CHAMBERSBURG — Most of the people in CASHS Field House on Wednesday night — there to watch Chambersburg host Harrisburg in a Mid Penn Commonwealth boys basketball game — did not realize the significance when J.J. Kelly drove the left side of the lane and banked in a runner early in the fourth quarter.
J.J. Kelly
But that basket by the Trojan junior pushed him from 999 to 1,001 points in his career, a huge milestone for the generational athlete.
When the game was stopped to recognize Kelly — after the Cougars' Julian Bair had dropped in a 3-pointer — it also helped slow down a furious Harrisburg rally that had brought the Cougars back from a 24-point deficit (43-19) in the third period to within just four points with a 24-7 run.
After the break, Chambersburg outscored its opponent 11-8 to complete the victory.
Kelly said, "I thought it gave us a little break to catch our breath, and get our minds set again."
"We were able to change some things on defense (during the break) and the guys were really active," Trojan coach Shawn Shreffler said. "That helped us get enough separation to win the game."
Kelly needed 17 points to reach his milestone and he finished with 22.
"I definitely wanted to get it tonight," Kelly said. "I wanted it to be in front of my mom, and the people I grew up with, and in our city. Our next game is away, and I wanted to do it at home."
Chambersburg (10-3, 6-2 MPC) took control of the game in the second period, outscoring the Cougars 23-7 to take a 36-19 lead by halftime. The Trojans also scored the first 7 points of the second half to go ahead 43-19.
Colton Cornwell bombed in four 3-pointers in that span, Chambersburg moved the ball well on offense and played excellent defense. It looked like a blowout in the making.
But Harrisburg found its footing and eventually put a scare into the Trojans. The Cougars found some seams in the defense, Brian Pearson scored six buckets on short shots around the rim and a full-court press speeded up Chambersburg's offense more than it would have preferred.
"In the first half, when we beat the press, we frequently scored," Shreffler said. "In the second, we did not. We settled too often for a three, we didn't make them, and momentum changed around. Harrisburg is showing a little more familiarity to the Harrisburg of old with their tenacity and relentlessness."
Fortunately, down the stretch, Kelly scored a rebound basket and Jermere Jones got loose for three hard-earned baskets and Chambersburg prevailed, making it a good night for Kelly and the team.
Shreffler said, "I'm really proud of J.J. — he has really evolved as a player. He was really good in his role as a freshman, especially rebounding, then he went to being a sophomore who had to score more and he became a double-double machine.
"This year he's all of that, and he's scoring in different ways, and doing other things like bringing the ball up sometimes. He's showed he can do more."
NOTES: Jones and Cornwell each scored 14 points … Bair led Harrisburg (3-11) with 20 points and Pearson had 12 … The Trojans have beaten the Cougars in 14 of the last 15 meetings … Chambersburg shot 55.5% from the field in the first half and 37% in the second half.
Chambersburg 61, Harrisburg 54
HARRISBURG
Shawn Lee 4 1-2 9, Jaiyon Lewis 2 1-2 7, Khamani Bowman 0 0-0 0, Julian Bair 8 0-0 20, Brian Pearson 6 0-0 12, Elias Coke 1 2-2 4, Ryan Strain 1 0-0 2, Mahki Jackson 0 0-2 0, Wesley Pena 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 4-8 54.
CHAMBERSBURG
Ari Snyder 0 0-0 0, Grayson Kegerreis 1 0-0 3, Aden Swatsburg 0 0-0 0, Stan Lozius 0 0-0 0, Colton Cornwell 5 0-0 14, J.J. Kelly 9 3-4 22, Landon Buhrman 3 2-4 8, Jermere Jones 7 0-1 14. Totals 25 5-9 61.
Harrisburg 12 7 14 21 — 54
Chambersburg 13 23 10 15 — 61
3-point shots — Harr 6 (Bair 4, Lewis 2); Chbg 6 (Cornwell 4, Kegerreis, Kelly). Shooting — Harr 22-51 (43%); Chbg 25-54 (46.3%). Turnovers — Harr 13; Chbg 19.
