SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) — The Susquehanna University men’s and women’s basketball teams got exactly what they wanted when they returned to action last week after month-long layoffs, as each gathered momentum with wins heading back into MAC Commonwealth Conference play this week.
The Crusader men are playing not only their best basketball thus far this season, but possibly some of their best in years under 11th-year head coach Frank Marcinek (154-110, .583) — the program’s most successful coach. The team is now on a season best four-game win streak after winning all three games last week, including two against nationally-ranked opponents. Susquehanna ended a six-game losing streak to Franklin & Marshall, which is ranked fourth by Columbus Multimedia and seventh by D3hoops.com, with a 91-75 home win Thursday, and then won the King’s Ramada Plaza/Hotel Classic Sunday with a 94-84 win over the host Monarchs — who were also receiving votes in the D3hoops.com poll.
Now 8-3 overall, the Crusaders will try and improve upon their 2-1 record and fourth-place standing in the MAC Commonwealth Conference this week, as they play at defending champion and current co-leader Lebanon Valley (7-4, 3-0 MAC CC) Wednesday at 8 p.m., and then host last season’s runner-up Elizabethtown (4-6, 0-3 MAC CC) in a 3 p.m. Community Day contest.Sixth-year Lebanon Valley coach Brad McAlester (103-45, .696) has his team contending again, despite graduating three-time league MVP Andy Panko.
The Susquehanna women’s basketball team had its best performance Saturday since losing star senior center and tri-captain Karyn Kern (26.2 ppg, 13.2 rpg) (Brodheadsville/Pleasant Valley H.S.) with a season-ending knee injury November 30, as it routed homestanding and 8-3 Gettysburg (68-49) in the consolation game of the Gettysburg Days Inn Tournament. That win was just what 13th-year head coach Mark Hribar was seeking after a lackluster loss (50-62) to eventual champion and Division II Wheeling Jesuit in Friday’s opening round. It also ended a two-game losing streak, making the team 2-3 since the Kern injury.
Now 7-3 overall, 2-1 and tied for second in the MAC Commonwealth Conference, Susquehanna faces a pivotal week in its quest to extend its streak of 10-straight MAC playoff appearances. The Crusaders will face teams with nearly identical records this week as they play at Lebanon Valley (7-3, 1-2 MAC CC) Wednesday at 6 p.m., and then host Elizabethtown (7-2, 2-1 MAC CC) in Saturday’s 1 p.m. Community Day game. The storied Elizabethtown program of legendary 30th-year head coach Yvonne Kauffman (536-169, .760) became the first women’s basketball program to win 800 games last season, and has also won the MAC Commonwealth title in all six seasons since it was founded. The Blue Jays have won four-straight games against Susquehanna, scoring a tight 67-61 decision in Selinsgrove in their last meeting last January 30.
The Crusader basketball teams will offer free admission for Saturday’s big Elizabethtown Community Day doubleheader as they hope to express their appreciation to area fans for their continuing support.
THE MEN’S REPORT
Senior guard and co-captain Rob Makarewicz (Sugarloaf/Hazleton Area H.S.) led last week’s three-game sweep as he averaged 19.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game — shooting 54.1 percent from the field (20 of 37) and 87.5 percent from the free throw line (14 of 16). Makarewicz was the tournament Most Valuable Player at King’s as he averaged 19.5
points in those two wins — hitting the shot which gave Susquehanna its first lead of the game with :30 left in a 71-68 come-from-behind first-round win over Kean Saturday, and then scoring a game high 27 on 11 of 13 shooting from the field and a 4 for 5 day from the line in Sunday’s championship game win. He also had 18 in the F&M upset, going 9 of 10 from the line. The team scoring leader (16.5 ppg), Makarewicz is now fourth in the MAC Commonwealth Conference in scoring — also leading it in free throw percentage (88.4%, 38 of 43) and tying for third in three-point field goals per game (2.1; 23 of 59, 39.0%).
