Altoona, PA- The Redhawks (1-4) traveled to the Penn State-Altoona Lions (5-1, 1-0 AMCC) to compete for La Roche's first conference win.
Starting for LRU was Kadyn Hannah (Murrysville, PA), Devon Darrell (Lockport, NY), Isaiah Thomas (Ambridge, PA), Joe Pipilo (Bridgeville, PA), and Michael Brooks (Grove City, PA).
The Lions started PJ Charles (Altoona, PA), Andruw Harman (Chesapeake, VA), Varun Ajjarapu (Tampa, FL), Robbie Hicks (Rockledge, FL), and Alex McClellan (York, PA).
First Half
Joe Pipilo wins the tip for the Redhawks, he tips it to Darrell.
Robbie Hicks however, is the first to score for either team, he hits a three earning the Lions an early lead.
Hannah answers for the Redhawks with a layup in traffic.
Y'shua Bragg enters the game and has his first block of a game with a block against Hannah.
Pipilo hits a three point shot from the inbound play. The Lions and Redhawks were now tied 5-5.
Hannah drives the baseline and is fouled in the act of shooting, he goes to the line to shoot two. He goes 1-2 at the line.
Desmond Ross ties it up once again for the Redhawks (8-8) with a put-back jumper.
Hicks hits his second three of the night and puts the Lions up by three (11-8).
Jordan Grayson enters the contest and gets a tip-in layup to fall for him, putting the Redhawks back within one.
Joe Starzynski also makes an entrance, and gives a fake; moves around his defender, and hits a wide open field goal.
Coach Carmichael for La Roche decides to call his first timeout of the game.
Hicks goes to the line, as he was bumped on his way to the basket. He goes one for two, tying the game back up at 12-12, 13:05 remaining in the half.
Hannah goes hard in the paint and is fouled in the act of shooting, but makes the layup and converts to a three point play chance, which he completes (15-12).
Brooks adds points of his own for the Redhawks, and hits a two point field goal that kisses the backboard; extending the lead to 17-12.
Staryznski has a big put back after a missed shot by Grayson, increasing the score for LRU to (19-12).
Pipilo follows suit by hitting a three point shot the next possession and Coach McGreal calls his first timeout of the night (11:42). Redhawks up by 10 (22-12).
Grayson has another put back and increases the lead for La Roche (24-14).
Pipilo adds another two, extending the lead to 12 (26-14, La Roche).
Harom gets a wrap-around pass from Bragg, and he decreases La Roche's score by two (26-16, LRU).
McClellan follows the missed layup down the court and he's followed and given the opportunity for a three point play. He completes it, decreasing the Redhawk lead to 9.
Brooks shoots an elbow jumpshot and connects, assisted by Darrell (28-19, LRU).
Bragg goes up in the paint with his left hand and gets the layup to fall. He was assisted by Casey Parkins (28-21).
Ajjarapu hits a jumper and he puts the Lions back within five (28-23, LRU).
Harom takes a eurostep in traffic, he makes the basket, and is fouled on the way up. Another three point play opportunity for the Lions. Harmon is unable to complete the three point play, but still puts the Lions back within three.
Isaiah Thomas hits a field goal from foul line range putting five points, putting five points between La Roche and Penn State-Altoona (30-25).
Bragg gets his own three point opportunity and completes it (30-28, LRU).
Thomas is stripped by Saivon Word. Word takes it down the court and collects a fast break layup, tying the game 30-30 with 6:15 remaining in the first half.
Thomas gets passed the ball underneath the hoop from Grayson. Thomas finishes for two (32-30, LRU).
Dominic Frucella hits a three point shot of the Lions, making the score 33-32, the Lions back in the lead by one point.
Brooks puts up three for La Roche to take back the lead (35-33, LRU).
Word is fouled on the way up and he heads to the line for the Lions, but misses both.
Brooks goes to his side of the court and hits another three point shot, assisted by Pipilo, (38-35) Redhawks ahead by three.
Harman goes to the line after his layup was contested. He goes one for two at the line (38-36).
Grayson hits a three point shot of his own, increasing the lead for LRU by five points (41-36).
Connor Mislan fouls Gradner from behind. Gardner goes to the line to shoot two for the Lions. He goes one for two at the line, putting the Lions within four (41-37).
Pipilo gets the putback jumper to fall and the Redhawks increase their lead.
At the end of the half the score is 43-37.
Second Half
Thomas for the Redhawks gets a hookshot to fall for him to open the second half (45-37, PSA).
Brooks steps up to take a charge and it goes his way, the Redhawks get the ball back.
Coach Carmichael is called for a technical foul (17:27).
McClellan takes the two technical free throws and connects on both (45-41, LRU).
Ajjarapu, out of the technical possession, puts up a layup that falls his way, and just like that the Lions are back within two (45-43).
Darrell takes it to the hoop in traffic, and is able to get one to roll his way. He increased the lead for LRU by four (47-43).
Ajjarapu deploys a three in the deep corner and brings PSA back within one point (47-46).
After a big block from Harman, Darrell fouls him down at the other end of the court. Harman hits both, taking a one point lead over La Roche (48-47, PSA).
Hicks capitalizes on this lead and goes end to end and adds a layup of his own (50-47, PSA).
Darrell gets the Redhawks back on the board with a spin move layup; Redhawks within one.
Ajjarapu made the fast break down the court, after a turnover by LRU, PSA increased their lead by four.
Thomas for the Redhawks helps out and gets two points in the paint, but Jarrett Gardner for the Lions answers with two in the paint for himself (54-51, PSA).
Mason Bush is fouled and he goes to the line for two. He missed the first, but hit the second (55-51).
Frucella hits a three point right at the apex of the line. He increased the score for the Lions to 58-51.
Kaydn Hannah takes a technical foul (9:06). Hannah took a personal foul directly before he was called for the technical, and with both fouls called, he was disqualified from the game with five fouls.
Coach McGreal has Ajjuarpu shoot the two free throws and he'll connect on both.
Word stops up to the line next for the Lions as he was who Kaydn Hannah originally fouled. The score now 62-53, in favor of the Lions.
Unfortunately for the Redhawks, this is their downfall.
La Roche fights hard through the end, but are not able to come back to be within less than points.
Penn State-Altoona will take home the victory 88-72
These two teams will not match up again until the end of the season on February 2, 2022.
Final Thoughts
The leading scorer, and leading rebounder, for the Lions was Andruw Harman with 19 points, and 13 rebounds giving him a double-double in this game. He also contributed three assists, two blocks, and one steal.
Tied for 15 points each was Alex McClellan, and Saivon Word.
The final player for Penn State-Altoona to hit double digit points was Varun Ajjarapu with 11 points.
Isaiah Thomas was the highest scorer tonight for the Redhawks. Thomas had 15 points, accompanied by three rebounds, and one block.
The leading rebounder, and the next highest in points at the end of the game for LRU was Jordan Grayson. Grayson had a double-double of his own 13 points, and 14 rebounds.
Tied for 10 points each was Joe Pipilo, and Michael Brooks.
What's Next
The Redhawks head to their second conference contest of the season on Saturday, December 4th at Bradford, PA. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 P.M.