By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – In a battle of the top-seeded teams within the conference, Penn State Mont Alto gritted out a thrilling 64-61 win over PSU York for the Penn State University men's basketball championship. Mont Alto won its 24th game of the season on Sunday in the Bryce Jordan Center and it was the second conference championship under ninth-year head coach Jack Schenzel.
"It was a lot of excitement, and I thought my team really grew up throughout the process, especially here today," said Schenzel. "The moment might have been a little big early, but I thought we really battled and rode a great five minute stretch to open the second half."
The Nittany Lions won the program's fourth championship and Schenzel is now a three-time PSUAC Coach of the Year after conference awards were announced on Sunday. Junior guard Quintyn Flemister (Harrisburg, Pa. / Harrisburg) was named PSUAC West Player of the Year and JR Powe (Frederick, Md. / Thomas Johnson) was named Rookie of the Year in the West to headline the Mont Alto award winners.
Mont Alto (24-4, 17-2 PSUAC) cut the deficit down to four points with under a minute left before halftime, but Sahnei Day hit a runner in the paint and York went into the break with a 41-35 lead. Second chance points is what hurt PSUMA as York made the most of offensive rebounds and Mont Alto offensive miscues.
Mont Alto opened the first 3:46 on a 6-0 run, which tied it up at 41 points apiece. Quintyn Flemister (Harrisburg, Pa. / Harrisburg) gave his team the 43-41 lead with 15:28 left. PSUMA continued to play stifling defense and held York to just eight points within the first 10 minutes of the second half. Cameron Williams (Inwood, W.Va. / Musselman) assisted a John Teague (Hagerstown, Md. / North Hagerstown) layup that made it 55-55 with under six minutes remaining.
JR Powe (Frederick, Md. / Thomas Johnson) hit a clutch 3-pointer and then Flemister knocked down a fade away jumper that had Mont Alto up 60-57 with 3:22 left. PSU York tried icing Mont Alto with three-straight timeouts, but Darrius Bush (Martinsburg, W.Va. / Spring Mills) had ice in his veins and sunk both of his free throw attempts. Up 64-61. Mont Alto's defense locked down the opposition including a failed 3-point attempt as time expired.
John Teague (Hagerstown, Md. / North Hagerstown) led all scorers with 22 points with the big man finishing 9-of-10 from the field. He collected nine rebounds. JR Powe (Frederick, Md. / Thomas Johnson posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
"We're going to enjoy this moment, but we have a purpose and these guys really want to win two championships this year," added Coach Schenzel. "We're going to get back to work at practice on Tuesday in preparation of the USCAA National Tournament."
With the PSUAC conference title under their belt, Mont Alto will wait until Monday to hear about their seeding in the USCAA National Tournament. The Nittany Lions were ranked sixth in the latest Division II Coaches Poll with the tournament held at Penn State Fayette in Uniontown, Pa. from March 8-11.
