TUNNEL HILL - Colby Major took key charging fouls and led the charge by Montrose in Wednesday night’s Lackawanna League Division 3 boys’ basketball opener.
Major led a rally that put the Meteors in control for much of the game, then Cameron Dean hit the shot that turned away a late Lackawanna Trail comeback in a 53-51 victory.
The game matched the teams that played in the division’s all-season championship game last season when the Lions took the title despite the Meteors having the best record.
“I thought we played great until the fourth quarter,” Montrose coach Todd Smith said.
The Meteors actually had to overcome a sluggish start to go from seven down in the first quarter to 12 up in the third.
Lyle Sweppenheiser scored the first five points in an eight-point streak that gave Lackawanna Trail a 16-7 lead late in the first quarter.
Major grabbed what seemed like a harmless defensive rebound with two seconds left in the quarter.
Uncontested from there, Major had just enough time to dribble to the top of the key and launch a three-quarter court shot that rattled in for three points.
“We were dead until that happened,” Smith said.
Major was not done.
He followed up the bomb by scoring 12 points in the second quarter on the way to a team-high 22.
Major had 10 of the points in a 15-point streak that put the Meteors in front, 22-16, with 3:47 left in the half. During that 15-point streak, he also drew two key fouls, taking a charge for Sweppenheiser’s second foul and taking the ball at Steve Miller for his second.
Miller, Lackawanna Trail’s 7-foot-1 center, never did get another foul. Sweppenheiser, however, fouled out early. The Lions were forced to play the final 7:24 without their second-leading scorer, who again fouled Major on a fourth-quarter drive to the basket.
Montrose went to halftime with a 29-22 lead, then had to wait … and wait.
The halftime break was extended by 34 minutes and the game was, at one point, in jeopardy of being suspended while a roof leak was assessed and repaired.
When the game resumed, Montrose first extended its lead, then had to fight off a surge that started when the Lions solved the Meteors defense and began getting the ball inside to Miller repeatedly.
“He’s tough when he gets it by the rim,” Smith said.
The Meteors led, 45-33, before Miller scored the last five points of the third quarter. Miller went 5-for-7 while scoring 11 points in the quarter. His only two misses were retrieved and converted on offensive rebound baskets for the final four points of the quarter, making it 45-38.
Miller, who finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots, continued the push with back-to-back baskets that cut the deficit to one for the first time since early in the second quarter.
The Lions tied the game at 47, 49 and 51.
Cameron Dean broke two of the ties and Major broke one, keeping Lackawanna Trail from ever moving back in front.
Jordan Smith, who did not score but had a game-high seven assists, penetrated on the right side before sending a pass across the lane to Dean.
Dean went high over Miller for the final points, producing the game-winner with 19 seconds left.
“Jordan played much better the last two games,” coach Smith said. “He has started to penetrate and get assists to guys.”
Dean, who finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, also helped lock up the win. After the Lions missed from close range, he first tipped away a dangerous rebound, then gathered the ball in at the final buzzer.
The win was the fourth straight for Montrose since an opening loss to defending Lackawanna Division 2 champion Riverside. Tom Lewis contributed eight points and matched Major with a game-high three steals. Corey Adams added seven points.
Lackawanna Trail fell to 0-6, but both coaches agreed that the Lions, considered by many as the preseason favorite, remain a title threat.
“In the second half, we played outstanding,” Lackawanna Trail coach Andrew Kettel said.
WEEK IN REVIEW
Susquehanna and Blue Ridge also won Division 3 boys’ openers.
Susquehanna defeated Forest City, 52-33; Blue Ridge downed Elk Lake, 50-45; and Lakeland defeated Mountain View, 75-52.
In girls’ basketball, Dallas Ely scored 15 points to lead Montrose to a 64-20 rout of Lackawanna Trail in their Division 3 opener.
Sara Krupinski added 11 points for the Lady Meteors.
In other games: Blue Ridge defeated Elk Lake, 24-18, Lakeland downed Mountain View, 57-52; and Forest City routed Susquehanna, 83-46.
The Forest City-Susquehanna game was played a day before the rest and actually opened league basketball play.
In wrestling, Lackawanna Trail defeated Blue Ridge, 51-24, in the Lackawanna League Division 2 opener.
COLLEGE CORNER
Alex Lewis from Montrose is a freshman sprinter on the Ithaca College indoor women’s track and field team.
Lewis made her collegiate debut Dec. 3 at the Cornell Relays, an event that included many Division I teams.
Lewis finished the 300-meter dash in 43.97 seconds for 22nd place out of 72 entrants.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Susquehanna will host the finals of the County Christmas Tournaments in basketball Thursday.
Tournament play was scheduled to begin Tuesday with four games.
Montrose, Blue Ridge, Elk Lake and host Susquehanna are part of the Denise Reddon Memorial girls’ tournament. The third-place game is set for 2 p.m. with the championship scheduled for 6 p.m.
Both tournaments are sponsored by the Community Foundation of Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties.
In the boys’ Christmas Tournament, Montrose, Blue Ridge and Elk Lake join host Susquehanna.
The third-place game is set for 3:30 and the championship for 7:30.
The Forest City girls are in the Honesdale Jaycees Tournament, which concludes Thursday.
TOM ROBINSON writes a weekly local sports column for the Susquehanna County Transcript. Reach him online at RobbyTR@aol.com or follow him on Twitter at @tomjrobinson.
