Blue Devil Dispatch
By JAI E. COURTER Echo Pilot

Senior Jordan Gembe makes his way through traffic against Big Spring.

Girls' Basketball

The Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils couldn't recover from a 22-4 first quarter deficit as they fell 54-30 in a Mid-Penn Capital Division game against Big Spring Monday.

Rebecca Rider led G-A with 12 points, while Cali Schroyer added five points and seven rebounds. Caitlyn Hoover also added five points, while Whitney Nave chipped in with four. Taylor Kern had one basket to go along with her seven rebounds, and Erica Marshall also added a basket.

The Devils held on to their nine-point halftime lead to defeat Scotland 51-42 in a Mid- Penn Capital Division game on Wednesday in Greencastle.

The Devils suffered a 6-0 run to start the game but fought back to even the score at 10 by the end of the first quarter. G-A outscored Scotland 14-5 in the second quarter, giving the Devils a 24-15 halftime lead.

The Blue Devils forced a five second call on Scotland's inbound attempt at the beginning of the second half. Erica Marshall completed the three point play at the other end to build GA's lead. The Devils found themselves up 35-19 after an inside bucket from Rachel Statler.

Cali Schroyer is all eyes on the hoop against Scotland.

Greencastle-Antrim continued to break down Scotland's zone in the final quarter. Schroyer converted on her lay-up attempt with under two minutes to go to give G-A a 49-35 lead. The Devils held on and went on to win 51-42, recording their second win in the past three games.

Schroyer completed the double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Nave added 10 points and four assists. Statler dropped eight points, while Marshall contributed seven points and five rebounds. Rider added six points, and Christine Earnharth had three points and three assists.

The Devils fell behind early and couldn't fight back on Saturday as they fell 24-34 to Mc- Connellsburg.

G-A got a slow start as they trailed 13-6 after the first quarter and 22-10 at the half. The Devils outscored the Spartans 10-7 in the third quarter but didn't have enough for a fourth quarter comeback.

Tyler Ezolt rolls an opponent's back to the mat earlier this season.

Rider and Marshall each had six points for the Devils. Schroyer contributed with four points, while Kern, Statler, Nave, and Chelsea Wolff each added two points.

In junior varsity action last week, the Little Devils dropped a game to Big Spring, 35-25, and regrouped to clip McConnellsburg 35-26.

Boys' Basketball

The Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils ran away with it in the fourth quarter as they defeated Mid-Penn Capital Division opponent Big Spring 87-57 on Monday in Greencastle.

The Devils got things going early as Jordan Statler put back Levie Holman's miss putting them on the board. Evon Wiestling scored back-to-back buckets causing a Big Spring timeout just 1:17 into the game.

G-A continued to pour it on causing another Bulldog timeout after the Devils made it 12-2. The Devils built a 23-9 lead after the first quarter as it looked to be a blowout. Greencastle led by 16 in the second quarter before Big Spring started to cut the deficit. Big Spring went on an 8-1 before half to cut the deficit to eight heading into the break.

G-A's Aaron Miller battles in a bout from earlier this season.

Big Spring opened the half with a three-pointer to come within five, but that was the closest they would get. The Devils led 52-44 after the third, but they turned it on in the fourth outscoring the Bulldogs 35-13.

Two jump shots from Rusty Cordell and a three pointer from Andrew Cordell got G-A going on a 15-0 run to start the quarter. Jordan Gembe knocked down a three in the run, and Trevor Ile found Rusty Cordell for an easy layup. The Devils also got some baskets from John Frick late in the quarter.

Holman led the Devils with a double-double, racking up 15 points and 10 boards. Rusty Cordell netted 14 points, while Ile added 12 points. Gembe contributed with 10 points, and Evon Wiestling chipped in with nine. Andrew Cordell had a strong night with eight points, and Adam Ritchey added seven.

In the junior varsity game, the Devils demolished Big Spring 73-45. Seth Group paced the Devils with 18, and DJ Cordell added 14.

Jared Grove is in a crowd during freshman boys' action.

The Blue Devils clinched the Mid-Penn Capital Division title with a 51-46 victory over Scotland Wednesday.

The Devils started slow finding themselves down 11-0 to start after seven turnovers. Rusty Cordell got the Devils on the board by driving to the basket for two. Greencastle fought back, but still trailed 20-12 at the end of the first quarter.

The Blue Devils held Scotland to just four points in the second quarter, while fighting for a one point lead going into halftime after Gembe knocked down two free throws on a technical foul by Scotland.

Dameatric Scott hit two three pointers in the third quarter, but Scotland had an answer as they led the Devils by two points at the end of the third quarter.

Rusty Cordell scored two lay-ups in the fourth but a Scotland three pointer left the Devils trailing 44-42. Greencastle outscored the Cadets 9-2 from then on with a lay-up by Holman and by hitting seven of nine foul shots.

