The Herald, Sharon, Pa: Winter sports '97-'98

Published Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1998

DISTRICT 10 AA PLAYOFFS
Mustangs 55, Bears 52
Mercer rallies to top Bears

By Brad Isles
Herald Sports Writer

By Jeff Greenburg
Herald Assistant Sports Editor

It was as improbable a finish as one might witness in a high school basketball game. But what the Mercer Mustangs accomplished in the final 34.5 seconds of their District 10 Class AA semifinal with Union City Tuesday night at Sharon High School will long be remembered in the County Seat.

Trailing 52-48 following a Herb Combs free throw at the 42.4-second mark, the Mustangs proceeded to rifle in 7 points in the game's final half-minute to rally for the heart-stopping 55-52 victory.

``It was a good effort, a great effort,'' Mercer coach Dave Cook said. ``I'm proud of the kids, but I don't know if I'm excited about the next one.''

Mercer is scheduled to face George Junior (25-1), an 80-28 winner over Mercyhurst Prep Tuesday, in the District 10 championship game at a site, day and time to be determined.

Mike Dudek got Mercer (17-9), the Mercer County Athletic Conference No. 2 team, rolling with a clutch 3-pointer from the baseline with 34.5 seconds remaining. It was his only basket of the game.

Following a timeout, Mustang guard Jason Eshbaugh stole the inbounds pass under the Mercer basket and drew a foul as he put in what proved to be the game-winning shot. Eshbaugh nailed the freebie, putting the Mustangs in front 54-52 with 29.4 seconds left.

``We were in a situation where we either steal it or foul them.'' Cook said. ``We'd like the steal, obviously, and we got it.''

Following another Panther turnover with less than 10 seconds remaining, Eshbaugh capped the scoring with another free throw at the 6.5-second mark, securing the miracle comeback.

``The kids did a nice job at the end,'' Cook added.

The Mustangs also did a nice job at the beginning, storming to an 18-11 lead by the end of the first quarter. They pushed the lead to 25-17 with 5:43 left in the first half before the Bears (19-7), the No. 2 team out of the French Creek Valley Conference, rallied on the strength of a trio of treys to close to 27-26 at halftime.

``I think probably the worst thing that happened to us was getting a lead early,'' Cook said, ``because we came out concentrating and focused and then all of a sudden we lost it.''

The Mustangs also lost the lead for the first time since trailing 4-2 early in the game on a traditional 3-point play and a deuce by Union City freshman Mike Mangel, who finished with a game-high 19 points, that put the Bears in front, 30-29, at the 5:55 mark.

Union City then led 38-33 at the 3:32 mark before an 8-1 run rallied the Mustangs to a 41-39 lead entering the final frame, perhaps offering a precursor of what was to come.

A Mangel trey, one of his team's 8 3-pointers, with 4:07 remaining and a subsequent free throw with 3:22 left put the Bears back on top 48-43, a lead they held until Mercer's fantastic finish.

``I'm really proud of our team,'' said Union City coach Ken Orris, whose squad dropped a playoff contest to an MCAC team for the third consecutive year. ``I thought they played their hearts out, but the turnovers at the end were really costly and (Mercer) was able to capitalize on them.''

Eshbaugh finished with 17 points; Mitch Berndt added 9, all of which came in the first quarter before foul trouble hampered his second half; Joe Ziccardi added 8 points and 6 rebounds; Jon Veschio chipped in with 8 points; and Mike Dudek snared 5 boards to pace the balanced Mustang attack.

Bill McKinney added 14 points and 8 rebounds for Union City, which will meet Mercyhurst Prep in the D-10 consolation contest. Both teams are guaranteed spots in the state playoffs, as are Mercer and George Junior.

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Updated Feb. 25, 1998
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