---- —
SLIPPERY ROCK — Boston’s Fenway Park has its Pesky Pole, and Slippery Rock University’s Morrow Field House has “Palmer’s Place.”
Deep corner … under the auxiliary scoreboard and balcony … Jerrod Palmer provided the pivotal points.
Palmer pumped in a corner triple with 2:19 remaining in overtime, providing West Middlesex High boys basketball team with a lead it never relinquished, and the Big Reds rode it to a 55-50 overtime win over Jeannette Saturday night.
“I always feel comfortable shooting from the right corner, it’s my favorite spot to shoot on the court,” related Palmer, after the Big Reds’ rolled to their 19th consecutive win, this time in the PIAA Class AA playoffs opener.
A year ago Palmer provided the margin of victory in a 41-38 OT win over Kennedy Catholic for the District 10 Class A championship. Palmer was positioned in precisely the same spot.
The 4th frame afforded 2 ties and 3 lead changes. But with the team tied at 43 in the closing seconds of regulation, Palmer, after receiving the inbounds pass, misfired on a corner jumper – from the other side of the floor.
Getting another opportunity, he didn’t miss.
“I knew it was going in as soon as it left my hand,” Palmer pronounced.
“’ Big-game Jerrod,’” smiling West Middlesex mentor Chad Mild mused. “In the District 10 championship last year he hit a big shot, and he hit a big one for us (Saturday) night.
“Jeannette came to play us,” praised Mild. “I thought we had the toughest draw in the first round, but our kids rose to the occasion.”
In the 4-minute extra session Palmer’s partners provided the insurance, as Trey Staunch and Matt Dogan evenly divided a half-dozen free throws.
Staunch stoked West Middlesex (23-3) with a game-high 24-point, 8-rebound performance, scoring 16 during the game’s final 20 minutes. Dogan deposited a 16-point, 8-rebound, 3-assist line.
A pair of turnovers in the 1st frame’s closing seconds cost the Big Reds as Jeannette jetted to a 9-7 lead, but fueled by Ryan Dogan’s dagger from the deep corner and 6 and 4 points, respectively, from Staunch and Matt Dogan, Middlesex mustered a 24-19 margin at intermission.
With Julian Batts and Duke Brown bucketing 5 and 4 points, respectively, the Jayhawks hovered within 35-32 entering the final frame.
A trio of ties and similar number of lead changes highlighted the 4th quarter. Staunch stuck both ends of a 1-and-1 bonus free-throw situations with 2:31 remaining in regulation that knotted the count at 43, where it remained until OT.
West Middlesex will meet Bishop McCort – a 62-43 winner over Burrell – next week at a site and time to be announced. Mild admitted he was relieved, yet elated.
“Jeannette’s very good team. What were they, ranked third in the state at one time. I think they’re among the top five on this side of the state, so that was a quality win for us, but we’re just gonna move forward,” Mild said.
“It’s not gonna get any easier. Round by round, it’s gonna get harder and harder,” Mild admitted. “I think the biggest thing we’ve got going for us, we’ve had the target on our back since the beginning of the year, we’ve been in overtime games, and the experience is showing through.”
Batts and Brown bucketed 16 and 13, respectively, for the Jayhawks (18-6).
PIAA CLASS AA PLAYOFFS
JEANNETTE 9 10 13 11 7 32
MIDDLESEX 7 17 11 8 12 35
JEANNETTE — Batts 7-2-2-16, Miller 0-0-0-0, Sunder 3-0-0-6, Edmunds 3-1-2-8, Wise 0-0-0-0, Brown 2-8-9-13, Elliott 1-1-2-3, Altieri 0-0-0-0, Canady 1-0-0-3. 3-pt. goals: Edmunds 1, Canady 1. Totals: 17-12-15-50.
