Jeannette set to face postseason nemesis Sewickley Academy

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, March 15, 2018 | 9:19 PM

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Sewickley Academy erased Jeannette's WPIAL basketball championship hopes in the Class 2A quarterfinals last season, and in the Class A semifinals two years ago.

The teams meet again at 1 p.m. Saturday in the PIAA 2A quarterfinals at North Hills and, “Maybe the third time will be the charm,” Jeannette coach Adrian Batts said.

Jeannette (21-4) will make its first appearance in the PIAA “Elite Eight” since 2008 when Terrelle Pryor, Jordan Hall and Co. led the Jayhawks to their only state basketball title.

The Jayhawks are two wins away from a trip to Hershey for the finals but they know their toughest test of the season could await them in the third round.

“We know we can play with them,” Jeannette senior Tre Cunningham said. “It's about the little things and playing how we can.”

Sewickley Academy (23-4) is the defending state champion and has won 14 straight postseason games, the first of which was the win over Jeannette last year.

The Panthers have won back-to-back WPIAL titles.

For Jeannette, overcoming a mental hurdle could be just as important as going basket for basket with the nemesis Panthers.

“Only three of our guys played against them the last time,” Batts said. “We didn't make foul shots against them (two years ago) and last year they just outplayed us. They just play really hard. They're well-coached and skilled; all the ingredients of a great team — they got them.”

Sewickley Academy defeated Greensburg Central Catholic in the PIAA quarterfinals last season, 61-46.

“They have five or six guys who can put it on the floor,” Batts said. “They spread you out.”

Jeannette has shown a knack for sharing the ball in the state playoffs, passing and cutting and finding quality shots in wins over Purchase Line and Cambridge Springs. The latter ended up much closer than Jeannette wanted, but a fail-safe, 20-for-28 night at the foul line gave it enough of a cushion to get the win.

Defensive pressure is the linchpin for the fast-paced Jayhawks.

“Jeannette has tremendous athleticism and will to win,” Sewickley coach Win Palmer said. “I am impressed with the job coach Batts has done with all of the challenges of having a football team play well into the basketball season.

“It is always a great challenge to play against Jeannette, and our programs have great respect for each other.”

Cunningham has been the steady scoring leader for the Jayhawks, averaging 18 points, while senior Robert Kennedy (13 ppg) is a backcourt leader with quietly good rebounding and defensive skills.

Energetic junior Anthony Johnson (19 ppg) has been in and out of the lineup all season and while the Jayhawks have learned how to play without him, they know he can make them better. There are times when he takes over games and draws defensive attention away from teammates. Other times, his emotion gets the best of him and leads to fouls.

Johnson can be an electric guitar in a lineup that's trying to play jazz.

Sometimes, though, the volume is just right: He received his third technical foul of the playoffs in the last game, but made 4 of 6 free throws in the fourth quarter, while playing with four fouls, to help keep Cambridge Springs at bay.

“Anthony plays with energy and emotion,” Batts said. “We just need him to play under control because we want him doing the things he can do to help us win.”

Jeannette knows it needs to make shots but it may need its best defensive effort — one that rivals shutdown games against Serra and Purchase Line — to get past the Panthers, who average 72.6 points.

“It comes down to good possessions, making layups and free throws,” Batts said. “Against Sewickley, you have to get back in transition and find your man.”

Sewickley Academy isn't nearly as tall as Cambridge Springs, which featured a pair of 6-foot-8 players. Forward Turner Kurt and guard Noah Reisenauer combined for 49 points against Jeannette.

Sewickley relies on balanced scoring with all five starters averaging in double figures — sophomore guards Isiah Warfield (16.0), Jett Roesing (15.0) and Isaiah Smith (14.1), junior forward Nate Ridgeway (12.4) and senior guard David Groetsch (10.8).

Ridgeway is the tallest player at 6-6.

The Panthers barely escaped in the second round, using some late free throws to eke past Ridgway, 44-41.

Jeannette thinks it can win a close game against the Panthers, although not many teams get that chance. Sewickley is beating teams in the postseason by an average of 23 points.

Palmer expects big plays from both teams Saturday.

“From a fan's perspective, I would encourage people to come watch a game with some top-level athletes from both teams,” he said. “We have to limit their transition game and second-chance opportunities on the glass.”

Former Jeannette standout Julian Batts, who played in the NCAA Tournament play-in round earlier this week with LIU-Brooklyn, rode the team bus with Jeannette Wednesday to Farrell.

He was hoping his brush with March Madness might carry over to the Jayhawks.

“I didn't really say anything to them (Wednesday),” said Batts, a sophomore guard. “Maybe I'll save it for Saturday.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Jeannette, Sewickley Academy