Sophomore small forward Corey Green (Roselle, N.J./Roselle Catholic H.S.) also joined Makarewicz on the King’s All-Tournament Team, and was as instrumental in the F&M win. Green scored a career high 26 points in Sunday’s championship game win — connecting on his first three-pointers of the season and then going on to finish with a career high 5 of 8. Green had 22 points and was 5 of 6 from three-point range in the first half as Susquehanna blew open a 54-39 halftime lead. He had a similar night vs. F&M, leading both teams with 14 points in the first half as Susquehanna took a 37-28 lead at the half. Green went on to finish with 18 points and a game high nine rebounds. He is now second on the team in both scoring (10.3 ppg) and rebounding (7.5 per game).
Junior power forward Brad Rausch (9.9 ppg) (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South H.S.)
had a career high 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds with three assists in the F&M upset. He also contributed a double-double in Sunday’s title game, scoring 12 points while pulling down a team best 10 rebounds. Rausch is the MAC Commonwealth rebounding leader (8.6 per game), and also tops the team in field goal percentage (51.2%, 42 of 82).
Senior shooting guard and co-captain Garrett Thompson (7.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg) (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin East H.S.) is the team’s defensive leader who helped to shut down F&M scoring leader Jerome Maiatico, holding him to just nine points, while containing King’s standout junior guard Corey Dickerson. While he’s known for his defense, Thompson came up with a team high 15 points on 7 for 8 shooting in Saturday’s tough win over Kean.
Junior guard John Green (9.1 ppg) (Reading/Governor Mifflin H.S.) also came off the bench to score 15 in the Kean win, giving him six-straight games in double figures before having the streak snapped Sunday — coming up just one point short. Green is the team leader in assists and ranks fifth in the conference (2.7 per game), and has teamed up with fellow junior guard Mike Witcoskie (10. 2 ppg) (Annville/Palmyra H.S.) to form the squad’s backcourt “Dynamic Duo” off the bench. Witcoskie is second in the Commonwealth Conference in both three-pointers per game (2.2) and three-point percentage (24 of 51, 47.1%).
THE WOMEN’S REPORT
Sophomore small forward Amy Harrington (Danville/Danville H.S.) may be emerging as the team’s “go-to” player offensively, as she earned All-Tournament Team honors at Gettysburg while be the game’s leading scorer both days — averaging 20.0 points. Harrington scored a career high 24 in Saturday’s win, knocking down three treys and 5 of 7 free throws. She now leads the team in scoring (14.5 ppg) and ranks third in the MAC Commonwealth Conference. She also leads the team in three-pointers made (14 of 51, 27.5%) and is second in free throw percentage (78.7%, 37 of 47) — ranking fifth in conference foul shooting.
Senior two-guard and tri-captain Lisa Stack (8.9 ppg) (Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West H.S.) joined Harrington on the All-Tournament Team last weekend as she also scored a career high 19 vs Gettysburg, hitting a career best 4 of 7 treys. Stack averaged 13.5 points in the two tourney games. She is the team leader in three-point percentage (37.0%, 10 of 27), ranking fifth in the conference, and among the top free throw shooters (77.8%, 21 of 27).
Fellow junior tri-captain and 6-1 center Leslie Clementoni (Hughesville/Hughesville H.S.) has played very well since taking over for Kern, now scoring in double figures in eight-straight games — with double-doubles in two of them. Clementoni averaged 12.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in last weekend’s games. She leads the active players in rebounding (7.6 per game), ranking fifth in the conference, and is second in scoring (10.8 ppg).
The team got a real boost inside last weekend with the return of 6-0 junior Mandy Horner (7.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg) (Spring Mills/Penns Valley Area H.S.) to the starting power forward spot. Horner returned to action for the first time since suffering cartilage damage in her left foot on November 26 and averaged 6.0 points and 4.5 rebounds for the weekend.
Junior point guard Susan Trella (5.0 ppg) (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) rounds out the starting five and is the MAC Commonwealth assist leader (5.3 per game).
