Short-handed Deer Lakes boys down Shady Side, stay perfect in section
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Wednesday, January 17, 2024 | 9:52 PM
Deer Lakes’ Wayne Love (left) and Collin Rodgers (right) celebrate with Nate Moore after Moore took an offensive foul against Shady Side Academy during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ Nate Moore scores past Shady Side Academy’s Ryan Frohlich.
Deer Lakes’ Wayne Love drives past Shady Side Academy’s Cam Mallory.
Deer Lakes’ Wayne Love celebrates after scoring against Shady Side Academy on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ Wayne Love grabs a rebound next to Shady Side Academy’s Eli Teslovich and Cam Mallory during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ Collin Rodgers Shady Side Academy’s Cam Mallory for a loose ball during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Shady Side Academy’s Eli Teslovich scores past Deer Lakes’ Billy Schaeffer during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ Billy Schaeffer battles Shady Side Academy’s Cam Mallory for a rebound during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ J.T. McCue pulls down a rebound next to Shady Side Academy’s Ryan Frohlich during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ J.T. McCue shoots a three-pointer against Shady Side Academy on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ Nate Moore scores past Shady Side Academy’s Ryan Frohlich during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Shady Side Academy’s Seamus Riordan scores against Deer Lakes on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Shady Side Academy’s Seamus Riordan scores against Deer Lakes on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ Nate Moore works between Shady Side Academy defenders on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ Nate Moore works between Shady Side Academy defenders on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ Wayne Love battles Shady Side Academy’s Ryan Frohlich for a rebound during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ Wayne Love battles Shady Side Academy’s Ryan Frohlich for a rebound during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ Nate Moore eyes up the opening tip-off with Shady Side Academy’s Cam Mallory on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ Nate Moore eyes up the opening tip-off with Shady Side Academy’s Cam Mallory on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ Collin Rodgers celebrates after the Lancers scored during the third quarter against Shady Side Academy on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Deer Lakes’ Collin Rodgers celebrates after the Lancers scored during the third quarter against Shady Side Academy on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Fox Chapel.
Nathaniel Moore found out Tuesday night he’d be in the starting lineup for the first time this season.
He responded by scoring 16 points and, along with Wayne Love, dominated the glass to help Deer Lakes end the first half of Section 3-3A play undefeated with a 62-47 win Wednesday night at Shady Side Academy.
Moore was in for Aiden Fletcher, who suffered an injury in practice Tuesday.
Fletcher was Deer Lakes’ leading rebounder, but Moore and Love made up for his absence, leading to a healthy edge on the glass.
“It felt good. Without Aiden, we didn’t have the legs, but to outrebound a team like that was huge,” Moore said. “They beat us on the boards last year, so to do that tonight was nice.”
With the win, the Lancers improved to 11-4 overall and 6-0 in section play. Shady Side Academy fell to 6-6 and 3-2 in section.
The Lancers built a 36-24 lead at halftime, but the Bulldogs made a run in the fourth quarter.
Shady Side forced turnovers on five consecutive Deer Lakes possessions and cut the lead to six with less than four minutes remaining.
Moore stopped the bleeding with a bucket inside, and JT McCue followed with a 3-pointer to balloon the lead to 11. Deer Lakes led by double digits the rest of the way.
“Our number one key tonight was to be more physical than them,” Deer Lakes coach Albie Fletcher said. “They dominated us on the glass last year and had a ton of second-chance points, so we knew we had to be better. I applaud our guys for bringing that effort and physicality, especially on the road. This is not an easy place to play.”
The game was physical from start to finish. Players diving for loose balls and heavy contact on drives to the lane was a theme for the night.
Love hit the floor hard on several occasions but got back up each time.
“The body feels rough, but you gotta do what you gotta do,” Love said. “One thing we always emphasize is getting to every loose ball. We’re going to get down there and get it no matter what happens.”
Billy Schaeffer led the Lancers in scoring with 17. Collin Rodgers had 13 points, and Love finished with 10.
Seamus Riordan had a game-high 20 for the Bulldogs, including a dunk in the second quarter. Eli Teslovich scored 17.
After going through the first round of section play unblemished, the Lancers will start the second round Friday against Ligonier Valley.
“I keep telling the guys the next practice, the next game, stay humble and stay focused, because the sky’s the limit for these guys,” coach Fletcher said. “We still have a long way to go, but you can’t be any happier with how the first half of the section went.”
Jerin Steele is a freelance writer
Tags: Deer Lakes, Shady Side Academy
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