Basketball doesn’t always make sense and and that’s the beauty in playing the game. Sandy Valley , a team who just lost to Hiland (9-9) and won a nail-biter over lowly Claymont (7-11) vs the Premiere IVC foe Garaway. The Sandy Valley Cardinals upset the Garaway Pirates to make the IVC South a three way tie between Sandy, Garaway, and Indian Valley.
Sandy Valley would make life tough on Garaway as they forced Garaway into multiple turnovers resulting in easy fast break points. Sandy a team who likes to play fast and get the ball into the frontcourt as quick as possible was able to execute on their plan. Sandy led 11-9 after one quarter.
Cardinal’s Jordan Wigfield came up big in the second quarter with two nice stepback three pointers. But it would be the Pirated who controlled the pace in this quarter scoring in a variety of ways. Pirates’ Alexander Roden scored multiple layups including one as the first half expired. Gabe Amicone scored from the post , mid post, and the free throw line as he had a huge game. Garaway up 29-24 at the break.
Sandy Valley would fight back and take a 42-40 lead heading into the final quarter. With the game tied 55-55 Sandy would have the ball and 22 second to go. Sandy would not get a shot off as Garaway’s Jarrett Wallick knocked the ball out of Nick Petro’s hands in the final seconds. Heading to overtime.
Garaway started overtime off with a turnover which Sandy cashed in on a Wigfield jumper. Garaway struggled to finish at the rim as Garber, Roden and Mullet all missed layup to put Garaway ahead. Garaway was down three with 30 seconds to play and Mullet threw a pass which Petro stole and got fouled. He would make one of two from the line for a four point lead. The Pirates try at the buzzer would be unsuccessful giving the Sandy Valley Cardinals a 61-57 OT win and forcing a tie in the IVC South. Sandy improved to 14-5 and Garaway fell to 14-3.
Nick Petro had points and eight rebounds , Jordan Wigfield had 15 points and seven rebounds, and Dantae Faiello had 15 points and four assists to pace the Cardinals balanced scoring attack.
Alexander Roden had 21 points and five rebounds, Gabe Amicone had 12 points and four rebounds, and Logan Yoder finished with 10 points for the Pirates.
Sandy Valley finished out the regular season with Carrollton and Tusky Valley. Garaway closes out with a much tougher schedule having to play Claymont, Fairless and IVC North champs Malvern. Indian Valley finishes with Hiland , Ridgewood, and Carrollton.
With just a couple games left in this regular season it will be a great storyline for who can pull away and win the IVC South.
