CHAMBERSBURG — In the majority of Mid Penn Commonwealth boys basketball games, a team having 18 turnovers — including 8 in a tight fourth quarter — will find that simply too much to overcome.
Colton Cornwell
Yet Chambersburg survived several critical turnovers down the stretch and gutted out a 56-51 victory over Central Dauphin at CASHS Field House on Tuesday night.
The Trojans (3-0, 1-0 MPC) came out on top mainly because they played great defense after many of those giveaways, including a stop to end the game.
"It's easy, in a pressure moment, when you lose the ball, to just say, 'Oh, crap,'" Chambersburg coach Shawn Shreffler. "But the guys were really resilient."
The most important stretch of the game was likely the second half of the third quarter after the Rams (3-1, 0-1 MPC) scored six straight points to take 40-35 lead. Jermere Jones made 1 of 2 free throws for the Trojans, and then came 7 straight points — a three by Colton Cornwell, a tough layup underneath by Landon Buhrman and a drive by Cornwell.
When J.J. Kelly followed in a missed shot just before the buzzer, Chambersburg held a 45-42 lead.
Shreffler said, "I was a little concerned there in the third quarter, then Colton's three energized us and we got right back in it."
The Trojans never trailed again, but the Rams remained within striking distance. They got it to within 52-49 on two free throws by Fletcher.
On the next possession, Cornwell drove the baseline, then bounced a pass to Jones for a layup and a 5-point lead again. The Rams' Jelani Easter scored to make it 54-51 with 22 seconds left.
CD stole the ball on the inbounds attempt and called a timeout with 0:08 left. The play was set up for Fletcher to attempt a 3-pointer, and his ball fake got him open for one. But the shot came off the front of the rim and Kelly grabbed the rebound.
"It certainly wasn't a perfect game," Shreffler said, "but the guys stuck together and we responded well after something didn't go well. We had to play gritty all night.
"CD's defense puts a lot of pressure on you. (Point guard) Ari (Snyder) was pressured a lot, but other guys helped him. I also thought it was a very fun atmosphere — the fans were awesome."
Especially after Kelly's steal and slam with 2:05 left made it 52-47.
NOTES: Kelly scored 17 points, Cornwell 16 and Buhrman 12, while Jones added 9 … The Rams, who made only 5 turnovers, were led by Fletcher (17), Easter (14) and Lleyton Fried (12) … Chambersburg plays at Harrisburg on Friday.
Chambersburg 56, Central Dauphin 51
CENTRAL DAUPHIN
Jelani Easter 7 0-4 14, Wayne Fletcher 7 2-2 17, Lleyton Fried 6 0-0 12, Richard Chase 0 2-2 2, Jeff Frantz 2 2-6-6, Shakur Starling 0 0-2 0, Syeer Starling 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 6-16 51.
CHAMBERSBURG
Ari Snyder 0 0-0 0, Grayson Kegerreis 0 0-0 0, Aden Swatsburg 0 2-2 2, Eli McDonald 0 0-0 0, Ben Etter 0 0-0 0, Colton Cornwell 7 0-0 16, J.J. Kelly 5 6-6 17, Landon Buhrman 5 2-3 12, Jermere Jones 4 1-2 9. Totals 21 11-13 56.
Central Dauphin 15 10 17 9 — 51
Chambersburg 15 12 18 11 — 56
3-point shots — CD 1 (Fletcher); Chbg 3 (Cornwell 2, Kelly). Shooting — CD 22-58 (40%); Chbg 21-49 (43%). Turnovers — CD 5; Chbg 18.
