play. First Persun hit a lay-up for the 72-71 lead, then Hunter Hoy forced a jump ball, the possession arrow favoring CM; Hoy was fouled and hit two clutch foul shots to make it 74-71. The Golden Eagles’ Dravyn Crowell hit a lay-up to cut the score to 74-73 with 12 seconds to go. Tyrone fouled Taylor as the Wildcats inbounded the ball and he calmly swished both shots to make it 76-73 with 9 seconds remaining. Tyrone tried a desperation three at the buzzer. It missed the mark and Central Mountain escaped with its closest home win on what is now an 18-1 season.
It was a team victory for Central Mountain, five players in double-figures. Hayden Pardoe led the way with 20 points, Jack Hanna next with 17; Hanna hit two key 3-pointers in the third period when Tyrone was answering the Wildcats bucket-for-bucket. Hoy finished with 13, Persun had 10 points coming off the bench, including two 3s, and Levi Schlesinger had 10 points. Taylor finished with six points, all in the second half.
Coach Tyler Bardo said he thought his team “handled adversity well; I was impressed with their poise; they made the important plays down the stretch.” He noted the pressure-filled game was one of the first times this season the Wildcats have faced such adversity.
Tyrone (11-7) was led by their big inside man Ross Gampe who netted 21.
The Wildcats will return to action Friday, a home game with Lewisburg (13-6). CM also took the jayvee game, coming from behind for a 61-53 win.
CM 23 15 22 16 = 76
T 14 18 23 18 = 73
