The Ellwood City Boys Basketball was downed by the Deer Lakes Lancers 76-57 Monday evening in the opening round of the WPIAL Class-3A Playoffs. [VIEW FULL BRACKET]
The experienced Deer Lakes squad had nine players score in the contest and only trailed briefly in the second quarter on its way to its home court victory Monday.
Seniors Bryce Robson and Billy Schaeffer each scored 17 points to lead the offensive attack for the Lancers who entered the contest as the highest scoring offense in WPIAL Class-3A.
Robson and Shaeffer each connected on three first half 3-pointers to help Deer Lakes race out to a 30-19 halftime advantage.
The Lancers led 44-27 entering a fourth quarter that saw a combined 63 points and 29 free throw attempts by both teams as Ellwood City scrambled to make up ground.
Wolverines junior big man Joseph Roth led all scorers with 37 points (15 rebounds, four assists, four blocks), including 19 points in the high scoring final frame. Roth connected on three 3-pointers and finished 14-17 from the free throw line for Ellwood City.
Chris Smiley finished with eight points while Will Nardone finished with six points in defeat for Ellwood City. Nate Williams and Colton Crizer each connected on a three pointer to round out the scoring for the Wolverines.
Ellwood City, who finished the season 15-8 overall, played without its starting point guard, Jordan Keller, who was ill according to a report. The young Wolverines will only lose one senior, Blake Foreman, and will have all five starters returning next year.
Nate Litrun added 16 points for Deer Lakes who advances to the quarterfinals where it will play Mohawk, which defeated Derry, at a date, time and site to be determined. Fellow Section 1-AA foe and 2-seed Neshannock advanced with a victory over Keystone Oaks while Beaver Falls was defeated by OLSH 75-67.
Be the first to comment on "Deer Lakes Downs Wolverines In WPIAL Opening Round"