ST. MARYS, Pa. – For the third time this season, Elk County Catholic knocked off Johnsonburg, this time by a 42-36 margin at the home of the Crusaders.
ECC (17-0 overall, 9-0 AML) won 51-48 over the Rams back on Dec. 12, a game in which they needed a 3 at the end of regulation to force overtime, as well as a 56-47 win at the Elk County Holiday Tournament on Dec. 29.
On Friday, it was Jordan Wasko’s 18 points that led the way for the Crusaders.
“We’ve played them three times, and it’s been a similar scheme defensively each time,” said Wasko during the Cole Orthodontic Associates postgame interview. “We came in pretty prepared. Those guys are a good team, well-coached.”
See Wasko’s full interview:
Neither team led by more than four points in the first half. In fact, the two squads traded the lead in the final minute of the first half.
Isaiah Jackson’s layup off a steal gave Johnsonburg (10-6, 4-2) a 16-15 lead with 53 seconds to go in the second quarter, but ECC responded with a Wil Wortman bucket with 37 seconds to go to make it 17-16 Crusaders at halftime.
“Johnsonburg is very good, athletic, quick and plays hard,” said Elk County Catholic coach Aaron Straub. “They’re well-coached. They play like their coach. We could see them three more times this season.”
A 10-4 run by the Crusaders in the third quarter ultimately proved to be the difference.
Wasko opened the quarter with a 3 and back-to-back buckets by Wasko and Wortman late in the third, coupled with a Colby Nussbaum free-throw extended the lead to 27-20 after three quarters.
Three’s by Luke Zimmerman Noah Stauffer sandwiched in between a pair of buckets from Wasko had the score at 31-26 Crusaders with just over five minutes to play.
ECC led 37-31 before Wasko and Frankie Smith each made 1-of-2 from the line to extend the Crusaders’ lead to 39-31 with 29.7 seconds left to play.
Isaiah Jackson’s 3-point play had cut the lead to 35-31 with 1:35 to go, but Wortman came down and hit a 2-pointer for the Crusaders before the Rams came up empty.
“I let them know going into the season what to expect and they’re growing and maturing,” said Johnsonburg coach Cole Peterson. “Even when things aren’t going our way, they stay composed, and I really appreciate that because we preach that. We’re always happy about their effort because they never quit.”
Jackson finished with 15 points, Stauffer 10 and Zimmerman seven for the Rams.
Wortman had eight points, Nussbaum seven and Lance O’Neil six for the Crusaders.
“The first game, we made a three to send it to overtime and were fortunate to beat them at Johnsonburg,” Straub said. “The holiday tournament we just went on a really good run in the second half. The games have, just like tonight, could have gone either way. I’m proud of the kids, proud of their effort and looking forward to next week.”
