蘑菇视频

Feb 11, 2024 By Rob Burchianti 4 min read

WPIAL basketball playoff pairings will be revealed on Monday but you can forgive Frazier and Beth-Center if those two boys squads felt the postseason was already underway Friday night.

The Bulldogs hosted the Commodores with a playoff spot out of Section 4-AA on the line.

“It was a win-and-you’re-in scenario, do or die,” Frazier coach Zach Keefer said. “Really it was a playoff game prior to the playoffs. It felt like that. The atmosphere was great at Beth-Center and it was a back-and-forth game.”

In the end, it was Keefer’s Commodores who came away with a hard-fought 59-49 victory.

The win gave Frazier (6-6, 11-11) sole possession of fourth place. A win by Beth-Center (4-8, 6-15) would’ve pulled the Bulldogs into a tie for fourth but they would’ve held the tiebreaker in that situation thanks to a 63-61 win at Frazier on Jan. 17.

The Commodores, led by junior Dailan McManus and seniors Brock Alekson and Brennen Stewart, were able to turn the tables in the rematch.

“Dalian had 24 points and we go as he goes as far as offense and defense,” Keefer said. “But Brock had 15 points, 19 rebounds and six blocked shots. He just dominated the glass. Every shot they attempted near the paint was contested by a 6-10 kid. He had a really good game. All of our guys on the defensive end played with high intensity and communicated well.

“Brennen Stewart had 15 points as well and hit crucial foul shots down the stretch when Beth-Center was fouling to try and stay in the game. When the stakes are high and your backs are against the wall, you’re looking for your big guys to step up and I felt those three did that.”

Jason Zellie and Brody Tharp scored 13 points apiece for B-C, which also got 10 points from Parker Amos.

The score was tied 12-12 after the first quarter before Frazier surged to a 28-20 halftime lead but Beth-Center battled its way back and whittled the gap down to 41-37 by the end of the third quarter.

“That’s a good team. They’ve got some good shooters,” Keefer said of the Bulldogs. “Their game is dribble, drive, kick out and shoot. Tharp hit a couple threes and they clawed their way back into the game in the third quarter.”

The Commodores held the fort and fended off Beth-Center in the fourth quarter, outscoring them 18-12 to seal the win and secure their first playoff berth in three years when Frazier won the section championship in 2021.

“I’m just so proud of my guys,” Keefer said. “They’ve had some rough times the last two years. These seniors were part of that section title as freshmen but their sophomore year we didn’t win a game and last year we only had three wins.

“This year they took the bull by the horns. The seniors led the way in the offseason. I’m just proud they stuck with it, stuck with the vision of the program. I’m happy for them we were able to get to the playoffs this year to validate their efforts.”

The Commodores didn’t alter their game plan much from the first meeting with the Bulldogs, according to Keefer.

“To be honest, we played really bad that game at our place, not to take anything away from Beth-Center, they beat us and deserved to win,” Keefer said. “It was just one of those games, our shots weren’t falling, we missed some free throws and we just missed a couple opportunities to win at the end.

“With the stakes really high at their place we didn’t change anything really. We just, overall, played a better game than we did at our place.

“I can’t be more proud of our senior leadership. We talked about Brock and Brennen putting the team on their back and leading the way for us and that’s what they did. We were looking to lean on guys in critical moments and those two seniors, as well as Dailan, got us through.”

Keefer commended his players for “putting out the extra effort it took for us to win.

“We talked in the locker room before the game and asked them what are you willing to do for your teammates? That’s the type of mindset it takes to win a game like that, especially on the road.

“They did that and prevailed in the end.”