Season ends for Penn College basketball teams
The Pennsylvania College of Technology men’s and women’s basketball and wrestling teams closed out their seasons last week.
In basketball on Saturday at Bryn Athyn the women won, 72-64, to complete a 13-12 overall season, 12-8 in the North Eastern Athletic Conference; and the men lost, 74-71, to end 3-22 overall and 2-16 in the NEAC.
In wrestling last Sunday, six Penn College grapplers placed among the top six in their respective weight classes at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Invitational at Penn State’s Rec Hall.
Women’s basketball
On the road last Sunday at Keuka College, the Wildcats built a 29-18 halftime lead and held on for a 48-44 win. Alicia Ross, of Williamsport, led the way with 16 points and Danielle Mowery, of Shamokin, scored 10. Charese Bova, of Beech Creek, ended with 15 rebounds and Jamie Steer, of South Williamsport, hauled in 11 caroms as Penn College took sole possession of fourth place in the NEAC with its win and a St. Elizabeth loss.
At home with Lancaster Bible College on Tuesday, the visitors bolted to a 45-28 halftime lead en route to an 81-59 win. Bova led Penn College with 17 points while Ross added 15 and Steer 10. The Wildcats were outscored in the paint, 44-28.
Facing second-place Penn State Abington on the road on Friday, Steer hit two free throws with six seconds left to lift the Wildcats to a 71-70 win after they trailed by 18 points in the first half. Six Penn College players scored in double figures as Steer finished with 16 points, Hannah Schoenly, of Hamburg, had 12 and Bova, Mowery, Ross and Anna-Marie Raybuck, of Mount Carmel, each finished with 10. Bova also had 10 rebounds.
“We really played like a team. We were down early and we only have seven players now and they played their hearts out. It was the best game we have played all year,” Wildcats’ coach Matt Wilt said. “It was the biggest win in my five years (as coach). The effort and heart that those seven girls played with was unbelievable.”
On Saturday, after several ties and six lead changes, the Wildcats pulled away for their win. Ross led the Penn College offense with 21 points and she was followed by Mowery with 15 points, Bova with 14 and Raybuck with 10.
Lancaster Bible College won the South Division with an 18-2 record and was followed by PSU Abington at 16-4, Gallaudet at 13-7, Penn College 12-8, St. Elizabeth 11-9, Bryn Athyn, 6-14; PSU Berks 3-17 and Wilson College 0-20. SUNYIT won the North Division with a 16-2 mark.
Men’s basketball
On last Sunday at Keuka College, Penn College fell behind by 20 points at the half and went on to lose, 89-54. Bryce Lonsway, of Tiffin, Ohio, topped Penn College scorers with 17 points and Stephen Alford, of Philadelphia, added 12 points.
Hosting Lancaster Bible College on Tuesday, the Wildcats played tough throughout in a 75-62 loss. Kevin Laurence-El, of Milton, led the Penn College offense with 13 points and Lonsway added 11 points. The Wildcats were outscored in the paint, 38-16.
Despite a strong second half during which it shot 54 percent from the field and connected on 7 of 12 3-point goals, Penn College dropped a 94-75 decision at Penn State Abington on Friday. Joe Mangiero, of Staten Island, New York, led Penn College scorers with 12 points and Alford scored 10.
In Saturday’s season finale, Alford scored 14 points while Ross and Marquis Delgado, of Mansfield, both added 12 points. Bryn Athyn won the game on a buzzer-beating 3-point shot.
“The game was emblematic of the rest of our season. The kid made a 3-pointer and teams have just shot lights-out on us from the 3-point line all year long,” said Wildcats’ coach Chris Lemasters.
After three seasons, Lemasters said he is leaving the college to take a position as director of residence life at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia, but he is proud “of how hard they worked for me.
“It would have been easy with the record that we had, knowing that I was leaving, for the guys to be selfish and focus on themselves and not stay together as a team, but I think our tough battle today, and in some of the other games over the course of the year, really shows that if this team sticks together and we get to a point where we have a group that stays together for three or four years, then they have a chance to have some success in this conference.”
Lancaster Bible won the NEAC Southern Division with a 17-1 record, followed by Gallaudet at 14-4, PSU Abington 8-10, and PSU Berks 7-11, Bryn Athyn at 6-12 and Penn College and Wilson College both at 2-16. SUNY Cobleskill won the North Division with a 13-4 record.
Wrestling
Kyle Sunseri, of Athens, in the 141-pound weight class, and Troy Leid, of Terre Hill, at 165, both finished fourth. Sunseri ended the day with three wins and two losses, including a win by fall, while Leid went 2-2. Mason Replogle, of New Enterprise, went 3-2 with a fall at 149 and finished fifth, while Aaron Doll, of Glen Rock, at 125; Slade Storm, of New Oxford, at 149; and Brandon Stover, of Oil City, at 197, all placed sixth. Doll and Stover both were 1-2 with falls and Storm was 2-3 with a fall.
Also for Penn College, Zach Fitzsimmons, of Portville, went 1-2 at 149; Dan Frankenfield, of Dushore, went 2-2 at 174; and Connor Route, of Canton, went 0-2 at 184.
“We were looking to do better with the tournament. We had a lot of close matches that we definitely could have won,” said Wildcats’ coach Schuyler Frey. “It wasn’t out of a lack of effort, but it just didn’t work out for us.
“The one thing I will remember about that tournament is that it was Kyle Sunseri’s last match after being with me for four years. I will miss him.
“As far as the season goes, it was a good learning experience. We weren’t as successful as I thought we would be but our hope for next year is that we will have more guys on the team,” Frey added.
PENN COLLEGE SCHEDULES/RECORDS
Men’s basketball
Final overall record: 3-22
Final NEAC record: 2-16
Sunday, Feb. 15 –at Keuka College, L, 89-54
Tuesday, Feb. 17 – host Lancaster Bible College, L, 75-62
Friday, Feb. 20 – at Penn State Abington, L, 94-75
Saturday, Feb. 21 – at Bryn Athyn, L, 74-73
(End of season)
Women’s basketball
Final overall record: 13-12
Final NEAC record: 12-8
Sunday, Feb. 15 – at Keuka College, W, 48-44
Tuesday, Feb. 17 – host Lancaster Bible College, L, 81-59
Friday, Feb. 20 – at Penn State Abington, W, 71-70
Saturday, Feb. 21 – at Bryn Athyn, W, 72-64
(End of season)
Wrestling
Final overall dual record: 2-11
Sunday, Feb. 15 – USCAA National Invitational at Penn State’s Rec Hall, six wrestlers finished among top six in their respective weight classes
(End of season)
Archery
Saturday–Sunday, March 13-15 – U.S. Indoor Nationals at Harrisonburg, Virginia