TYRONE — District 6 Class AA basketball powers and neighbors Penns Valley and West Branch somehow bypassed each other for much too long a time.
The two teams, with a combined record of 39-5 in 2015-16, don’t play in the regular season and missed each other last year because of an early upset loss by Penns Valley in the first round of the playoffs.
There were no upsets this year. The Rams and the Warriors finally collided in the D6, AA semifinals on Feb. 23 at Tyrone High School, and they staged an epic game that was worth the wait and more.
There were enough twists, turns, surprises, mistakes, comebacks and sparkling plays to excite even the most hardened high-school basketball fan.
There was also a last-second, desperation 3-point jump shot that swished through the net as the horn sounded to send the game into overtime.
That happened when West Branch senior Kody Trude, double-teamed and almost hopelessly stymied as the clock ticked off the final seconds, somehow managed to get off an awkward shot from just outside the arc. All net. The shot tied the game at 44 and set off wild celebrations by West Branch fans. Its momentum carried West Branch into the extra period as well.
From there, Trude and fellow senior Austin Krise led a 10-0 run in overtime to lock up a 54-44 win over the Rams as West Branch advanced to the AA finals.
For Penns Valley, which led by as many as 11 points midway through the fourth quarter, the loss was swift and shocking, but the Rams are not done. PV will now take on Tyrone tonight to determine the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds from District 6, and both teams will advance into the PIAA state tournament.
“The kid (Trude) made a shot,” Penns Valley coach Terry Glunt said, “but I knew coming into the game one thing that I saw on tape that at the end of a quarter, he (Trude) was phenomenal and I talked to my players about that, too.
“I thought we played well — the last couple minutes, we’d like to have them back — but you have to give them credit. They are a really good team.”
After three contentious quarters in which neither team could build a lead of more than four points, Penns Valley began to open some light midway through the fourth quarter.
When 6-foot-7 Penns Valley center Zach Engle (10 points) and forward Ben Alexander (16) scored back-to-back layups, the Rams took their biggest lead of the game, 38-27, with five minutes to play.
It was here that Trude and Krise, as they had so many times before, took over the game for West Branch. Krise hit two consecutive 3-pointers within 25 seconds to pull WB to within 38-33.
The Rams’ Andrew Tobias made it 40-33, but then three free throws by Trude, a basket by Alexander and then another free throw by WB’s Trenton Ferguson put the score at 42-37 with just under two minutes to play.
“There were a lot of emotions,” Krise said, “about whoever wanted it more, and we definitely showed we wanted it. We were in this position before and I think that helped.”
Krise and Trude, who combined to score 41 of the Warriors’ 54 points, each scored again to inch West Branch to within a point, 42-41, with just under a minute to play.
But PV’s Logan Pierce picked up a loose ball in the lane and took it in for a 44-41 Ram lead with 10 seconds to play.
One more chance for West Branch, and Penns Valley was ready for both Trude and Krise. Neither could get a good look until Trude, double-teamed at the top of the key and with the game ending, lofted a half-turnaround jump shot that was spot-on all the way. The ball went through as the horn sounded.
It was not surprising that the excitement following that shot carried over into the overtime for West Branch. It was also not surprising that Trude and Krise scored eight of the Warriors’ 10 overtime points that sent West Branch to the win.
“We were down seven or nine points there, and I didn’t change it up,” West Branch coach Danny Clark said. “We stayed with what we did. We could have gone to more fouls and everything, but we stayed with the game play. In the end, it worked.
“I mean, that 3-pointer to tie it, all the momentum swung with us. Penns Valley had a great game plan and it was a great basketball game. We were the lucky ones to come out on top.”
Krise led all scorers with 22 in the game, Trude added 19, while Alexander’s 16 and Engle’s 10 led Penns Valley.
Neither team had much time to reflect on this game. Penns Valley was slated to face Tyrone on Feb. 25 in the D6 Consolation Game. West Branch will play Friday, Feb. 26, against Bellwood-Antis for the District 6 title at Altoona High School. Both teams will also advance to the state tournament.
“There is obviously disappointment in that locker room,” Glunt said, “but we have to come back on Thursday, play Tyrone, and see where that leads us in the state tournament.”
