Finishing the regular season at 19-3, the Tyrone eighth grade boys entered the 41st annual Lilly Basketball Tournament March 12, looking to defend their 7th grade championship from a year ago when they defeated Bishop Guilfoyle in the final. But this year they would have to do so without the services of Nathan Dane, who has since had knee surgery following an injury suffered during the Clearfield Junior High Tournament. Mark Mitchell, Tyrone’s ninth grade coach, had the opportunity to coach his next year’s team.
Game 1 – Saturday, March 12 Tyrone vs. Northern Cambria Catholic
In their first match-up of the Lilly Tournament, the young Eagles met Northern Cambria Catholic, and showed their ability to start quickly and overwhelm an opponent. Off to the races right from the opening tap, Tyrone outscored NCC 13-2 and 11-6 in the first two quarters to build a 24-8 halftime lead. They then hit NCC hard again with a 15-2 run in the third to take a commanding 39-10 bulge into the final session. The Eagle’s bench got the bulk of the playing time there, and Tyrone won 45-23. John Shaffer, starting at center, showed his strength down low by leading the team with 14 points. Ethan Etters and Travis Peterman added eight and six points, respectively. Anthony Hennaman came off the bench to add six points.
Tyrone 45 Northern Cambria Catholic 23
Score by quarters:
Tyrone 13 11 15 6 – 45
NCC 2 6 2 13 – 23
Scorers: Shaffer 14, Etters 8, Peterman 6, Hennaman 6, Updyke 4, Cruz 4, Black 3
Game 2 – Sunday, March 13 Tyrone vs. Westmont
In Tyrone’s second game of the tournament, they played a tough-minded and tall Westmont team that battled the Eagles throughout. Tyrone was only able to stay in front 9-8 at the end of one quarter behind five points by Travis Peterman, and got a little more breathing room in the second quarter to lead at halftime 19-14. Resuming play in the third, Westmont tried to break the Eagles down with defensive pressure. But 6 points from point guard Kyle Updyke, who kept penetrating the lane, kept them at bay. The Eagles led 29-24 going into the 4th quarter, and won 42-36. Ethan Etters, playing forward, led his team with 15 points. Updyke added 12 points, including six of Tyrone’s 11 from the foul line.
Tyrone 42 Westmont 36
Score by quarters
Tyrone 9 10 10 13 – 42
Westmont 8 6 10 12 – 36
Scorers: Etters 15, Updyke 12, Shaffer 6, Peterman 5, Ingle 2, Young 2.
Game 3 – Saturday, March 19 Tyrone vs. Northern Cambria
Advancing to the semifinals, Tyrone took on the Northern Cambria Colts. Struggling through the first quarter to a slim 13-11 lead behind 5 points from Travis Peterman and four from Kyle Updyke, the Eagles fell behind by halftime 18-16. But they recovered quickly, putting a 17-5 third quarter run together behind six points from Ethan Etters and five from John Shaffer. They carried a 10 point lead into the fourth quarter, and won 45-32 to clinch a berth in the final. Showing a balanced attack, Kyle Updyke and Travis Peterman each scored 11 points apiece. Ethan Etters and John Shaffer added 10 and nine points, respectively.
Tyrone 45 Bellefonte 32
Score by quarters:
Tyrone 13 3 17 12 – 45
Bellefonte 11 7 5 9 – 32
Scorers: Peterman 11, Updyke 11, Etters 10, Schaffer 9, Ingle 2, Miller 2
Game 4 – Sunday, March 20 Tyrone vs. Westmont
Rising out of the loser’s bracket, Westmont fought their way back to a finals rematch with the Golden Eagles. But after playing Westmont the first time, Mark Mitchell had his team better prepared for their pressure. Starting out with a 13-7 lead after one quarter, the Eagles followed it up with a 15-12 second to go into halftime leading 28-19. Padding their lead with a 9-4 third quarter, the Eagles coasted to a 41-27 tournament championship. Travis Peterman had 15 points to lead the Eagles, including five points in each of the first three quarters. John Shaffer and Kyle Updyke added 10 and eight points, respectively.
Championship game
Tyrone 41 Westmont 27
Score by quarters
Tyrone 13 15 9 4 – 41
Westmont 7 12 4 4 – 27
Scorers: Peterman 15, Shaffer 10, Updyke 8, Etters 6, Black 2
Overall, the Tyrone eighth grade boys basketball team went undefeated to capture their second straight Lilly Tournament. Kyle Updyke, for his point guard leadership out on the court, was awarded the MVP for the tournament. Ethan Etters and Travis Peterman were named to the 41st Annual Lilly All-Tournament team. The admirable effort given by John Shaffer at the center position was also acknowledged by the coaching staff.
For the season, first-year coach Darren Elvey’s eighth graders went 23-3 overall, outscoring their opponents by an average of 18 points. Next year, these boys will form the nucleus of an exciting Tyrone junior high basketball team.
