COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin is in.
Finally.
It's been a trying season for a team accustomed to battling for the top seed instead of just a district berth, but with one game left, the Indians sewed up a spot in what looks to be a 6-team Class AAA District 4 tournament with a 52-34 HAC-I victory over Jersey Shore Tuesday night.
They entered the night at 10-10 - 11 victories being the magic number to qualify - and took care of what needed to be done, particularly after being tested by the Bulldogs in a dogfight of a first quarter.
"Before the game, of course, we went over everything, and we knew we needed another win and all that," Indians' head coach Joe Klebon said. "But once the game starts, you forget about all that and just focus on what you have to do to win the game.
"You can't have players out there thinking 'I have to make this shot because we need this game to get in the playoffs,' They can't be pressing like that."
Shamokin took control during the middle two periods after Jersey Shore, on the strength of a trio of 3-pointers, battled the Indians to a 13-13 deadlock through the first eight minutes.
"Early on, Jersey Shore did some good things," Klebon said. "But we made some adjustments and we kind of took control."
A 15-5 Shamokin advantage in the second quarter sent the Indians into the half with a 10-point lead. Their 10-4 edge in the third pretty much put the game out of reach. Devon Craft, the game's high scorer, had 12 of his 15 in those middle quarters, including a pair of 3-pointers late in the third that pushed the Indians' advantage to 16.
Joining Craft in double figures for Shamokin was Kieran Kelley with 11.
Many of the Indians' offensive opportunities were set up by the board work of 6-foot-5 junior Kimi Newborn, who was the game's leading rebounder by a wide margin with 13.
"Kimi was a force on the boards, he blocked some shots and he altered some shots," Klebon said. "Tonight we played pretty well and we want to continue to do that."
NOTES: Klebon said the field for the district tournament will likely consist of the Indians, Mifflinburg, Danville, Shikellamy, Selinsgrove and Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech. ... The coach said senior Dave Reed, a starter through 15 games who has been hampered by injury and hasn't played the past six games, has been cleared to play and could see action Thursday when the team closes out the regular season at Milton.
Game Summary
JERSEY SHORE (34) - Bechtol 0 0-2 0, Koch 2 3-4 9, Dincher 0 0-4 0, Notevarp 5 0-1 12, Barnhart 1 1-2 3, Masser 2 0-0 6, Garth 1 0-0 2, Clementoni 0 0-0 0, Fulkrod 0 0-0 0, Pauling 1 0-0 2, Fisher 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 4-11 34.
SHAMOKIN (52) - Kelley 2 6-6 11, Craft 6 0-0 15, Madara 2 2-2 6, Newborn 2 0-2 4, Phillips 4 0-0 8, Shurock 1 0-0 2, Spade 0 0-0 0, Miller 1 0-0 2, Carsto 2 0-0 4. Totals 20 8-10 52.
J. Shore 13 5 4 12 - 34
SAHS (11-10, 6-7) 13 15 10 14 - 52
3-point FGs: Koch 2, Notevarp 2, Masser 2, Craft 3, Kelley.