Devils throw Franklin Learning a curve

March 01, 2008|By DAN KAUFFMAN

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - So many times, either Dameatric Scott or Jordan Gembe have been the hero for the Greencastle-Antrim boys basketball team.

On Friday, Levie Holman stole the spotlight.

When Gembe drove the left baseline and got hung up in midair, he found Holman at the foul line. With the final seconds ticking down, Holman let a towering floater fly and it dropped through the basket as time ran out, giving the Blue Devils a 48-47 victory over Franklin Learning Center in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA state tournament at Chambersburg High School.

"I can't even speak right now, it feels great," Holman said moments after making the buzzer-beater that gave Greencastle (25-5) a win over the Wildcats (16-6) for the second straight year in the first round. "I saw hands everywhere. It took forever for (the shot) to land, but it finally did."

Last year, the Blue Devils traveled to Philadelphia and beat FLC 68-59 to start last season's memorable run to the state final.

Apparently, there's still a little magic left in Greencastle.

"I penetrated the baseline and they had two big men in there," Gembe said. "I saw Meter (Scott) and Levie and kind of threw it between them hoping one would get it, and Levie made the shot of his life."

Jake Wasco's offensive rebound and putback gave the Wildcats a 47-46 lead, and Greencastle called a timeout with 16.5 seconds left.

The final play of the game was designed to get Gembe a shot on the left wing, but when he was tightly guarded, he quickly came up with a Plan 'B.'

"The play didn't start off like we wanted it to, but Jordan had enough time to improvise and make a play," Blue Devils coach Garon Gembe said. "You want to be aggressive in that situation ... and fortunately he found Levie."

Holman's shot ended a tightly contested game that Greencastle won more with defense and grit than with offensive execution. The Blue Devils made just 13 of 46 shots (28.3 percent).

"We knew from the very beginning it would be a battle the whole time," Holman said. "They wanted us. We played Greencastle basketball."

"From and offensive standpoint, it wasn't a real pretty game," Garon Gembe said. "But to hold them to 47 points, I thought we just defended so well and rebounded so well. It was a tough environment against a tough team."

FLC made 19 of 43 shots (44.2 percent), but shot itself in the foot at the foul line, making just 5 of 16. The Blue Devils made 14 of 19 from the line.

Scott finished with a game-high 19 points for Greencastle, despite struggling from 3-point range - he made just 1 of 8 from behind the arc. Holman and Jordan Gembe each had 12.

Denzel Yard led the Wildcats with 16 points and Khalief Trawick had 12.

Greencastle will face the winner of today's game between Scranton Prep and Danville at a time and place to be determined.

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