WEST MIDDLESEX — M. Dogan 5-6-8-16, Palmer 1-0-0-3, Staunch 5-14-16-24, Jancso 2-1-3-5, Klaric 2-0-0-4, Porterfield 0-0-0-0, Ginther 0-0-0-0, R.Dogan 1-0-0-3. 3-pt. goals: R.Dogan 1, Palmer 1. Totals: 16-21-27-55.
Sports
Related Photos
-
West Middlesex's Trey Staunch looks to shoot vs. Jeannette during Saturday night's PIAA Class AA playoff game at Slippery Rock University.
WM tops Jeannette in OT in PIAA Class AA playoffs at SRU
- Sports
-
-
Playoffs: GC, Hounds win; Reynolds, Sharpsville softball advance
The District 10 playoffs kicked off on Tuesday for 4 area baseball teams and 5 softball squads.
In Class A softball, Reynolds edged West Middlesex, 5-4, in an 8-inning thriller while Sharpsville ousted Rocky Grove, 5-0. In Class AA, Northwestern beat Wilmington, 9-5, and Harbor Creek defeated Mercer, 4-3. -
Hickory boys edge WM for D-10 Class AA Track team title
HARBORCREEK — Hickory High co-head coach Mark Slezak referenced the term “exponential” in explaining the four-fold heart-felt feeling of having a relay team qualify for the PIAA Championships.
That sentiment seemed to summarize Mercer County’s performance during Saturday’s annual District 10 Class AA Track & Field Championships. -
5 area teams qualify for D-10 baseball playoffs
Five area baseball teams have qualified for the District 10 playoffs — Grove City, Kennedy Catholic, Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Wilmington.
In the Class A semifinals, Kennedy Catholic faces Cochranton at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Northwestern High School. Rocky Grove faces Eisenhower in the other semifinal game. -
Hickory, WM boys to collide at D-10 AA Track & Field Championships
For the 2nd time this week, a District 10 track & field team title could be decided by a pair of Mercer County contingents.
Just as Hickory and Grove City girls contested the Class AAA crown Wednesday night, so, too, are the Hickory and West Middlesex boys anticipating vying for Saturday’s AA title. -
Roundup: Reynolds baseball tops GC; Sharpsville, Wilmington softball teams win
ä Reynolds 4, Grove City 1 — At Transfer, Neal Engstrom fired a complete-game 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks in lifting the Raiders (9-8) past the Eagles (14-6).
Ryan Grace was tagged with the loss for Grove City. He struck out 6 batters, issued no walks and gave up 7 hits in going the distance. -
GC girls 3-peat at District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
HARBORCREEK— Some athletes seeded 1st in four events would feel pressure. For Grove City High senior Daniel Jaskowak, it’s an opportunity for name recognition.
“I kind’ve like it. It’s cool, because people know who you are,” related Jaskowak, who won 3 events during Wednesday’s District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships. -
Hickory, GC girls collide at D-10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Cliché though that is, it will be borne out today at the annual District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships.
Hickory High girls — the defending PIAA Class AA titlists — will test the best from the biggest. And the Lady Hornets hope to give as good as they get from the 6-county competition. -
Local tune up for districts at Mercer County Invite
There’s a difference between a warm-up and a warning.
If Saturday’s annual track & field invitational is any indication, Mercer County’s contingent issued a warning for the remainder of District 10: This could be a big year in area annals. -
Roundup: Grace, GC beat Sharon, 4-0, in 5 innings
With an impending storm blowing in above Johnny Pepe Field time was limited, so Ryan Grace greedily gobbled up putouts.
Grove City High’s Grace gave up only 3 base hits, and the visiting Eagles eased to an abbreviated 4-0, 5-inning win over Sharon Friday afternoon. -
HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP: County track meet set Saturday at Hickory
The annual Mercer County Track & Field Invitational will be held at Hickory High’s Hornet Stadium Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.
Competing are all Mercer County teams, Class AAA and AA, as well as Slippery Rock. The meet serves as a warm-up to the District 10 championships set next week at Harbor Creek High. - More Sports Headlines
-
