Swart’s third quarter leads Prexies to section-clinching victory
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Washington’s Jordan Swart does a layup as Burgettstown’s Hunter Ayers is under the net during a game at Burgettstown High School.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Washington’s Zahmere Robinson takes the ball down court as Burgettstown’s Garrett Dhans closes in during a game at Burgettstown High School Friday.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Washington’s Evan Parr, left, and Joe Mercer tries to block Burgettstown’s Garrett Dhans shot during a game at Burgettstown High School.
BURGETTSTOWN – Ron Faust is particular about the style of play his Washington High School boys basketball team plays.
With NBA and college basketball stars shooting 30-foot jumpers, Faust realizes if his team plays that way, they won’t be able to win many games. Rather, Faust wants his players taking layups and getting to the free-throw line.
Like any coach, Faust needs a senior leader to carry out his message, and Wash High’s Jordan Swart did just that for the Prexies Friday night at Burgettstown.
In the first half, Wash High’s offense was stagnant, scoring only 23 points, as the Prexies trailed by six. Then in the third quarter, Swart, a senior guard, took the control and played like a bull in a China shop, scoring 11 points, all on heavily contested layups or and-one free throws, to lead the Prexies to a 55-52 win and a clinching of the Section 4-AAA title.
Jacob Calvin Meyer
Staff writer
jmeyer@observer-reporter.com
Wash High’s Jordan Swart discusses his 20-point performance in the Prexies’ win over Burgettstown.
It’s the 45th boys basketball section title in Washington history. Only Uniontown has more WPIAL section titles.
“Jordan did an outstanding job under the circumstances,” Wash High Faust said. “We need him to be more of a coach on the floor. He’s our only experienced senior. It’s important for us to have any success in the playoffs for him to take some of these younger people under his wing and do that type of thing in every game.”
Swart, who led all scorers with 20 points, said while he is an average midrange jump shooter he would rather drive to the hoop.
“I just try to get to the basket all the time. That’s one of my favorite things to do as a player,” Swart said. “We were losing, and I knew me and Dan (Ethridge) had to get to the basket a lot, and that’s what we did. I figured if we got to the hoop we could get back into the game.”
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Burgettstown’s Ryan Lounder makes a layup as Washington’s Evan Parr tries for a block during Friday’s Section 4-AAA game at Burgettstown High School.
With Faust deciding to not start his best player Ethridge, who ended up playing more than 25 minutes anyway, Burgettstown head coach Tim Murray said it was important for his team to get an early lead.
“They brought Ethridge off the bench, so we felt like we needed to take advantage of that, because they’re so much better when he’s on the floor,” Murray said. “He’s so talented and difficult to guard.”
Burgettstown (8-2, 14-4) held the Prexies to nine points in the first quarter, as the Blue Devils led 12-9. Despite Ethridge, who scored 14 points, playing most of the second quarter, the Blue Devils extended their lead to six points at halftime, much to the dismay of Faust.
“It’s 16 miles from Washington to Burgettstown, and we came out and played like we had jet lag. It’s not that long of a trip,” Faust said. “Thank goodness (we) hung in there under adverse circumstances, which most of which was us not playing well because of how Burgettstown was playing.”
After Swart’s big third quarter brough the game tied at 42, the Prexies (11-0, 15-3) started the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run. Burgettstown then ran back-to-back layup-alley-oops to Ryan Lounder, who scored 11 points, to bring the Blue Devils to within three points.
With 20 seconds left on the clock and Burgettstown down one point, Lounder told Murray he thought the play would work again. But this time, Wash High’s Isaiah Walton was there to intercept the pass.
“It was a critical play for him at the end of the game, with 12 seconds to go, to make that stop and for us to get the ball back,” Faust said.
Ethridge then made two free throws to put the Prexies up three points. Murray decided to go for a three-pointer to send the game to overtime rather than go for a quick layup. Both Burgettstown three-point attempts were off the mark, though, and time expired.
“Our two best three-point shooters both go looks at three at the end,” Murray said. “You can’t ask for anything better than that, except for the ball to go in.”