James Buchanan

MERCERSBURG, Pa. - Senior Jordan Gembe scored nine of his game-high 21 points in the closing 2 1/2 minutes of Friday's boys basketball game and No. 2 Greencastle-Antrim held off upset-minded James Buchanan 55-49 in Mid-Penn Capital action. Greencastle (15-1, 7-0), which won the earlier meeting between the two teams 72-47 on Dec. 12, streaked to a 17-5 first-quarter lead and it appeared to be another cakewalk. James Buchanan (5-10, 1-6) had other ideas. "We had a chance to put them away early and we didn't do it," Greencastle coach Garon Gembe said.

kauffman@herald-mail.com If the seeds in the Mid-Penn Conference Class AA tournament hold, James Buchanan coach Erica Piper and Greencastle coach Vicki Ritchey will probably get five more gut-wrenching games between their two teams Saturday. No. 2 James Buchanan and No. 7 Greencastle - the co-champions of the Mid-Penn Capital Division - each have byes into Saturday morning's semifinals at Gettysburg. Should the Rockets and Blue Devils take care of business, they'll resume what has been the most competitive rivalry in the area this season in the championship match.

HERSHEY, Pa. - James Buchanan senior Derek Straley went 1-1 at 171 pounds Thursday to stay alive at the PIAA Class AA State Wrestling Tournament. Straley (37-6) defeated Elk Lake's Derek Noldy 4-2 in a first-round consolation bout, after falling 7-5 to Richland's Marco Pecora. The second-round consolation bouts begin at 9:45 a.m. today at the Giant Center. The tournament concludes Saturday.

Friday Boys Basketball Greencastle at Northeastern Tip-Off Tournament, 6 Frederick at North Hagerstown, 7 St. Maria Goretti at Boonsboro, 7 Mountain Ridge at Smithsburg, 7 Heritage Academy at Grace Academy, 7:30 McConnellsburg at Southern Huntingdon Tip-Off Tourney, 7:45 Waynesboro at Lower Dauphin Tournament, TBA James Buchanan in Paul Corby Tip-Off Tournament at Boiling Springs, TBA Broadfording Christian...

PREP GOLF Maret 167, St. James 182 at Whitetail, par 36 Maret: Colin Maxens 39, Clay Soloman 40, Sam Bente 42, Danny Galvez 46. St. James: Kimberly Eaton 40, Andrew Moynihan 47, Taylor Ridgely 47, Jamie Phillips 48. Records: Maret 2-0, St. James 3-1. Williamsport 147, South 164 at Hagerstown Greens at Hamilton Run, par 34 Williamsport: Andrew Duff 35, Kyle Butler 35, Matt Weber 38, Brendan Benisek 39. ...

BASEBALL 1. Jefferson, 27-2 2. Waynesboro, 12-2 3. South Hagerstown, 11-2 4. Mercersburg Academy, 11-5 5. Clear Spring, 11-3 6. Chambersburg, 10-5 7. Greencastle, 11-4 Also considered: James Buchanan 10-4, Berkeley Springs 10-5, Martinsburg 17-11, Hedgesville 15-12. SOFTBALL> /H3> 1. Waynesboro, 14-2 2. Hedgesville, 27-3 3. Chambersburg, 11-3 4. Greencastle, 14-2 5. Williamsport, 12-2 6. Jefferson, 18-8 7. Boonsboro, 10-4 Also considered: James Buchanan 10-4, Musselman 21-8, Southern Fulton 9-3. BOYS TRACK & FIELD 1. Chambersburg, 96 2. Jefferson, 94 3. Martinsburg, 78 4. Hedgesville, 56 5. Waynesboro, 49 6. James Buchanan, 31 7. Mercersburg Academy, 30 GIRLS TRACK & FIELD 1. Chambersburg, 163 2. Jefferson, 60 3t. Berkeley Springs, 54 3t. Williamsport, 54 5. Mercersburg Academy, 54 6. North Hagerstown, 34 7. Waynesboro, 22

MERCERSBURG, Pa. - The James Buchanan Rockets had a hard time shaking off the Southern Fulton Indians on Monday night. However, the Rockets were still able to pull out a close victory over the Indians 15-13, 15-12 in a Pennsylvania high school volleyball match. "Last time, we lost when we were down there," James Buchanan coach Erica Piper said. "The girls knew that they had to pick it up tonight. The girls have been working hard. This week is a big week, because it is our last week.

JB girls get message, run past Indians By BILL STERNER / Staff Correspondent MERCERSBURG, Pa. - James Buchanan girls basketball coach John Lum is a traditionalist in a day where the personality of high school athletics has taken some drastic mood swings. His pep talks just prior to when the Rockets taking the floor are a tradition. Lum has left his fingerprints on much of the program's recent success against rival Waynesboro. But the best advice James Buchanan took into its second meeting - a solid 53-40 Mid Penn Colonial win over the Maidens - came on a hastily printed poster taped to the back of assistant coach Megan Fraker's clipboard.

JB has perfect timing Ship's last shot too late to stop Rockets' rally By CURT HORNBECKER / Staff Correspondent photo: JOE CROCETTA / staff photographer MERCERSBURG, Pa. - The term "blowout" is apparently not in the vocabulary of the James Buchanan boys basketball team, as six of its seven wins have come by a combined 12 points. continued As long as they continue to pull out nail-biter victories, Rockets coach Larry Strawoet likely doesn't care.