Pictured above: Blue Ridge’s Morgan Thomas handles the ball against Elk Lake’s Logan Ayotte. (Tom Robinson Photo)
By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
DIMOCK – When Connor Cranage was not finishing the Blue Ridge fastbreak Wednesday night, he was starting it.
Cranage scored 26 points while also leading the team in rebounds with 8 and steals with 5 as the Raiders captured the title of the Susquehanna County Christmas Tournament with a 74-52 boys basketball victory over host Elk Lake.
“We knew we had to knock down shots and really attack the rim,” Cranage said, “but really it was just about working together and all being on the same page defensively.”
J.J. Rosa added 13 points, 5 assists and 4 steals to join Cranage on the all-tournament team.
They fueled a defense that forced 18 turnovers, 14 on steals that helped get the Raiders out in transition.
“We like playing fast,” Blue Ridge coach Wes Parks said after his team scored 43 second-half points to expand a nine-point lead. “We have a lot of faith and belief in our whole program. We try to play 10 to 12 guys throughout the varsity game in key situations.
“I thought that was a huge advantage to us in the second half. That third and fourth quarter, we had spurts from our bench and from our starters that really helped us gain quite a lead.”
Logan Ayotte and Wyatt Casselbury made the all-tournament team from Elk Lake.
Ayotte scored a team-high 13 points while Isaac Gesford and John Heitsman added 11 each. Casselbury scored 9 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked 7 shots.
Blue Ridge scored the game’s first five points off steals, with Cranage and Carson Gallagher setting each other up, and never trailed.
The Raiders ran off the last seven points of the first half and the first five of the second to open a 36-22 lead. Each of the five baskets came from different players as Cranage scored on a drive, Gallagher hit a corner 3-pointer, sub Dalton Rutter took one of his three steals the length of the floor, Rosa hit a 10-footer and Ryan Scott drained his only 3-point attempt.
Montrose 50, Susquehanna 38
Jack Russell scored 20 points and all-tournament selection Sam Stashko added 12 to lead Montrose to the win in the third-place game.
Susquehanna closed a 24-19 halftime deficit to two points during the third quarter before Montrose pulled away.
J.T. Burke made four 3-pointers while leading Susquehanna with 15 points.
Colton Stone got to the foul line 15 times, making 7 while adding 11 points for the Sabers. He was the team’s all-tournament representative.
Blue Ridge 76, Susquehanna 52
Cranage scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Tuesday’s tournament opener.
Scott added 14 points and Gallagher had 13. Dylan Bradley grabbed 10 rebounds. Rosa dished out 11 assists.
Stone led Susquehanna with 18 points.
Elk Lake 55, Montrose 38
Elk Lake went 20-for-24 from the line on the way to the win in Tuesday’s opening round.
Dawson Sherman led the way with 17 points.
Ayotte made all 8 of his free throws while adding 13 and Gesford had 11.
Stashko was Montrose’s top scorer with 14 points and Alex Warriner added 12.
