ST. MARYS, Pa. – Wil Wortman’s layup at the buzzer in overtime led Elk County Catholic to a 31-29 win over Ridgway in the AML championship game.
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Video shows the ball may still not have left Wortman’s fingertips when the buzzer sounded, but the shot was ruled good on the floor in real-time.
See Wortman’s shot:
“It was tough,” Wortman, who scored 19 of the Crusaders’ 31 points, said. “Ridgway got the ball and held it for a couple of minutes, Adam Straub got the rebound and that was what sealed the deal for us.”
See Wortman’s full interview:
“He’s the guy we drew it up for,” said Elk County Catholic coach Aaron Straub. “Wil’s a guy, that with that much time, can get the ball from the quarter court to the basket. He’s just really explosive. Sometimes you’re successful and sometimes you’re not. Fortunately, we were successful tonight.”
Ridgway twice tried holding the ball for an extended period of time – first for the final 2:30 of regulation, the result being an Aaron Sorg 3-point attempt that hit off the back of the iron as time expired.
In overtime, Elk County Catholic got the ball and missed a shot 20 seconds in. The Elkers got the ball and held it this time for about 3:30 before Jack Benninger’s jumper with seven seconds left bounced off the rim and Straub was able to collect the rebound.
Elk County Catholic’s Adam Straub goes up for an off-balance shot. Photo by Andy Close.
“A lot’s going to be written about Wil driving and making a great shot, but if Adam doesn’t get the rebounds, it doesn’t mean much.”
The game went the way many have gone between the two teams in recent years – intense with a lot of defense and not a lot of points.
The biggest lead either team had was six, courtesy of an Aaron Sorg jumper that put Ridgway up 25-19 just 10 seconds into the fourth quarter.
It took the Crusaders just two minutes to erase the deficit and re-take the lead, as they were able to generate a couple of steals and got a bucket from Wortman, two free throws from Lance O’Neil, and a Michael Jacob layup before Wortman’s putback made it 27-25 with 5:45 to play.
“A six-point deficit is like a 16-point deficit against a team like Ridgway because of the limited possessions and how they take care of the ball,” Straub said. “We were able to get a couple of steals. We’re learning and getting better.”
Before that, the biggest lead either team had was an 8-2 ECC advantage after a pair of Michael Jacobs free throws in the first quarter.
Ridgway’s Jack Benninger goes up for a shot. Photo by Andy Close.
The win was the fourth-straight for the Crusaders since losing leading-scorer Jordan Wasko to injury in a Feb. 7 loss to Brookville.
“I think we’re getting better,” Wortman said. “Ever since we lost Jordan we thought it was going to be a struggle, but we’re figuring it out now.”
Sorg led Ridgway with 14 points.
“We had an opportunity to win the game, and I’m going to with Jack (Benninger) 10 times out of 10,” said Ridgway coach Eric Herzing about his late-game strategy. “This time it didn’t go down. Elk made a play at the end and congratulations to them. Our kids are bought in and give 100 percent. The effort is unbelievable. We’ll chew on this a little bit and get ready to play on Wednesday.”
Ridgway will be right back at St. Marys High School on Wednesday, hosting Redbank Valley in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Elk County Catholic, meanwhile, will host Smethport on Friday.
“We’re looking forward to a good week of practice because it’s not going to be easy from here on out,” Straub said. “Our first-round matchup is going to be a real challenge.”
