State College Boys and Girls Basketball Win District Championships

One was an upset by a team that’s continuing to put everything together at just the right time. The other was just about what was expected from a squad that’s suffered just one loss all year.

The end result was a pair of State College basketball victories over Altoona — 42-41 for the girls team and 94-54 for the boys — on Friday night to claim the District 6 Class 6A boys and girls championships.

Opening the night at Penn State Altoona, the No. 3 seed Lady Little Lions faced top-seeded Altoona in what was effectively a road game for State High. Altoona, which came into the title game 19-3 on the year, won the last meeting between the two, 48-38, on Feb. 5.

But the Lady Little Lions continued their late season success. After avenging two regular season losses against Mifflin County with a 50-46 win over the Huskies on Wednesday to advance to the championship, State College would get payback against Altoona as well.

A back-and-forth affair for much of the night saw State College head into halftime up 24-19, led by seven first-half points from junior guard Lexi Risha. She would finish the game with 17 and come up with some key moments down the stretch.

State High and Altoona would trade leads in a tightly contested third quarter. As the period neared its end, Risha came up from a scramble for a loose ball and nailed a shot at the buzzer for a 32-31 lead heading into the fourth.

A Risha three and a pair of free throws gave the Lady Little Lions a 42-41 advantage as time wound down. In the waning seconds, Altoona worked the ball down low and got off one final shot that came up short. The celebration was on for State College, which is now 14-10.

Final seconds of a DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP for your Little Lady Lions!!! What a battle…what fight…what heart!!! There is much, much more to come from this group!!!
🦁🏀🏆#CelebratingSharedSuccess pic.twitter.com/BfNLaW2jYn

— SC Athletics (@scasdathletics) February 24, 2018

‘When we talk to them we’ll remind them this should be a special moment in their athletic life and they should cherish it,’ head coach Chris Leazier told State College’s ESPN 1450 after the game.

Two wins in two games on the road in 48 hours demonstrated his team’s focus, he said.

‘I think it shows they really have the ability to concentrate and dial in on what we need them to do,’ Leazier said. ‘We played really determined basketball over the last couple of days.’

State College gets a two-week break before opening the PIAA 6A playoffs on March 9. Leazier said he’ll talk with boys coach Joe Walker about balancing rest and practice during the layoff.

Walker should know. His Little Lions are heading to the state playoffs after winning a district 6 championship for the fourth consecutive year and second at 6A.

The Little Lions’ win didn’t have any of the suspense of the girls’ game. In fact, it looked well in hand not long after the 8 p.m. tip off.

State College jumped out to a 24-9 first quarter lead and didn’t face much resistance the rest of the way. Drew and Tommy Friberg paced the Little Lions early on, with nine and 12 points, respectively, in the opening frame, while Altoona’s Jayvion Queen had all of the Mountain Lions’ first period points. 

While Queen would see foul trouble and manage only five more the rest of the way, the Fribergs kept it going. Drew Friberg finished the game leading all scorers with 23, while Tommy Friberg scored 20. Ryan McNulty added another 20 on the night for State College.

Altoona would manage a modest run in the second quarter, outscoring State High 9-6 with 4:35 to play in the half. But a second-chance three by Tommy Friberg pushed the score to 37-18 and opened the floodgates once again. After a Ben Shaffer free throw, McNulty got a steal and found Drew Friberg who slammed it home.

State College went into halftime leading 49-30 and picked up right where it left off at the start of the third quarter. Tommy Friberg opened the half with a three and that set the tone for the rest of the way.

With just under five minutes left in the game, a McNulty three-pointer made it 85-43, triggering a running clock the rest of the way and giving Walker a chance to empty the bench.

The Little Lions, 23-1 on the year, will open the PIAA 6A playoffs on March 10 against the No. 4 seed from District 7, still to be determined.

Time for some 🏆!!! That’s a night right there folks…your Little Lions capture the district crown 94-54!!!! pic.twitter.com/6AEWbJlwBN

— SC Athletics (@scasdathletics) February 24, 2018