MOUNT CARMEL - Having long been eliminated from playoff contention, Mount Carmel had the chance to play spoiler against Shamokin on Monday.
For a quarter, the Red Tornadoes looked every bit the part, taking a 19-16 lead and forcing the Indians, who are clinging to playoff life, to play outside of their usual style.
Shamokin, needing three wins to qualify for the District 4 Class AAA tournament, weathered the storm and controlled the rest of the game for a 66-48 win.
The Indians' record is now even at 9-9, with games against Shikellamy, Mifflinburg, Jersey Shore and Milton remaining on the schedule. They need 11 wins to qualify.
"You try to go out and win every game, but this was a big game for us," Shamokin head coach Joe Klebon said. "If we want to get into the playoffs, we know who we have to play, and who the top-seeded teams are.
"The win isn't as big as how we played tonight. At this time of year, you want to be playing well, and I thought we played a pretty solid game tonight."
The Indians had three players in double figures, with Kieran Kelley leading the way with 18 points, scoring 10 of those in the first quarter.
Mount Carmel's Elijah Duran led all scorers with 20 points, and was the only consistent
scoring threat for the Red Tornadoes, who started hot and had the Indians on their heels.
"We came out and played well," Mount Carmel head coach John Lazicki said. "I think the kids were mentally prepared."
The three-point lead Mount Carmel had so seemlessly built during the first eight minutes was wiped out in by the first two minutes of the second quarter.
Kimi Newborn scored four of the Indians' first six points, including an emphatic dunk, as the Indians grabbed the lead.
The Tornadoes shot just 2-for-9 from the floor and were outrebounded 8-3 in the second quarter.
Mount Carmel climbed to within two points midway through the quarter when Shamokin's Mike Spade came off the bench to score eight points as the Indians built their lead to 34-26.
"It wasn't a one-man show," Klebon said. "Every one who played tonight contributed, even if they didn't score they played their roll. We almost had five guys in double figures, and that's a good thing to see."
Duran scored all of Mount Carmel's points in the second, but was held to just six points the rest of the game.
"What happened was we're a young team, we missed some shots and started to get a little tight," Lazicki said. "We started thinking and mentally pressing a little bit. It's like that with a young team, but the kids play hard. They played with intensity and heart.
"It's one of those nights, you start off hot and cool off."
Devon Craft, who finished with 17 points, and Newborn (13 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks) carried the Indians through the second half, and Shamokin made 12 of it's 14 fourth-quarter free throw attempts to seal the victory.
Mount Carmel, which handed Lourdes' it's 12th loss last week, is in position to again play spoiler when it travels to Southern Columbia (8-9 overall) on Wednesday.
"Mount Carmel hustled," Klebon said. "They're scrappy, they play hard every minute and I was concerned about that. I think our kids answered their intensity."
Game Summary
SHAMOKIN (66) - Shurock 0 0-0 0, Kelley 5 6-6 18, Craft 7 1-3 17, Spade 3 1-1 8, Madara 1 6-6 8, Miller 1 0-0 2, Newborn 5 3-6 13, Phillips 0 0-0 0, Carsto 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 17-22 66.
MOUNT CARMEL (48) - Maloney 0 0-0 0, Kanezo 0 0-0 0, Varano 5 0-2 10, Kleman 1 2-2 5, Duran 9 2-4 20, Heromin 2 3-4 8, Barwicki 0 0-0 0, Kwiatkowski 2 0-0 5, Beierschmitt 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 7-12 48.
Shamokin (9-9) 16 18 11 21 - 66
MCA (4-13) 19 7 11 11 - 48
3-point FGs: Kelley 2, Craft 2, Spade, Kleman, Heromin, Kwiatkowski.
