CHECK BACK SUNDAY NIGHT OR MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR FULL VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF SENECA VALLEY'S COMEBACK WIN OVER TUSCARORABy Ryan Minkrmink@digitalsports.comIt took less than 10 seconds for Seneca Valley to start Friday night’s 3A West region final off with a bang.
One pass after the opening tip, Seneca Valley sophomore
Jordan Goodman hit a long three-pointer, sending Seneca Valley’s packed gym into a tizzy.
And that was just the beginning.
An alley-oop, seven three-pointers and 28 points summed up Seneca Valley’s first quarter, which just served as an appetizer for the Screaming Eagles’ offensive showcase in an 87-69 win over Paint Branch at home.
“There’s no words for it – indescribable, unbelievable,” senior point guard
Bruce Massey said. “I can’t believe we shot like that in the biggest games of our lives.”
The Eagles (22-3), who earned a second life after coming from 17 points down at halftime against Tuscarora in the region quarterfinals, will play in Thursday’s 3A state semifinal against undefeated Lake Clifton at the Comcast Center.
It’s Seneca Valley’s third state semifinals appearance in program history. The Screaming Eagles also went in 1992 and 2006 but haven’t advanced to the state finals.
Five different Seneca Valley players scored in the double figures.
Goodman led all scorers with 24 points, including five three-pointers and two alley-oop dunks. He chipped in 13 rebounds and seven blocks. The 6-foot-8 sophomore hit three three-pointers and the slam in the first quarter alone.
“The first quarter, I couldn’t miss,” Goodman said. “I couldn’t miss from half court.”
Jon Velez added 13 points and Massey,
Tino Bullock and
Brandon Mayes each notched 12 points.
Seneca Valley, who played zone for the first time all year, built an 18-4 lead to start the quarter -- capped off by a second Velez three-pointer -- and led 28-18 at the end of the first quarter.
It didn’t stop there. Seneca Valley scored the first 10 points of the first quarter to take a 38-18 lead and Goodman connected on a second alley-oop midway through the quarter.
Gary Twyman hit a layup just before the end buzzer sounded at half to put make the score 50-32 at the half.
“I’m not going to lie to you,” Goodman said. “Yeah, I was surprised.”
“It’s just like hitting, it’s contagious,”
Seneca Valley Coach Tom Sheahin added. "This team is weird in that my 6-8 should-be center is my best three-point shooter and my point guard is my best post player."
Paint Branch (20-4) didn’t go down without a fight. The Panthers clawed back to just six points behind on a
Cody Burns (20 points) jumper to start the fourth quarter.
Ed Hall was also a force to be reckoned with inside for the Panthers, scoring 20 points as well.
Seneca Valley answered with a 10-0 run, capped by another Velez three-pointer, that essentially put the game away.
“I’ve seen it in practice but this is the first time in 25 games that we’ve put together a complete game,” Sheahin said after cutting the nets down.