BLUE DEVIL DISPATCH: 2-9-11

BOYS’

BASKETBALL

The Blue Devils (14-6, 9-2 MPC-Colonial) picked up three wins last week, but no performance was as crucial as the one that produced a 50-37 win over Gettysburg and captured G-A at least a share of the Mid-Penn Conference Colonial Division title. A win over Waynesboro this week brings the title outright.

The key win wasn’t as easy as it sounded. After shaking off some nerves and a 13-4 deficit in the opening quarter, G-A rebounded to outdo Gettysburg 27-13 in the middle two stanzas. The comeback was keyed as much by a fine zone defense as anything. The Devils forced 24 turnovers which limited the Warriors’ shot opportunities. G-A took control for good to start the fourth quarter.

Corey Meyers topped the Devils with 17 points and had four rebounds. Denver Cordell put in 11 points and had six rebounds. Each had three assists.

The Devils sandwiched the pivotal Gettysburg game between wins over Northern (61-52) and Big Spring (69-57) and non-divisional Milton Hershey (73-59) at Saturday’s Dunks for Drew fundraiser in Chambersburg.

In Chambersburg, Denver and Denton Cordell put in 17 and 15 points respectively to help lift the Devils over the Spartans. Seth Sprague added 13 points.

To start the week the Devils used solid spread out scoring to bypass Northern. Pressure defense that forced the Polar Bears into a good share of turnovers also played a part. Meyers led with 14 with Denver Cordell and Eric Baymon each depositing a dozen. Cordell was up for a double-double again with 10 rebounds. Baymon had four steals. Austin Scott added eight points.

G-A got a career best out of Denver Cordell with 27 points against Big Spring. Cordell produced another double-double with an accompanying 13 rebounds. Eric Baymon contributed 15 points that included going 8-for-10 at the foul line.

In junior varsity action, the Blue Devils clipped Big Spring 48-43 behind 18 points from Josh Young and 16 from Gabe Fridgen and Northern 44-29 with 10 points from AJ Irias and seven each from Cody Young and Josh Young. G-A also claimed its skirmish with Gettysburg, 39-33. Josh Young was high again with 15 points and Fridgen added seven.

GIRLS’

BASKETBALL

Greencastle-Antrim (8-13, 5-6 MPC-Colonial) continues to battle for a district playoff berth despite a pair of setbacks last week. The Blue Devils got off to a slow start in Newville at the beginning of each half to trail Big Spring 39-26 at the final buzzer. Tache Smothers scored 14 points. Caitlyn Hoover had six rebounds, Rachel Kline collected six boards, three steals and three blocked shots.

When Gettysburg came to town Friday it was the Devils who had the opportunity to upset the Warriors’ hopes to clinch at least a tie for the division title. Sure enough the Blue Devils made them work for it, but the visitors left with a 51-41 victory. The Warriors showed early why they are undefeated in the division with a 10-1 run. G-A regrouped to go toe-to-toe with the Warriors for the rest of the first quarter. Lauren Grove delivered well from the perimeter in the quarter and Smothers caught fire in the second with eight points to keep the Devils biting at the heels of the leaders. With some increased efforts on the boards on the offensive end and some key shots, G-A closed the gap to 35-26 going into the fourth quarter. Gettysburg wasn’t about to let this one slip away and kept pace for the 10-point win.

Smothers put in 16 points and added five rebounds. Grove delivered 15 points. Kline had eight rebounds and Caitlyn Hoover added seven.

The junior varsity Devils dropped a 37-26 verdict to Gettysburg. Moriah Woods had 11 points for G-A.

WRESTLING

Greencastle-Antrim (0-7, 0-6 MPC-Colonial) finished on the short end of a Mid-Penn Conference non-divisional battle of two short-handed teams. In all there were eight forfeits, however Camp Hill won four of the six bouts contested to take the match 49-27. Matt Nardi had a pin for the Devils at 189 in the first period and Ryan Wolf won by a 9-4 decision at 135 for the other victory on the mat. Collecting forfeit wins were Bobby McPherson (140), Cody Carbaugh (103) and Wade Rider (112).

The Blue Devils will be off the competitive mat until the postseason begins Feb. 19 with the Class AAA Section I Tournament at Mechanicsburg.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

The freshman boys’ basketball team (7-10) went 2-1 on the week with wins over Shippensburg (40-32) and Northern (36-29) and a narrow 36-32 loss to Gettysburg. The team posted a solid beginning and ending against Ship to collect the eight-point spread. Jake Crist put in 14 to lead the Devils. Justin Hovey added a dozen points. Cody Thompson led all scorers with 19 points against Northern. Hovey added eight. Thompson again went double-digits against Gettysburg with 12. Joel Zola put in 10.

Other middle school scores made available are as follows:

Girls’ basketball vs. Gettysburg — freshmen, 38-25 win; eighth-grade, 29-10 win; seventh-grade, 27-17 win.

Wrestling vs. Camp Hill — 66-36 loss.