(Tavion Nelson of Health Sciences and Dunkirk's Devaun Farnham get acquainted at the rim)

 

Health Sciences 65, Dunkirk 57

For a second straight season, these two top ten small schools met up in the championship round of the Lancaster Tip-Off Tournament.  And for a second straight season, they treated fans to fast-paced & intense battle that ultimately yielded the same outcome – the Falcons taking home the hardware.

 

Tournament MVP Davonte Gaines scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half, as The Health threw its trademark pressure at the Marauders right out of the opening tip and overwhelmed them early to build a 10-point lead after one quarter and an 18-point lead by halftime.  Tayvion Nelson and freshman Javaughn Jones each added seven points in the first half, with Nelson flushing one on the break.  The Falcons got scoring from seven of the eight players they dressed in the first 16 minutes and only allowed Dunkirk to score 20 points.

 

After Kam Briggs scored to push Health Sciences' lead to 20 points to begin the third quarter, the Marauders did what few teams are able to – they brought the fight to the Falcons and became the aggressors.  A 20-6 run ensued for Dunkirk, as its defensive anticipation began to create stops and the long ball began to fall, with Darnell Butts (14 points) sinking a pair and Noah Sobilo (8 points) adding another.  In the final minute of the third quarter with the Falcons reeling and their once 20-point lead cut to just six points, Josiah Haygood drilled a trey from the left corner for a nine-point lead heading into the fourth.

 

Devaun Farnham scored nine of his game-high 19 points over the final eight minutes, while Tyrese Kristian-Johnson was so tough inside for Dunkirk as they pushed Health Sciences to the bitter end.  But the defending Class B champions answered the Marauders' desperation and never allowed the game to get any closer than six points in the final stanza.

 

"I tip my hat to their coach, their staff, and their kids," Health Sciences coach Ty Parker said.  "We knew they were going to come out and play hard."

 

Jones and fellow freshman Donovn Miller played a vital part in the victory, combining for 17 points in their first real varsity test.

 

"Javaughn Jones and Donovn Miller are key additions to our team," Parker said.  "Last year, we were a little undersized and Donovn brings some size with a skill set and Javaughn is a special player that could be big for us down the line."

 

Health Sci  16 – 22 – 11 – 16 = 65

Dunkirk       6 – 14 – 20 – 17 = 57

 

Point Totals

Health Sciences:  Davonte Gaines 19 Tayvion Nelson 11, Josiah Haygood 10, Javaughn Jones 9, Donovan Miller 8, Kameron Briggs 5, Tysheen Lott 3

Dunkirk:  Devaun Farnham 19, Darnell Butts 14, Tyrese Kristian-Johnson 13, Noah Sobilo 8, Felix Garcia 3

 

****      ****      ****     

 

Lancaster 52, Cleveland Hill 44

Eighth grader Joe Harrington rewarded Lancaster coach John Otto's decision to insert him into the starting lineup by scoring a team-high 15 points and being only one of two players from his team to contribute points in every quarter.  His play help the Legends get out to a 12-6 lead after one quarter and a 15-point advantage by halftime.

 

"I'll tell you what, Joe stepped up big time," Otto said.

 

Matt Garry, who added 13 points and was selected to the All-Tournament Team, was the other player to score in every frame.  He consistently outworked players all game, got himself into great scoring position, and assertively finished his opportunities.  His basket in the fourth quarter gave the Legends their largest lead of the night at 44-27.

 

"He's changed his work ethic a little bit and committed to basketball this season and its made the other guys better too," Otto said of Garry.

 

Alec Tamburri and Jakob Jerebko scored nine and eight points respectively in the win.

 

The combination of Khalil Jackson, game-high 16 points, and Cameron Hennings (9 points) got the Golden Eagles within eight points by the end of the contest.

 

Clev Hill     6 -   6 – 13 – 19 = 44

Lancaster  12 – 15 – 12 – 13 = 52

 

Point Totals

Lancaster:  Joe Harrington 15, Matt Garry 13, Alec Tamburri 9, Jakob Jerebko 8, Ashton Newsome 4, Jon Kisker 3 

Cleveland Hill:  Khalil Jackson 16, Cameron Hennings 9, Michael Johnson 7, Jailyn Dorsey 4, D'mario Grant 4, Peyton Baker 2, Tyris Butler 2

 

All-Tournament Team:

Devaun Farnham – Dunkirk

Tyrese Kristian-Johnson – Dunkirk

Josiah Haygood – Health Sciences

Matt Garry – Lancaster

Khalil Jackson – Cleveland Hill

 

Tournament MVP:  Davonte Gaines – Health Sciences

 

-centercourt