Free-throw shooting proves critical as Highlands ends postseason run

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 16, 2018 | 11:21 PM

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At the midway point of the second quarter Friday night, the Highlands bench looked like it did before the game when the starting lineup was announced.

With seniors Shawn Erceg, Romello Freeman and sophomore Johnny Crise in foul trouble and sitting on the bench to close out the second half, it became obvious that whichever team capitalized on free throws would likely move on to the PIAA Class 5A boys basketball semifinals.

Highlands struggled at the free-throw line, shooting 45 percent, and Mars came through at the charity stripe, shooting 80 percent, as the WPIAL-champion Planets defeated the Rams, 61-50, at Gateway.

“Things happen especially in the playoffs,” Highlands coach Tyler Stoczynski said. “That's why guys on the bench need to step up, and we had some guys play well. It's part of what it is, and it's not something that we can control as coaches.”

The Rams bench more than stepped up. Holding a 15-13 lead with 2 minutes, 50 seconds remaining in the first half, senior guard Ryan Signorella connected on a jumper to give Highlands (20-6) a 20-13 lead and momentum. Juniors Daniel Thimons and Korry Myers played valuable minutes to give the Rams a 24-17 edge at halftime.

“We knew it was going to happen, and we need to just come off the bench with the same intensity that the five starters had,” Signorella said. “All week in practice we practiced the physicality. You just have to keep playing and keep your head.”

By halftime, Highlands' Freeman, Erceg, Crise and sophomore Luke Cochran all had two fouls.

“Our goal was to get Robby (Carmody) out of the game, and I'm pretty sure they had the same intentions,” Crise said. “We tried to take out one of their strong links, and they did it to us.”

Fouls were being called both ways. Both Robby and Michael Carmody were tagged with two first-half fouls for Mars (24-4).

“It definitely didn't allow either team to get out and exert what they wanted to do,” Mars coach Rob Carmody said. “But all that you can ask for was that it was consistent.”

A game where referees are heavy with the whistle does not bode well for a team like Highlands, which shot 53 percent as a team from the free-throw line this season. Highlands finished the night 9 of 20 from the line, while Mars went 16 of 20.

Robby Carmody, a Notre Dame commit, got called for a charge for his fifth foul with 3:49 remaining. The call came immediately after Erceg's basket cut into Mars' lead at 48-44.

“We lost (Carmody) on a questionable call for a fifth foul, and (Highlands) came around and did the same thing,” coach Carmody said. “At least it kind of evened out, but you kind of want to have both of those guys on the floor.”

Carmody finished with a game-high 24 points.

The packed Highlands side of the gymnasium exploded with cheers as Carmody walked off the court and became a spectator for the rest of the game. But it was only 1:29 later when Crise was called for his fifth foul with Mars leading 50-46. With Crise out, the Rams offense struggled down the stretch and managed just five points the rest of the way, while the Planets were a perfect 8 of 8 from the foul line in the game's final two minutes.

“We go with the mentality of next man up,” Stoczynski said. “We're not going to tell guys to play soft or anything like that.”

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Highlands