PSU - Harrisburg is on a roll right now and seems to be growing as a program rapidly... With PSU-HBG picking up local guys and a few outsiders, they are well on their way to becoming one of the top Division 3 programs in the country within the next few years.....
PSU - HBG picked up a huge win beating LVC 92 - 77 at home... Not bad for a program that hasn't even been Division 3 for 5 years...
Last night in the first half with PSU-HBG down 14 points with 10 minutes to go in the half, Coach Gaffey called a timeout to get his group back on track.....
Well, it looks like that's exactly what they needed because out of the timeout, they went on a 19 - 0 run ending the half on a 23 - 3 run...
Turnovers was the difference in this game as LVC turned the ball over 22 times to PSU -HBG 5 turnovers....
PG Jordan Gatchell had an awesome game with his second straight game of ZERO turnovers...
All 5 starters scored double figures... Read the article below....
MIDDLETOWN, Pa- Penn State Harrisburg made a statement with its 92-77 win over Lebanon Valley on Tuesday, Jan. 3. After besting Elizabethtown in the season opener, Messiah in an overtime thriller, Susquehanna one week ago and now the Dutchmen, the mid-state had better wake up and take notice: this Lions’ team is for real.
Trailing 36-22 with 7:25 remaining in the first half, the blue and white used a tremendous 23-3 run to end the period and take a 45-39 lead into the break.
After starting slow out of the gate, the Lions offense came to life following a three-ball from Jordan Gatchell (Manheim, PA/Manheim Central) at the first half’s 7:11 mark. Amani Glenn (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East) followed it up by knocking down buckets on consecutive possessions. Moments later, Will Doyle (Franklin, VA/Tidewater Academy) connected on his shot from beyond the arc to cut the deficit to four. Steve Jones hit (Harrisburg, PA/Harrisburg) a shot to make it 36-34 and Gatchell netted a ball from downtown to give the Lions a one-point advantage with 4:08 remaining in the half. Head Coach Mike Gaffey summed up the improbable offensive outburst.
“We’ve had that happen to us in recent years,” he said. “It was nice for the shoe to be on the other foot for a change.”
Along with the timely offensive firepower, the Lion defense also stepped up and held Lebanon Valley scoreless for a stretch of over six minutes.
Penn State Harrisburg stayed strong to start the second half as well. Gatchell, Doyle and Kenton Alston (Harrisburg, PA/Steel-High) hit back-to-back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to balloon the lead to 12.
The Dutchmen cut that lead to nine midway through the second half but every time it looked as if they were on the verge of climbing back into it, the blue and white used timely baskets to stretch the lead back to double-digits.
The game turned into a foul shooting contest down the stretch as LVC fouled desperately in the final three minutes but the Lions calmly knocked down their free throws to seal the impressive victory.
Jones scored a team-high 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds and nabbed five steals. Gatchell poured in 18 and was a perfect 4-4 from downtown. His strong performance also included seven assists and six boards. Doyle had one of his best games of the year and netted 17 points while dishing out a game-high nine assists. Alston blocked a game-high seven shots and grabbed a team-best nine rebounds to go along with his 14 points. Glenn chipped in with 14 points and four steals.
The Lions forced 22 turnovers while only losing the ball five times all night. The blue and white shot 47.2 percent from the field while the visitors only managed a 40.3 percent shooting night.
The win improved the Lions to 8-3 on the season (2-0 in North Eastern Athletic Conference play) and gave Penn State Harrisburg its sixth non-conference victory of the year; a feat no other team in the school’s history has been able to accomplish since starting NCAA play. It was also the program's first win over Lebanon Valley, avenging losses from each of the past two seasons.
The Lions will look to stay strong as they get into the thick of conference play in the coming weeks. Penn State Harrisburg will try to pick up its third NEAC win of the season when the team heads to SUNYIT on Saturday, Jan. 7.
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They have not even been a division 3 (basketball)school for more than 15 months let alone 5 years... Good stuff that our local h.s guys can now play together at a D3 school. Other d3's in the area don't even look to recruit the midpenn. Plus, who wants to play at a LVC or Etown or Messiah when they play slow and boring basketball. PSU runs, guns and plays street D. My cousin plays for them and if you wanna ball then get to Harrisburg.
ReplyDeleteKids in this area have to understand that it's more important to go to a smaller school, play the game they love, and get a great education than to go to a bigger named school and sit the bench. It's especially harder if they aren't used to working for a position on the court. Lots of kids around here are given playing time if they have talent unless they go to a traditional powerhouse school and had to wait their turn.
ReplyDeleteI went to see Kenton Alston, who I watched play in Steelton years ago, and I was amazed with the talent and excitement. I am a huge local basketball fan, Mid Penn and our local college teams and have to say the game against LVC was the most eciting I have seen in recent years at the college level or high school level. Compares only to the rivalry games of Steel High and Harrisburg (throw Susq Twp in there) from days of past. To the above comments, kids should definately look to go there; not bc they play street d or run and gun, but because (prased differently)the coach let's the players play. No set plays or slow down ideas, its pressure and attack. These local athletes need to wake up to Coach Little's point and let the ego go about going to a school with brand recognition. Be an innovator like Kenton Alston, go somewhere, start your OWN tradition like a Penn State Harrisburg. These kids at Harrisburg, East, Steelton, Trinity all the big name schools could have a chance to play together and win win win. Crazy basketball in this area and it's nice to be able to watch the kids you followed in h.s play together and be able to watch them at the next level. Great job to whoever recruits and runs things at the Harrisburg Campus.
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