Playoff-clinching win for California boys
Bentworth’s Sam Schoedel drives past California’s Dru Miller during a game at Bentworth High School on Tuesday,Feb. 6, 2018.
California junior Cochise Ryan, left, has played an important role during the Trojans’ 9-3 start.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Bentworth’s Ray Logan attempts to block the shot of California’s Ryan Bikitski Tuesday night.
California’s Dru Miller tries to drive around Bentworth’s Ray Logan Tuesday night.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
ELLSWORTH – Dru Miller had one of his best games when it mattered most.
Miller scored 26 points to lead California to a huge Section 2-AA win at Bentworth, 54-51, in what was basically a postseason play-in game. The victory clinched a playoff berth for the Trojans, who won despite the benching of three starters for undisclosed discipline issues.
“Coming on the road into this type of environment, it is amazing, really,” said California co-head coach Lou Pasquale. “We got our mojo on for some reason and was able to pull it out. Even after Bentworth took the lead late, the players get the credit because we let them play through it.”
Bentworth head coach Bob Kennedy was disappointed with how his team played on Senior Night.
“We never played and was flat,” he said. “We hit a slump after beating Chartiers-Houston and Fort Cherry, the top two teams in the section. We didn’t execute on offense and we did not play good defense.”
There were eight ties and 12 lead changes in the second half, and Miller stood out most.
“Dru made plays offensively,” Pasquale said. “But as it has been all year, when one guy steps up offensively, others do the little things like getting steals or key rebounds.”
The Trojans (12-7, 6-5) raced out to an 11-3 lead halfway through the first quarter, but the Bearcats (11-8, 6-6) closed the quarter on a 6-2 run to make the score 13-9 at the end of the frame.
Miller stole the ball and raced in for the layup on the final play of the quarter, then scored all six of California’s points in the second quarter.
Down 19-12, Bentworth scored the last six points of the half to trim California’s lead to a single point, 19-18.
The Bearcats took its first lead, at 21-19, when Ray Logan hit a three-pointer 20 seconds into the second half.
When Cochise Ryan scored to tie the game for the Trojans with 6:25 to play in the third quarter, it was Cal’s first basket by someone other than Miller since Nate O’Savage’s three-pointer gave the Trojans an 11-3 lead in the first quarter.
Ryan’s basket was one of eight ties in the second half and there were 12 lead changes after intermission.
Both teams got clutch free throw shooting down the stretch as each team made their last five free throws with a pair coming from Miller with 32 seconds to play to give Cal a 50-49 lead.
After the Bearcats missed a shot, Cal’s Jaeden Zuzak hit a pair of free throws with 18 seconds to go to make the score 52-49.
Bentworth’s Levi Jordan countered with two free throws of his own to cut the score to 52-51, but Ryan found Brady Petrucci for a layup to give the Trojans a 54-51 lead with 12 seconds to play.
Jordan got a good look but came up short on a three-pointer at the buzzer and California survived to clinch a playoff spot.
“We did not talk to them one iota about this game making or breaking our playoff chances,” he said of the coaching staff. “I am sure the guys talked about it, but we were not going to add any pressure.”
Petrucci finished with 11 points while Sam Schoedel and Devond West led Bentworth with 14 points each and Jordan finished with 11.
The Bearcats, who entered the game a half-game up on the Trojans and Frazier (8-10, 6-5) for a playoff spot, is now a half-game back of both teams.
Bentworth’s playoff chances are out of their hands, according to Kennedy.
“If (Cal) beats Frazier, we are out,” said Kennedy. “They have the last tiebreaker because Frazier beat us twice.”
California hosts Frazier Friday and Bentworth is at Avella Friday night in an exhibition game.