HARRISBURG — Looking back, it might be hard to fathom how the Chambersburg boys basketball team escaped with a 60-56 win in overtime at Harrisburg on Friday night.
Ari Snyder
— The Cougars made only 8 turnovers to the Trojans' 19.
— Harrisburg continually crashed the glass and won the rebounding battle (and it was a real battle).
— The Cougars' full-court press and constant tight defense made it hard for the Trojans to run their offense.
And yet somehow, some way, the Trojans pulled out a Mid Penn Commonwealth win on the road to run their record to 4-0 (2-0 MPC) and capture its 13th win in the last 14 vs. Harrisburg.
How did they do it?
For one, the Cougars (0-3, 0-2 MPC) were a horrendous 8-for-23 at the foul line, while Chambersburg made 18 of 31. For another, the Trojans were able to grab rebounds, make shots and make stops when absolutely needed.
"It wasn't perfect; it wasn't pretty," Trojan coach Shawn Shreffler said. "Credit Harrisburg — they competed and played physical. But our guys just found a way. I'm proud of our guys for being mentally tough when things didn't go their way — and there were a lot of things that didn't go our way. We made some plays when we needed them."
At the end of regulation, Chambersburg had turnovers on its last two possessions, but when the Cougars held for the last shot, a drive into the lane by Jaiyon Lewis would not drop and the game went to overtime.
Point guard Ari Snyder, who scored a career-high 10 points, opened the OT with a three-point play. Harrisburg tied it 56-56 with 54 seconds left when Lewis, in the process of losing his balance, tossed up a prayer shot that banked into the net.
J.J. Kelly made one of two free throws, then Snyder made one of two to give the Trojans a 58-56 lead with 9 seconds left. Lewis tried another spinning drive into the lane, but in trying to get past three defenders, he was called for traveling.
A technical foul was called on Harrisburg for objecting with the call and Kelly hit two foul shouts to end it.
Snyder, who played a big role in breaking the Cougars' press, said, "That's what a point guard has to do, and I love these kinds of games. Harrisburg played physical, like we knew they would. My brother sent me a text (earlier) and he told me I shouldn't stop shooting. So when I got to a couple of my spots tonight, I took 'em."
Snyder was one of five Trojans to reach double figures — Kelly had 17, Cornwell and Jermere Jones 11 each and Snyder and Landon Buhrman 10 each.
"I don't remember the last time that happened," Shreffler said.
Kelly had an interesting night. He had no baskets in the first half and ended up with only four. But three of those four were slam dunks, and one of them was another alley-oop slam from a Snyder pass that didn't appear to be possible. He was 9-for-13 at the foul line.
Shreffler said, "It was was two teams going at each other really, really hard. It was a really physical basketball game that led to attrition on both sides."
NOTES: Jones scored all 11 of his points in the first quarter, but was in foul trouble the rest of the way before fouling out … Julian Bair fouled out for the Cougars, who were led by Lewis with 12 points … Chambersburg hosts Cumberland Valley on Tuesday.
Chambersburg 60, Harrisburg 56
CHAMBERSBURG
Ari Snyder 3 3-7 10, Grayson Kegerreis 0 0-0 0, Aden Swatsburg 0 1-2 1, Eli McDonald 0 0-2 0, Colton Cornwell 3 2-2 11, J.J. Kelly 4 9-13 17, Landon Buhrman 5 0-0 10, Jermere Jones 4 3-5 11. Totals 19 18-31.
HARRISBURG
Kyrelle Middleton 3 1-3 8, Jaiyon Lewis 5 0-2 12, Julian Bair 4 3-4 11, Elias Coke 4 2-5 10, Ryan Strain 3 2-3 8, Mekhi Jackson 1 0-2 2, D'Andre Cuthbertson 2 0-4 5. Totals 22 8-23 56.
Chambersburg 16 13 11 13 7 — 60
Harrisburg 13 15 11 14 3 — 56
3-point shots — Chbg 4 (Cornwell 3, Snyder); Harr 2 (Middleton, Cuthbertson). Shooting — Chbg 19-49 (38.7%); Harr 37.9%). Turnovers — Chbg 19; Harr 8.