Paige Klouser drives during a freshman game.

Scott was the only player to score in double digits, with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Rusty Cordell, Ritchey, and Gembe each added six points, while Gembe also had five assists. Holman had four points to go with his eight rebounds.

The Devils fell 56-66 in the junior varsity game in their first loss of the season. Group had 16 points, while Christian Hoover added 14.

Wrestling

Greencastle-Antrim fell to Milton Hershey by a score of 36- 33 in a Mid-Penn Capital Division match in Hershey.

Dylan Schaeffer took just 46 seconds to pin his opponent at 140. Todd DeWalt won 8-1 at 171, while Matt Copenhaver (189) and Kyle Hansen (215) followed with quick pins. Solomon Dean won by forfeit at 103. Perry McLaughlin had a reversal in the final 12 seconds to win 8-7 at 125. Tyler Ezolt finished things off with an 8-6 victory at 135.

Middle School

Boys' Basketball

Greencastle-Antrim got past Waynesboro 52-45 in the ninthgrade game thanks to a strong fourth quarter from the Devils.

The Blue Devils trailed 20-18 at the half and went into the fourth quarter trailing by three. However, defensive pressure from the Devils resulted in points in transition. G-A outscored Waynesboro 20-10 in the final quarter as they pulled out a 52-45 victory.

Jake Statler led all scorers with 14 points, while Jared Grove dropped 11, and Seth Sprague added 10. Dan Combs contributed with seven points.

In the eighth-grade game, the Devils dominated from the opening whistle as they ran away with a 60-31 victory over Waynesboro.

G-A outscored Waynesboro 22-3 in the opening quarter which gave them a nice cushion for the remainder of the game. Another strong quarter from the Devils gave them a 36-14 lead at halftime.

The Blue Devils did not let up at all in the second half, outscoring Waynesboro by seven points in the final two quarters as they secured a 60-31 victory.

Denver Cordell paced the Devils with 19 points, while Tyler Szaflarski added 12. Aaron Bumbaugh chipped in with six, while Cody Young and Nick Potter each added five.

The seventh-grade boys completed the sweep with a 54-31 victory over Waynesboro.

The Devils trailed by four after the first quarter but two 20- point quarters gave the Devils what they needed for the victory. Greencastle led 26-15 at half and outscored Waynesboro 40-14 in the middle two quarters.

Daniel Stepler led the Devils with 16 points, while Stephen Earnharth added 10 points. Taylor Kirkpatrick had nine points, while Zachary Faulkner chipped in with seven. Joshua Young and Holden Baker each had four, while Luke Myers and Ronald Stine each added two.

Girls' Basketball

The Blue Devils defeated Waynesboro 29-22 in the ninthgrade girls basketball game on Monday.

The Devils got off to an early 10-5 lead after the first quarter, but allowed Waynesboro to fight back and tie the game at 18 heading into the final quarter. The Devils did what needed to be done as they captured the 29-22 victory.

Tache Smothers led all scorers with 13 points, while Diamond Byers added six. Jenna Crunkleton and Rachel Kline each had four points.

In the eighth-grade game, the Devils went on a 9-0 run in the final quarter but it wasn't enough, as they fell 21-18 to Waynesboro.

The Devils trailed 21-9 after three periods, but shut the Maidens out in the fourth quarter. The 9-0 rally wasn't quite enough though, as the Devils fell 21-18.

The Blue Devils were led by Brooke Kerstetter and Cassey Cordell, who each netted six points.

G-A got off to a good start in the seventh-grade game and it was enough to capture a 22-17 victory over Waynesboro.

The Devils held Waynesboro scoreless in the first quarter, as they led 8-0 going into the second. Although the Devils were outscored in the second quarter, they held on long enough to get the 22-17 victory.

Kati Schroyer led for the Devils with six points, while Mary Ward and Ali Murray each added four.

Wrestling

The G-AMS wrestling team pulled out a close one during a trip to Milton Hershey, winning 47-46 based on most matches won.

The Blue Devils collected justs two wins in the first nine bouts, but came back strong, taking seven of the last nine, including the final five.

Cody Carbaugh (75) and Rusty Pine (85) each secured pins early to get G-A off to a good start before the six match slide. However, Bobby McPhearson started the Devils back up the hill with a pin at 122. Two matches later Charlie Snydere pulled out an 11-3 decision at 138. Then at 155, the five-bout push was one with straight victories from Josh Pluta (155 by pin), Deven Schaeffer (165 by decision), Cody Ezolt (185 by pin), Denton Ensminger (210 by pin) and Gerardo Juarez (250 by decision). Schaeffer's 4-2 decision at 165 was against a similarly undefeated wrestler.