Stacked deck: Shorthanded Gators fall to Aquinas Academy, 69-40
PITTSBURGH 鈥� Geibel Catholic knew ahead of time its leading scorer, Evan Strimel, and one of its key reserves, Tony Nicksicher, wouldn鈥檛 be eligible for the WPIAL boys basketball playoffs due to the PIAA transfer rule.
However, late-season injuries depleted the Gators even more with concussions sidelining starters Mike Miller and Eahn Stevenon.
Despite being severely shorthanded, No. 5 Geibel put up a spirited fight for most of the first half against fourth-seeded Aquinas Academy in their WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game at Shaler High School Wednesday night.
The Crusaders鈥� depth and talent won out eventually.
Aquinas closed the second quarter on a 12-2 run and opened the third with a 17-3 burst to turn a six-point lead into a 30-point advantage on its way to a 69-40 victory.
The Crusaders (18-5) advance to play No. 1 Neighborhood Academy in the semifinals on Saturday at North Allegheny with a 1 p.m. tipoff.
Jake Guillen led Aquinas with a game-high 24 points to go along with seven rebounds and two blocked shots. Sam Duer followed with 14 points and five boards, and Jonah Burchill added 11 points, including three 3-pointers.
Geibel coach Gary Tarbuk pondered what might鈥檝e been had he had his full complement of players.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a different game,鈥� Tarbuk said. 鈥淭he style they play suits how we play. It would鈥檝e been a fun game to watch and very entertaining.鈥�
With four players missing from the Gators鈥� usual rotation, including three starters, senior Roman Riccelli stepped up and led Geibel with 18 points, including three 3-pointers, and junior Seth Dolan added four-3-pointers in tallying 14 points.
Gary Tarbuk and John Hess rounded out the Gators鈥� scoring with four points apiece.
鈥淩oman stepped up today,鈥� coach Tarbuk said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a senior, last game, he gave it everything he had.
鈥淏ut Aquinas is big, physical and they can shoot. That鈥檚 a nice team they have over there.鈥�
Geibel started the game strong, taking an 8-2 lead thanks to a pair of 3-pointers by Dolan and a basket by Tarbuk. The Crusaders reeled off the next nine points to go up 11-8 and never trailed again.
The Gators pulled even twice more at 11-11 on a 3-pointer by Riccelli and at 13-13 on a basket by Hess with an assist from Dolan. Guillen, who rang up 13 points in the first quarter, hit a 3-pointer to put Aquinas ahead to stay.
The Crusaders upped its lead to 18-13 but Geibel, sparked by two more 3-pointers from Riccelli, whittled the gap to one before a basket by David Zaharko in the final seconds gave Aquinas a 22-19 edge after one quarter.
Another 3-pointer by Dolan got the Gators within 26-24 early in the second quarter but turnovers forced by the Crusaders鈥� trapping defense started to take their toll on Geibel and Aquinas extended its lead to 44-28 by halftime.
The Crusaders put the game away with a barrage of four 3-pointers early in the second half as they pushed their advantage out to 61-31 and cruised from there.
鈥淔or a quarter and a half we were competing, then we had a spell of about two or three minutes where it went downhill,鈥� coach Tarbuk said. 鈥淲e kind of regrouped a little bit but then come the third quarter we just ran out of gas.鈥�
The Gators close their season at 14-9, a 13-win improvement in Tarbuk鈥檚 second year as coach.
鈥淭o go from 1-21 last year to 14-9 this year, plus 13, I don鈥檛 think too many teams do that,鈥� Tarbuk said. 鈥淪o as a team it鈥檚 been a great year. We had some nice wins, over Monessen, Apollo Ridge. As a group they came together this year, and we鈥檙e a very young team.鈥�
Geibel only loses two players, Riccelli and Miller, to graduation.
Tarbuk commended his team after the game.
鈥淚 just told them keep their heads up,鈥� he said. 鈥淣o one expected us to win 14 games, finish third in a very tough section and make the playoffs. All the kids bought it and I think they鈥檙e very understanding of what we鈥檙e doing here.鈥