Sports

Longhorns swipe Region 2 crown from Saints

February 1, 2014February 1, 2014 Jeremy D. Smith AISA, basketball, boys basketball, Linden, Longhorns, MA, Marengo Academy, PA, Patrician, Patrician Academy, prep sports

LIVINGSTON — The fourth time proved to be the charm for Marengo Academy (14-11) Saturday as they knocked off Patrician 57-53 to win the AISA Class A Region 2 championship.

Having lost to Patrician (19-5) three times this season, Marengo overcame an early flurry from the Saints to go on an 18-8 run in the second quarter and carry a 25-21 lead into half.

Patrician embarked on a 15-4 run in the third quarter to open up a 36-29 advantage. Shade Pritchett connected on a two and Cason Cook added a pair of free throws to cut it to 36-33. Pritchett then connected on a drive following a steal to put the Longhorns down 36-35.

The Longhorns trailed almost the entire third quarter and carried the 40-39 lead into the fourth after Carson Huckabee connected on a jumper at the third period buzzer.

Cason Cook and Shade Pritchett earned All-Tournament honors for Marengo Academy while Hayden Huckabee (middle) took home the Most Valuable Player trophy.

The shot set the stage for a frenetic fourth quarter. Preston Trawick got three the hard way with a lay-up and a free throw to tie it at 42. Anthony Antonelli returned the lead to the Longhorns with a three-pointer to put MA on top 45-42.

Gentry Allen answered for the Saints with a triple to knot the game at 45. Moments later, Hayden Huckabee drained a three only to watch Allen answer right back on the ensuing possession to tie the game at 48.

After two Cook free throws put Marengo up 50-48, Allen struck again with his third long-distance shot of the quarter, staking Patrician to a 51-50 lead with 5:20 to play.

Pritchett connected on a jumper with 3:03 to play to put Marengo back on top at 52-51. Trawick tipped the game back into Patrician’s favor with a put-back to leave the Saints up 53-52 with 2:19 to play.

Hayden Huckabee then made the most of a Patrician foul with a pair of free throws to put the Longhorns up 54-53 with 1:32 to play.

Antonelli sealed the game with a jumper at the 17 second mark to leave the Longhorns up 56-53.

Pritchett scored 16 points to lead Marengo. Hayden Huckabee finished with 15 points, five assists and four rebounds. Cook contributed 10 points and 14 rebounds in the win.

Trawick led Patrician with 19 points and nine rebounds. Allen finished with 13 points and four rebounds.

Cook and Pritchett earned All-Tournament honors for Marengo while Hayden Huckabee took home Most Valuable Player honors.

Marengo locks up the No. 1 seed out of Region 2 in front of next week’s state tournament. The Longhorns will play Wednesday at Huntingdon College.