The green and white, playing in their first game in 25 days, were rusty early on as the Rangers held a 13-12 lead about seven minutes into the game. The Spartans responded by fashioning an 11-2 run that turned their one point deficit into an eight point lead with 8:18 remaining in the first half. Eight points would be the Spartans’ biggest lead the rest of the half as they reached that mark two more times during the late stages of the half. With the Spartans leading 33-25 with 2:34 left, the Rangers scored the final four points of the half as the guests trailed 33-29 at the half.
Drew scored eight of the first 12 points of the half to tie the game at 37 as the Spartans came out of the half back on their heels. That would not last long as the Spartans used the next ten minutes to outscore Drew 31-5, turning the tie into a 68-42 Spartan lead with 6:15 remaining in the game. The Spartan lead would not get below 18 points the rest of the way.
York was led by junior Brandon Bushey as he notched 13 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Junior Brian Singer was the other Spartan in double figures with 11 points in just 15 minutes of play. Junior Kenny Fass added a very solid floor game with eight points, five assists, and three rebounds while Ben Seibert chipped in with eight points, a team-high six rebounds, and two assists. Sophomore Joe Yeck continued his steady play with a career-high seven points and three assists with no turnovers for YCP.
Chris Lopez and Joe Lamson each had 10 points to lead the Drew attack. Bob Carella led the Rangers on the glass with a game-high eight rebounds while he also had three points.
York finished the game shooting 49.2% from the floor while they held the Rangers to 34.5% from the field. The green and white outrebounded the visitors 38-35 and are now 9-1 when they outrebound their opponent.
The Spartans finished the game with a 24-7 edge in points off turnovers as they forced Drew into 19 miscues for the game while York committed just 10 turnovers for the game.
In the other semifinal contest, Edgewood, lead by the duo of Seth Cooper and Gregory Blaska, defeated Oneonta 78-67. The first half was a back and forth affair with the teams shared momentum throughout the first half. Oneonta held a seven point lead with 10:55 left in the half but the Eagles bounced back to score eight straight points to take the one point lead. The rest of the half featured two lead changes and three ties before Edgewood scored the final seven points of the half to take the 34-27 halftime lead.
Michael Reardon began the second half for the Dragons with a jumper, but then the beginning of the end came for his team. Blaska started a 14-0 run as the Eagles began to pull away as their lead did not fall below seven points the rest of the way.
Cooper poured in 28 points to lead the Eagles. He established a new tournament record as he was 12-for-12 from the charity stripe for the game. Blaska added 21 points and eight rebounds while freshman center Charlie Averkamp was the third Eagle in double figures with 11 points.
Oneonta, now 3-6, was led by William Heslin’s 17 points and nine rebounds. The other Red Dragon scoring in double figures was Anthony Negreanu with 11 points.
On their way to victory, the Eagles hit an outstanding 21-22 from the charity stripe break the single-game tournament record for free throw percentage as they converted 21-of-22 from the charity stripe (95.5%).
Drew and Oneonta State kick off Saturday’s action with a 1:00 pm tip in the consolation game followed by York and Edgewood in the championship game at 3:00 pm.