Click here to subscribe today or Login.
By DAVE KONOPKI davek@leader.net
Wednesday, March 12, 2003 Page: 3B
POTTSVILLE – Steve Nordheim made a sweeping move to the basket, finishing
the play with a scooping one-handed layup. The two points pulled the Meyers
basketball team to within one point of the heavily-favored Harriton Rams and
brought the Mohawk faithful to their feet in the final minute of the first
quarter.
Three minutes later, Eugene Bright slammed the door shut on the Mohawks.
Bright’s booming dunk capped a 15-0 run as the Rams cruised to an 87-64
victory against Meyers in a PIAA Class 3A state second-round game Tuesday
night at Martz Hall. The District 1 champions will play District 3 champion
Lansdale Catholic in a quarterfinal matchup Friday night at a site and time to
be announced. Meyers ends its season at 20-10.
“I thought that was the run that set the tone for the game,” said Mohawk
head coach Joe Caffrey. “They had that spurt and it was punctuated by Bright’s
dunk. I thought that dunk affected our kids a little bit.”
Led by Bright – who has accepted a scholarship to play linebacker at Purdue
– and senior point guard Marcus Harley, the Rams were too big, too fast and
too athletic for the Mohawks.
“We did as much as we could to prepare for the game,” said Caffrey. “But I
think there’s a physical and mental adjustment to seeing that kind of athletic
ability. When do you see that? They’re very good. I don’t think it’s a stretch
to say they’re good enough to win it all.”
Harley, who is expected to play basketball at Lafayette next year, finished
with a game-high 28 points. Bright finished with 20 points and 6-foot-7 junior
forward Matt Weisbrot chipped in 16.
“That Bright kid, wow!” Caffrey said. “That’s a Division I talent and he’s
going to play football in college. I think he’s one of those kids who can play
anything. And the point guard, Harley, is outstanding. He played a tremendous
game.”
Nordheim’s first-quarter basket cut Harriton’s lead to 16-15 with 56
seconds remaining before the Rams took control. Harley started the run with a
three-pointer and Bright closed it with a one-handed dunk to make it 31-15
with 6:04 remaining in the first half.
With Harriton holding a 44-31 lead, the second half started in bizarre
fashion as the Meyers coaching staff was called for a technical foul less than
20 seconds into the third quarter. Later in the half, Nordheim was called for
a technical foul when he grabbed a loose ball after a whistle and proceeded to
run up several stairs adjacent to the playing floor. And in the fourth
quarter, Jared Carlo was whistled for Meyers’ third technical foul of the
half.
The loss ended an outstanding career for a quartet of Mohawks. Seniors
Mickey Dudish, Chris Cresci, Carlo and Nordheim helped lead Meyers to three
consecutive state playoff appearances. Nordheim led a balanced Mohawk attack
against the Rams, scoring 12 points. Dudish added 11, while Carlo and Anthony
Masi chipped in 10 points apiece.