On Monday, Mar. 11, the Penn State Wilkes-Barre men's basketball team played their second game in the Division II Small College National Championship against #2 NHTI. The quarterfinal game started at 2 p.m. in Petersburg, Virginia.
#33 senior Chase Monroe (Schenectady, New York/SUNY Ulster C.C.) made the first two points of the game after finishing the bucket off a rebound. Monroe went on to score another layup for the team shortly after.
Both teams had good energy from the start of the game the Mountain Lions matching NHTI shot for shot. Multiple times during the first half Wilkes-Barre tied with the opponent, making it a very close game.
NHTI managed to keep their score ahead by a few points, but that did not shake the Mountain Lions from working even harder. With 11 minutes left in the half, the score was tied 17-17.
#4 junior Rashod Ballard (Largo, Maryland/Ann Arundel C.C.) went for three, and #15 senior Wilvens Fleurizard (Tamarac, Florida/PSU Schuylkill) got the rebound after it bounced off the rim, getting a layup as a result of being uncontested at the net.
The opposing team made a break for the basket, but #20 sophomore Anton Berga (Queens, New York/Martin Luther High School) came down with a big block to deny NHTI. After an attempted shot at the net, Wilvens Fleurizard showed his skill for collecting rebounds and made a layup as a result. This would be one of 17 rebounds Fleurizard would go on to make.
The Mountain Lions would become tied at 27-27, continuing to show the even matchup between the teams. A jump ball at half court was won by Wilkes-Barre, giving them an opportunity to score at their net. At this time the score became tied again at 29-29, neither team giving he opportunity for the other to get ahead.
With 40 seconds left in the half, the score was 37-36 Wilkes-Barre, but soon changed when NHTI completed three free throws. #14 senior Teequan Holley (Queens, New York/Sullivan C.C.) responded with a jump shot, tying the score once again.
At halftime, the score was tied 39-39.
The second half of the game came down to making runs and taking shots. An incredible triple pass between Wilvens Fleurizard, Teequan Holley, and finally #13 junior Jedidiah Ashton (Brooklyn, New York/Monroe College) resulted in the first two points of the half.
Teequan Holley would add five points to the board after making a free throw and completing two layups. Jedidiah Ashton got a defensive rebound on NHTI ground and passed to Rashod Ballard down the court, who finished with a layup. After a rebound at Wilkes-Barre's net, Ashton would complete a layup of his own.
#12 senior Jalen Willis (Baltimore, Maryland/Genesse C.C.) made two jump stops to finish with a layup. A big determining factor of the half came down to the number of completed free throws, and Wilkes-Barre did not disappoint.
Wilvens Fleurizard made a free throw, Jedidiah Ashton following with two of his own to get the score nearly tied. After Fleurizard made another free throw, the score was tied 66-66.
Two jump balls were called in quick succession of one another, the first won by the Mountain Lions, the second by NHTI. After Rashod Ballard made a free throw, another jump ball was called for Wilkes-Barre, which gave Wilvens Fleurizard the chance to complete a layup.
Again, a big part of the half was determined by free throws, eight points secured by the Mountain Lions at the line. Jedidiah Ashton made a shot after getting a rebound off a missed three, putting the team two points behind NHTI with 55 seconds left in the half.
Jalen Willis made a jump shot, tying the game at 83-83. Wilvens Fleurizard made the winning shot of the game with 1.8 seconds left, securing the Mountain Lions their spot in the next round of the championship.
The final score was 85-83 Wilkes-Barre. Top points scorers of the game were Wilvens Fleurizard with 24, Anton Berga with 16, and Jedidiah Ashton with 16.
With this win, the Mountain Lions move on to the final four and play the semifinal game in the tournament on Tuesday, Mar. 12, at 4 p.m.
Written by Kyler Burke
Photo Credits: USCAA