BLUE DEVIL DISPATCH 3-6-11
BOYS’
BASKETBALL
The Blue Devils (17-8) rode a roller coaster in its post season run, gaining an emotional win over Susquehanna Township at the buzzer, running into top-seeded Lancaster Catholic (24-1) and then just missing a shot at states in a 63-42 loss against Annville-Cleona Monday night.
A-C (21-5) put three players in double figures, while G-A’s Denver Cordell was the lone Blue Devil to double up. Cordell netted 18 for the game and Corey Meyers added nine. The Devils battled shot for shot, including a 7-0 run until midway through the second quarter. The Little Dutchmen then took the lead and the Devils never could break it.
Meyers had eight rebounds and Denver Cordell collected four assists.
G-A, the ninth seed, was not daunted by facing top-seeded Lancaster Catholic in the venue of the Giant Center in Hershey for the quarterfinal round. The Crusaders didn’t hold back against the Devils, executing a man-to-man defense that didn’t allow G-A to carry through much of anything that was planned. The 79-51 result dropped the Devils into the consolation bracket.
An experienced Catholic squad didn’t help either as G-A went to Hershey with just two seniors. It’s group of starting juniors got into foul trouble and the Devils struggled throughout. G-A was outscored 22-7 in the first quarter and the Crusaders never looked back, although the Devils played each quarter much closer after that. Denver and Denton Cordell each fouled out and Corey Meyers finished the game with four whistles. Meyers topped the Devils with 12 points, including a trio of three-points to start the third quarter and keeping the Crusaders from a total runaway.
Catholic had beaten the Colonial Division’s Gettysburg 64-38 to get to the quarters.
A frenzied final two minutes set the table for the most exciting game of the postseason run for the Devils, however it was a buzzer shot from Denver Cordell that took off the roof to lift Greencastle-Antrim to a 64-63 victory over Susquehanna Township Tuesday in a tough first round game.
The Blue Devils built a seven-point halftime lead, by answering a seven-point run from Township with 14 straight. G-A held off Township down the stretch. Cordell’s game-winning fall-away jumper from 12-feet out iced a 21-point game for the junior. Meyers canned 16 for the Devils and Denton Cordell chalked up a dozen.
WRESTLING
Hersheypark Arena wasn’t as sweet as its should have been for a pair of Greencastle-Antrim wrestlers who traveled there for the District 3-AAA Championship Tournament last weekend. Each dropped their two opening bouts and were eliminated from the tournament that decided state tourney berths.
Cody Carbaugh battled valiantly the previous week at the sectional event to earn his spot at districts at 103 pounds. The sophomore Blue Devil will have to wait until next season for another chance as he was decisioned in the first round and couldn’t rebound in his consolation bout to end his run. Carbaugh tussled with Dallastown’s Rodney Sunday in the opener, but finished on the short side of an 10-6 scoreboard.
Senior Josh Pluta got an unexpected addition to his high school career with a trip to districts when another wrestler withdrew from the tournament and Pluta moved into the qualifying spot in the 171-pound weight class. Two losses in the bracket ended his season.
