Billy Schaeffer’s grand night helps Deer Lakes boys down Forest Hills in PIAA 2nd round
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Wednesday, March 13, 2024 | 9:06 PM
Deer Lakes’ Billy Schaeffer scores past Forest Hills’ Dylan Stohon during a PIAA Class 3A second-round game Wednesday at Armstrong High School.
The Deer Lakes student section gives Forest Hills’ Si Mcgough the business after a turnover during a PIAA Class 3A second-round game Wednesday at Armstrong High School.
Deer Lakes’ Nathaniel Moore and Aiden Fletcher (right) fight for a rebound with Forest Hills’ Chase Williamson during a PIAA Class 3A second-round game Wednesday at Armstrong High School.
Deer Lakes’ Wayne Love hits the first shot of the game over Forest Hills’ Chase Williamson during a PIAA Class 3A second-round game Wednesday at Armstrong High School.
Deer Lakes’ Aiden Fletcher grabs a rebound over Forest Hills’ Brandon Gregovich during a PIAA Class 3A second-round game Wednesday at Armstrong High School.
Deer Lakes’ Wayne Love blocks a shot by Forest Hills’ Brandon Gregovich during a PIAA Class 3A second-round game Wednesday at Armstrong High School.
Forest Hills’ Brandon Gregovich blocks Deer Lakes’ Nathaniel Moore during a PIAA Class 3A second-round game Wednesday at Armstrong High School.
Deer Lakes’ Wayne Love shoots over Forest Hills’ Chase Williamson and Brandon Gregovich during a PIAA Class 3A second-round game Wednesday at Armstrong High School.
Deer Lakes’ Wayne Love Love is fouled by Forest Hills’ Chase Williamson during a PIAA Class 3A second-round game Wednesday at Armstrong High School.
Deer Lakes coach Albie Fletcher celebrates as his team pulls away from Forest Hills during a PIAA Class 3A second-round game Wednesday at Armstrong High School.
Billy Schaeffer has been dreaming of reaching 1,000 points since he began his high school career.
Doing so on a big stage and helping Deer Lakes put away Forest Hills made the moment all the more sweet.
Schaeffer had a game-high 22 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, and the Lancers earned a 67-51 victory in the second round of the PIAA Class 3A playoffs Wednesday at Armstrong.
He hit the 1,000-point mark on a free throw with just over a minute remaining. It turned out to be the final point of the game and put a period on a dominant final frame for the senior guard.
“It’s always been a goal of mine and to get (1,000 points) in a state playoff game is amazing,” Schaeffer said. “It’s an unreal feeling.”
The Lancers (23-4) advanced to play District 10 runner up Franklin in the quarterfinals Saturday at a site and time to be announced. Forest Hills, the District 6 runner-up, finished 21-5.
Deer Lakes led by 10 going into the fourth quarter, and Schaeffer started the fourth by hitting a 3-pointer to make it 47-34.
Forest Hills responded with a 9-0 run. A layup by Dylan Stohon made the score 47-43.
Wayne Love missed a dunk during the Rangers’ run. That seemed to give Forest Hills some momentum, but Love stole it back after the lead was cut to four.
Love received an excellent pass in the paint from fellow big man Nathaniel Moore and scored while taking a hard foul. He made the free throw to make it 50-43, and Forest Hills never got within one possession again.
Love lauded Moore for the pass that set him up.
“He won’t even be looking at you, and you know that ball is still coming right to you,” Love said. “In the paint, he can find anybody. It’s insane.”
After Love’s 3-point play, Deer Lakes outscored Forest Hills, 17-8, the rest of the way.
The Lancers forced 17 turnovers and went 10 of 15 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. Schaeffer hit 5 of 6 foul shots.
After having finishes go down to the wire in the last four playoff games, Lancers coach Albie Fletcher joked it was nice to relax in the final minute.
He praised his team for continuing to persevere in big moments.
“This team just doesn’t get rattled,” Fletcher said. “Basketball is a game of runs, and (Forest Hills) scores 70 points a game and shoots 3-pointers ridiculously well. I kept telling the guys they were going to make a run, so how do we respond? Both times our guys pulled back, made really good plays and executed to get the lead back to seven or eight to get the breathing room back. I’m proud of them for staying the course.”
Moore finished with 17 points. Love had 12, eight in the first half, to help the Lancers build a 27-17 lead going into halftime.
Brandon Gregovich led the Rangers with 17, and Stohon had 15.
Deer Lakes is two wins away from returning to the state championship game.
“This is something we’ve been working at for a long time,” Schaeffer said. “Ever since we’ve started playing basketball, we’ve wanted something like this. We’ve wanted to make a run, and now we’re doing it.”
Jerin Steele is a freelance writer
Tags: Deer Lakes
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