WAYNESBORO – Just when you thought it was time to relax, it was time to be concerned. Just when you thought it was time to worry, it was time to take a breath.
That was the kind of game played between Waynesboro and East Pennsboro on Friday. The game took on a strange aura at the outset as head coach Tom Hoffman was conspicuous in his absence. Hoffman was required to attend the Waynesboro Area School District session at Hooverville Elementary School.
Assistant coach Richie Davis served as the acting head coach, and he did quite well, as the Indians defeated the Panthers 78-66.
After Waynesboro took an 11-2 lead, it looked like it was time to relax. After all, the Tribe defeated East Pennsboro 65-39 on Jan. 6 in Enola.
But, as most of the game would attest to, it was more like time to worry. The 11-2 lead dwindled to 11-8 before Waynesboro scored five of the next six points to take a 16-9 advantage. Then, it was 16-14, and then 29-16.
“Sometimes they think it’s easy, but it’s never easy,” Davis said. “But we settled down, got back into rhythm, and we just kept attacking and finishing.”
The Indians did what they do best – going at a fast pace, which is why they went on scoring bursts. When the Panthers cut down the scoring deficit, it was because they did what they do best – use their height advantage for second-chance shots and close-range buckets (which led to free throws).
“We thought we could play faster than them, and they couldn’t keep up,” said Davis. “That’s basically what we did. We need to rebound better. They had a height advantage over us. We tried to stress rebound first and then go.”
And they did go.
Rayshawn Frazer-Hewitt was full-on dribble and drive as well as step back and three-point it. The senior guard scored 30 points. He could have scored 50 if he had been better at the free-throw line (13 for 26) and the three-point arc (3 for 8). He, Carter Hough (18 points), and Dominic Goodworth (12 points) were three big reasons Waynesboro did as well as it did in transition, which is essentially the same thing as fast-paced. They accounted for 60 of the team’s 78 points.
“We kept playing downhill, getting to the rim, and we made a lot of layups,” Davis said.
Nate Nystrom scored eight points and pulled down an impressive 13 rebounds, 11 on the defensive end. Hough added eight assists.
Waynesboro made it two-for-two this past weekend, as the Indians defeated Gettysburg 78-57 on the road.
Frazer-Hewitt followed up his 30-point performance with 23 points. Hough scored 15 points, and Goodworth added 13 points.
After both teams scored eight points in the first quarter, the Indians outpointed the Warriors 29-15 in the second period and 24-18 in the third quarter to lead 61-41 entering the fourth frame.
Nate Nystrom and Ryan Jenkins each grabbed seven rebounds. Hough recorded six assists.
Waynesboro (8-11) hits the road again on Wednesday as the Indians face Middletown in a league game.
