Bishop Shanahan advances with overtime win

DOWNINGTOWN->> The Bishop Shanahan boys basketball team was determined to not lose in the first round of the PIAA 4A playoffs like the Eagles did last season.

Two late fourth period forced turnovers saved the host Eagles Friday night as Bishop Shanahan tied Audenried Charter 50-50 at the end of regulation.

The Eagles then powered their way to a thrilling 61-56 win in overtime that puts the Eagles into Tuesday nights second round game against the winner of the Scranton Prep vs Octorara game tonight.

Shanahan (10-15) outscored the Rockets (9-11) 11-6 in the overtime period as Charlie Federico, roman Alexander and Logan Kapcynski hit big baskets for the Eagles.

“We knew we had to do something late in the game because we were down,” Federico said. “We just hustled and dove on the floor and we got an easy layup and then we had momentum going into overtime.”

The Eagles had a little trouble in the first half figuring out the Rockets 2-3 zone defense. But on the strength of a good first half from guard Ben Rodner-Tims, the Eagles forged a 26-23 halftime lead. Rodner-Tims had 13 of his team high 18 points in the first half.

It looked like the Eagles were going to run away with the game in the third period, taking a 36-27 lead after Kapcynski drained a long three-ball. But, the Rockets fought back on the strength of guard Kamal Johnson, who led the Rockets with 18 points.

At the end of three periods the Shanahan lead was down to five points at 37-32. Audenried took control of the game in the fourth period outscoring the Eagles 18-13 in the period and had a 50-48 lead and possession of the ball with less than a one minute to play in the fourth period.

But a big defensive play to knock the ball loose for the Eagles allowed Federicoto score a layup and  it a 50-50 game.

The Eagles then knocked another ball loose and Shanahan called time out with 7.1 seconds left to play in the fourth period. The Eagles inbounded the ball but Rodner-Tims missed a jumper and the game went to overtime.

“We had a little trouble getting shots against their zone in the first half,” Shanahan guard Roman Alexander said. “They were trapping out his but we figured it out in the second half. We did not want to lose in the first round again this season. We took things a little lightly last year and tonight we came very focused and ready to play. That is why we won the 50-50 balls tonight.”

Kapcynski started things off for the Eagles in the overtime period by hitting a three-ball and the Eagles led 53-50.

The Rockets missed on a three-ball and the Eagles brought the ball down the floor and Kevin Scaggs hit Federico for a basket and it was a 55-50 Eagles lead. Federico had a big game for the Eagles, scoring 16 points while Alexander added 14 big points.

Nasir Fluellen drained a long three-ball to cut the Eagles lead to 55-53 but Alexander completed a three-point play  and the Rockets misfired three straight times down the floor and Shanahan was moving on to the second round of PIAA 4A play.

“Our guys are real fighters and it showed tonight,” Shanahan coach John Dougherty said. “They play for each other and they like each other and tonight they really dug down and got the job done. We as coaches put things in the playbook and get out of the way and let them make plays and they did that tonight.”

Bishop Shanahan 61, Audenried Charter 56, overtime

AUDENRIED CHARTER (56) Johnson 4 9-11 18, Jones 0 2-4 2, Coulibary 1 0-0 3, Fluellen 2 0-0 6, Warner 2 1-5 5, Moody-Brown 3 1-5 8, Diawara 1 2-5 4, Momadu 3 2-2 10. Totals 16 17-31 56.

BISHOP SHANAHAN (61) Kapcynski 2 2-2 8, Rodner-Tims 8 2-6 18, Federico 5 6-11 16, Alexander  4 5-8 14, Scaggs 1 2-2 4, Boyle 0 0-0 0, Ambrose 0 1-2 1. Totals 20 18-31 61.

Audenried Charter 14 9 9 18 6-56
Bishop Shanahan  13 13 11 13 11-61
3-point goals: Johnson, Coulibary, Fluellen 2, Moody-Brown, Mamadu 2, Kapcynski 2, Alexander.