Trinity tops LH in overtime behind Ecker, Koroly
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Trinity’s Stephen Schultz drives the ball around Laurel Highlands’ Conner Basinger Friday night.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Trinity’s Michael Koroly is one of only two Hillers to return with varsity experience.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Trinity’s Zach Ecker rises above Laurel Highlands’ Elijah Guynn to score a basket Friday night.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Trinity’s Joey Koroly scores a basket Friday night in a game against Laurel Highlands.
Sometimes, no matter what game plan a basketball coach comes up with on defense, a highly-skilled player will persevere.
In this case, Trinity boys basketball coach Tim Tessmer really did not scheme a special defense to stop Laurel Highlands guard Bryce Laskey. What they did do was take away his supporting cast, which was key as Trinity outlasted the Mustangs 71-68 in overtime at a throbbing Hiller Hall Friday night.
Trinity upped its record to 13-4 overall, 7-2 in Section 1 of Class 5A. The Mustangs fell to 9-7 overall and 4-3 in the section.
“I think with the exception of four or five possessions, we did exactly that,” Tessmer said. “Last time we played them there, we tried to take him away and let someone else beat us. That didn’t work.”
Laurel Highlands earned a 75-61 win Dec. 22 on its floor. On Friday night, it was the Hillers’ turn to bask in the glow of a win.
Laskey, a St. Francis (Pa.) recruit, started slowly in the rematch as he was held to nine points in the first half. He actually missed all five shots in the second quarter as the Hillers, using rebounding and inside scoring, took a 26-17 halftime lead.
But business picked up for both squads in the second half and eventually in overtime as Laskey finished with 43 points. The Hillers were paced by Zach Ecker’s 31 points. Joey Koroly finished with 18 points. His two biggest points however came late in overtime with the Hillers trailing 68-67.
Greg Lancaster had a chance to stretch the Mustangs lead with a one-and-one from the foul line. However, he missed the front end, Trinity rebounded the ball and gave itself a chance to win.
Koroly received the ball at the top of the key, drove it to the basket and was fouled by Lancaster. He calmly drilled both foul shots, giving the Hillers a 69-68 lead with eight seconds remaining.
“I just tried to keep it like I was shooting fouls after practice,” Koroly said. “Every practice, I shoot until I swish five in a row.”
The senior Koroly, along with Zach Ecker and Dausen Marry, forced Laskey into a traveling violation with three seconds left. Koroly was fouled again and again made them both from the line, clinching the contest.
“We just tried to grind it out all night on defense,” Koroly added. “We knew he (Laskey) is a real good player, but we did work hard to get it done on that end tonight.”
Laskey and Ecker put on a scoring display in the third quarter. After going scoreless in the second quarter, Laskey warmed up in the second half. But Ecker was up to the task as he scored 14 points in the third quarter to counter Laskey’s 13 third-quarter points.
“Every game he shows us something new,” Tessmer said. “He was a man inside for us and was a monster on the boards.”
Trinity out-rebounded the Mustangs 31-18.
The hosts carried a 48-42 lead into the fourth, but would eventually relinquish the lead under another Laskey scoring assault. A long two-point Laskey jumper gave the Mustangs their first lead at 58-56 with 2:50 left. Another bucket extended the lead to 60-56 with less than two minutes to go in regulation.
Two Koroly free throws narrowed the margin to 60-58. Laskey made one of two free throws with a minute to go to push the Mustangs margin to three, setting up some more Koroly heroics.
Only this time it was not Joey. Younger brother Mike Koroly drained a long three-pointer from the corner in front of the Trinity bench, knotting the score at 61. Lancaster’s three point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the back of the rim, sending the game into overtime.
“We just kept on playing hard, playing physical and didn’t buckle,” Tessmer said. “That’s what I’m most proud of.”