JOHNSTOWN —
A milestone three years in the making was put into motion during a frenzied 3-minute span at the outset of the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference boys basketball championship game.
Johnstown netted the first
11 points against Penn Cambria on Saturday afternoon at Richland High School.
That fast start didn’t automatically guarantee the Section 2 Trojans the crown, but it did put Section 1 winner Penn Cambria in a deep hole. The Panthers edged closer on a few occasions, but Johnstown didn’t relent in an 84-59 victory.
The 21-2 Trojans won their third consecutive LHAC boys crown and fifth overall.
“They didn’t miss a shot,” Penn Cambria coach Jim Ronan said. “Actually we had three or four layups that were simple layups that we missed probably because we were nervous. We make those three, four layups it’s a different start.”
Penn Cambria (16-6) instead had to regroup against a versatile opponent.
“You can’t get down that quick, that early against Johnstown,” Ronan continued. “The hill is just so steep after that and you have to expend so much energy just to try to get back in the game.
“The guys played extremely hard for us. Johnstown was just playing on all cylinders. There aren’t many teams that were going to beat them today.”
Johnstown’s 6-foot-5 senior forward Dwight Andrews had 27 points, mixing in a pair of dunks and two 3-pointers.
“All week we were anticipating this game because of how good they played against us last time,” said Andrews, referring to a close 68-67 Johnstown win at Cresson on Jan. 9. “We came out with intensity from the start and jumped on them and we kept the foot on the pedal.”
Alkwan Williams, a 6-2 senior, had six of his 20 points in the first 2:57 of play as Johnstown rushed to an 11-0 advantage. Williams camped under the basket and was almost automatic while making six first-quarter field goals.
“I just post up and try to get the ball in the hoop as easy as I can,” Williams said.
Johnstown also had 15 points by Philip Madison and 14 by Mark Watson as the Trojans overcame the absence of standout senior Isaiah Haselrig, who was injured during a practice this week.
“We have a lot of guys who can do a lot of different things,” Johnstown coach Neil Cobaugh said. “If you try to take away our inside game we’ve got some guys who can score on the perimeter.
“If you play us zone, our guys can pick apart the zone dumping it down low to Alkwan and kicking it out for some open jump shots. If you defend us man, it’s tough to defend us off the dribble.”
Penn Cambria got back into the game after 6-7 junior A.J. Leahey made two of his eye-popping eight 3-pointers to make it 11-6.
Leahey’s long-range prowess had the large crowd marveling as he nailed one trey after another, including one from near NBA range as he was falling backwards.
“Leahey was hitting shots. He was falling out of bounds and hitting 3’s,” Cobaugh said. “He’s a tremendous player and they’re going to be tough in the playoffs.
“They’ll make a run.”
Leahey had 28 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. He made three 3-pointers in the first quarter and added five more 3-pointers in the third.
“I’ve been telling A.J. this is when the best players shine,” Ronan said. “This is when they’ve got to put the guys on their back, especially when the guys are shell-shocked, and he certainly did that. He showed he is one of the best players in this area.”
Joel Myers had three 3-pointers and 11 points, as the Panthers made 11 3-pointers overall. Johnstown had seven 3-pointers.
The Trojans defense often was stifling.
Penn Cambria committed
25 turnovers, with 14 of those in the first half. The Trojans made 13 turnovers.
“They did a little bit more pressure on the point guard,” Ronan said. “At home (on Jan. 9) we didn’t turn the ball over as much, and we had a lot more possessions at home.”
Johnstown has won LHAC boys titles in 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011 and this season.
The Trojans are the top seed in District 6-AAA and have a bye into the title round.
Penn Cambria is the No. 5 seed in 6-AA and will play No. 12 Blairsville at 8 p.m. on Monday at Central Cambria.
Sports
Related Photos
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GEORGE LUCAS/FOR THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT Members of the Greater Johnstown boys’ basketball team celebrates after winning the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference title on Saturday afternoon at Richland High School. George Lucas/For The Tribune-Democrat
Discussion
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