COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin's Devon Craft is good for at least one buzzer-beater every year, it seems.
Last season, it was one that gave the Indians a 47-46 win over a good Shikellamy team.
On Thursday, his corner 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Shamokin a 50-47 win over Southern Columbia in the championship game of the Shamokin Knights of Columbus Tournament.
It was the second straight year the Indians (5-3) downed the Tigers (1-2) by three points in a tightly played title game.
Shamokin had a six-point lead with about two minutes to play but a 3-pointer by the Tigers' Kristian Klebon cut the lead to 46-45 with 37.4 seconds left. Kieran Kelley hit a foul shot with 17.5 seconds left for Shamokin, but missed a second shot, his only miss of the night.
Southern's Brad Fegley was fouled on the rebound and made both foul shots to tie the game. Shamokin called timeout with seven seconds left, and the ball was knocked out of bounds with 2.9 seconds left, at which point the final play was set up.
"It was set up for me, and if I couldn't get a shot, I was supposed to kick it back inside to Kimi (Newborn)," Craft said. "Mike (Spade) made a good pass and Kimi set a good screen."
"I don't know if it was a perfect play, but give credit to them for making the shot," said Southern coach Dave Yost. "My kids did a great job. This team is going to be reckoned with. Last night (against Lourdes) we didn't play real well, but we did a much better job tonight."
Kelley, who didn't play in the first game of the tournament, led the Indians with 15 points, and Newborn had a double-double for the second straight game, with a 13-point, 10-rebound effort. Craft had 11 points.
Keith Day and Fegley had solid games for Southern again, with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Casey Savitski added nine points.
Consolation Lourdes 63, Line Mt. 56
The Red Raiders outscored the the Eagles 20-8 in the fourth quarter, overcoming a five-point deficit to pick up third place honors.
Zach Chesney and Michael Menapace led Lourdes with 20 and eight points, respectively.
For Line Mountain, Cole Rickert was the only player in double figures, knocking down seven 3-pointers and scoring a game-high 28 points.
Game Summaries
SOUTHERN COLUMBIA (47) - K. Klebon 3 0-1 8, Parry 0 0-0 0, Klock 1 0-0 2, Pavlick 1 0-0 2, Day 4 5-8 13, Fegley 4 2-2 11, Savitski 3 2-5 9, Zelinski 1 0-0 2, Heitzman 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 9-16 47.
SHAMOKIN (50) - Shurock 0 2-2 2, Kelley 4 6-7 15, Craft 4 0-0 11, Spade 0 1-2 1, Madara 4 0-0 8, Newborn 5 3-10 13, Pappas 0 0-0 0, Wasko 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 12-21 50.
Southern 9 13 9 16 - 47
Shamokin 4 19 11 16 - 50
3-point FGs: Southern (4) - Klebon 2, Fegley, Savitski; Shamokin (4) - Kelley, Craft 3.
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LOURDES (63) - Gilger 2 3-4 7, Menapace 2 6-6 10, Chesney 7 3-4 20, Pennypacker 3 2-2 8, Savitski 3 2-2 9, Oquendo 4 0-4 8, Howal 0 1-4 1. Totals 21 17-26 63.
LINE MOUNTAIN (56) - Rickert 10 1-1 28, Breinich 4 0-0 9, Weiler 1 0-0 3, Michael 2 2-6 6, Marciniak 1 0-0 2, Morris 4 0-1 8. Totals 22 3-8 56.
Lourdes (3-3) 14 17 12 20 - 63
Line Mt. (1-9) 17 16 15 8 - 56
3-point FGs: Chesney 3, Savitski, Rickert 7, Breinich, Weiler.