DREXEL HILL — Tulpehocken’s boys basketball season concluded with a 69-32 loss to West Catholic in a PIAA Class 3A first-round game Wednesday Night at Bonner-Prendergast High School.
The Trojans (19-7), making their first appearance in states since 2007, fell behind early and couldn’t muster any kind of a comeback against the District 12 runner-up Burrs (20-5).
Tulpehocken, the third-place team from District 3, struggled to get anything going offensively early in the game. Adam Clark had 12 points and collected five steals for West Catholic in the first quarter as multiple turnovers plagued the Trojans.
Aidan Miller scored the first field goal of the game for Tulpehocken with 30 seconds left in the first quarter. The Trojans trailed 25-4 at the end of one.
In the second quarter, the Burrs outscored the Trojans 19-12 as the height difference between the teams became apparent.
West Catholic had three of its five starters listed at 6-7 and dominated the paint in the second quarter. The Burrs used their height to get easy buckets and won the rebound battle at both ends.
Tulpehocken had very few clear scoring opportunities in the first half and trailed 44-16 at halftime.
Miller led the Trojans with eight points in the first half. Clark led the Burrs with 14 points.
David Bednarczyk, who came into the game averaging 17 points per game for the Trojans, had zero points in the first half and finished with three.
Senior Bryce Mellen, a 6-2 senior who came in averaging 16.2 points per game, had three points in the first half and finished with eight.
The turnover problems continued for the Trojans, who turned it over on their first four possessions of the third quarter and allowed an 8-0 run for the Burrs. Nolan Sweitzer scored the first Trojans’ points of the second half on two free throws with 3:09 to go.
West Catholic outscored Tulpehocken 11-8 in the third quarter and led 55-24 after three.
In the fourth quarter, the Burrs outscored the Trojans 14-8.
Miller finished with a team-high 12 points for Tulpehocken and was 4-of-4 from the foul line. Clark had a game-high 16 for West Catholic.
West Catholic will take on Loyalsock, who defeated Riverside 87-64, on Saturday in a second-round game, time and site to be announced.
Source: Berkshire mont
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