Scoring Drought Costs Montour as Spartans Fall in Class AAA Boys Title Game

By: Bruce Markey
Friday, March 25, 2011 | 12:00 AM

For the first two plus quarters, Montour hung right with the defending state champions, but a seven plus minute scoring drought cost the Spartans a chance for the Class AAA title, falling to Neumann-Goretti 55-45 on Friday night at the Bryce Jordan Center. The Spartans went without a point from the 2:09 mark of the third quarter to 2:36 remaining in the game, going from a one point lead to trailing by fourteen.

Montour finishes the season at 23-8, ending their eight game post-season winning streak. Before the Montour scoreless streak, the game featured six ties and 10 lead chances.

Montour led after one quarter as Kevin Sciulli hit a three pointer late for a 12-9 lead. Both teams volleyed the lead back and forth in the second, with six ties in the first half. The Saints broke the tie with a Billy Shank three and took a 24-21 margin into the halftime break.

The Spartans rallied in the first five minutes of the third, helped by a three pointer by Jimmy Sciulli and a jumper by Devin Wilson, Jimmy Sciulli scored on a layup and a 34-33 lead, but it was the last lead the Spartans had.

Trailing 38-34 entering the fourth, Montour came up empty on their next nine possessions, with four turnovers and 0-5 from the field, including missing four straight three-pointers, which ended any hope for the Spartans.

Ja'Quan Newton led Neumann-Goretti with 17 points, he grabbed 8 rebounds. Derrick Stewart added 14 and 10 rebounds, John Davis scored 12. The Saints were 23 of 49 from the field, almost 47 percent, they struggled from the line going just 6 of 11. Neumann-Goretti finishes 27-4 and on a 17 game winning streak. The Saints lost five seniors from last year's title team and were able to still repeat and more bad news for the rest of Class AAA basketball, they have only two seniors on the roster.

Montour was led by Dillon Buechel with 17 points, including 3 three pointers. Wilson was held to 4 points, but grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 5 assists. The Spartans shot 17 of 48 from the floor and 6 of 23 from behind the arc.

Score by Quarters:
Montour : 12 – 9 – 13 – 11 = 45
Neumann-Goretti : 9 – 15 – 14 – 17 = 55