SELINSGROVE, Pa. — The Susquehanna University men’s and women’s basketball teams have almost the same records and are in nearly the same position for the Middle Atlantic Conference playoffs as they begin the final month of their respective seasons Tuesday, hosting a MAC Commonwealth Conference doubleheader with Moravian. The women are scheduled for a 6 p.m. start, with the men set for 8.
Each team will also play a big non-conference doubleheader Saturday at arch-rival Lycoming, once again with games at 6 and 8 p.m. respectively.
The Crusader men began last week on a high note, rallying to beat one of the MAC Freedom leaders Scranton (73-65) Monday, and then getting ranked fourth in the latest NCAA Division III Middle Atlantic Region rankings on Tuesday. But since then, it’s all been downhill for 11th-year head coach Frank Marcinek and his team — losing starting center and 6-8 freshman Zigmas Kaknevicius (Lithuania/Long Island Lutheran H.S.) for the remainder of the season with a dislocated left shoulder, and then dropping back-to-back MAC Commonwealth heartbreakers at Messiah (75-84, OT) and Widener (73-77). In all three games last week, the Crusaders rallied from double-digit second half deficits. After fighting back from 12 points down to take their first lead of the game with 1:35 left at Messiah, they were sent into the extra period on a buzzer-beating jumper by junior guard Zach Yoder — and then were outscored 14-5 in the overtime. Widener was ranked third in last week’s regional rankings and also built up as much as a 12-point second half lead, only to see Susquehanna storm back to tie it with 2:18 left before a big Pioneer three-pointer and some clutch foul shooting allowed the home team to prevail.
The losses left the Crusaders now 12-6 overall, 5-4 and tied with Lebanon Valley for third in the MAC Commonwealth Conference entering Tuesday’s game with Moravian (7-10, 3-6 MAC CC). Twentienth-year Moravian head coach Jim Walker just got his 275th win (275-222, .553) Saturday with his team’s 57-55 victory at Juniata, and is hoping his team can avenge a 71-52 loss to the Crusaders on December 8 in tomorrow’s game.
Lycoming (13-5) saw its five-game win streak come to an end Saturday at Allentown (64-71), but is still tied for second in the MAC Freedom Conference for sixth-year head coach Joe Bressi (94-49, .657). Susquehanna is 4-2 vs. Lycoming under Bressi, although the home team has won every game.
The Crusader women are 11-6 overall, also 5-4 and tied with Lebanon Valley for fourth in the MAC Commonwealth Conference under 13th-year head coach Mark Hribar — the winningest basketball coach in Susquehanna history at 210-110 (.656). They kept alive their hopes of an 11th-straight MAC playoff appearance as they rallied from a 16-point first half deficit for an 82-73 win at Widener last Saturday.
Hribar would love to see his team win both its games this week to secure the program’s 12th-straight winning season. They will be heavily favored Tuesday against Moravian (3-14, 0-9 MAC CC), which dropped a 78-68 decision to the Crusaders in Bethlehem on December 8 and is having its worst year ever under 13th-year head coach Mary Beth Spirk (242-104, .699).
Lycoming is hoping to end a two-game losing streak Monday vs. Penn State-Altoona, and entered that game 11-5 for seventh-year coach Christen Ditzler (101-65, .608).
THE MEN’S REPORT
Senior two-guard and co-captain Garrett Thompson (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin East H.S.) is the team’s WQSU-FM Crusader Men’s Basketball Player of the Week as he averaged 11.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game — also topping the team last week with seven assists (2.3 per game) while shooting 83.3 percent (5 of 6) from the free throw line. Thompson’s offensive week included a dramatic steal and ensuing slam dunk to ignite the team in its win over Scranton. Defensively, he continued to bother the opposing team’s top offensive player with his tenacious man-to-man defense. The team’s best defender, Thompson (7.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg) also tops the team in free throw percentage (85.2%, 23 of 27).
Fellow senior guard and co-captain Rob Makarewicz (Sugarloaf/Hazleton Area H.S.) continues to lead the squad in scoring (17.1 ppg) and was the MAC Commonwealth Conference leader in foul shooting last week (now 84.9%, 73 of 86) — only because Thompson has not had enough free throws to qualify for the MAC rankings. Makarewicz also was third in the conference in treys per game (now 1.8/33 of 95), and is fifth in steals (1.7 per game) with a team best 31. Now scoring in double figures in 17-straight games, all but the season opener, Makarewicz averaged a team high 19.7 points per game last week.
Sophomore small forward Corey Green (Roselle, N.J./Roselle Catholic H.S.) snapped out of a minor shooting slump to equal Makarewicz with 17 in Saturday’s loss. Second on the team in both scoring (11.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 per game), Green has now made 14 three-pointers in the last eight contests, after not making one in his first 30 collegiate games.
Six-foot-six sophomore Stephan Schrankel (3.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg) (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel H.S.) has played well in the two games since replacing Kaknevicius (5.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg) as the starting center — averaging 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
Six-foot-five junior power forward Brad Rausch (8.7 ppg) (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South H.S.) rounds out the starting five and continues to be the team leader in rebounding (7.1 per game) — ranking fourth in the conference last week. Rausch came up with his best game of the week Saturday, scoring 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
Off the bench, junior guard John Green (8.9 ppg) (Reading/Governor Mifflin H.S.) and senior forward Adam Ressler (2.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg) (Robesonia/Conrad Weiser H.S.) continue to produce. Green could be the quickest player in the Commonwealth Conference and is the team leader in assists with 43 (2.4 per game). Ressler may be one of its most athletic and has bothered teams in the press — making 11 steals in the games vs. Scranton and Messiah.
THE WOMEN’S REPORT
Six-foot-one junior center and tri-captain Leslie Clementoni (Hughesville/Hughesville H.S.) is the team’s WQSU-FM Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks — and for good reason. Clementoni bettered her career scoring best in each game last week, netting 24 at Messiah and 29 at Widener, as she averaged 26.5 points and 10.0 rebounds — shooting 64.7 (22 of 34) percent from the field and 75.0 percent (9 of 12) from the line. She also had a team high nine rebounds at Messiah, and a game high 11 at Widener. Clementoni leads the team in rebounding (8.1 per game), field goal percentage (47.4%, 92 of 194) and steals (27/1.6 per game), ranking second in scoring (14.0 ppg). She has now scored in double figures in 15-straight games and is having a breakout year since replacing injured senior center and fellow tri-captain Karyn Kern.
Sophomore small forward Amy Harrington (Danville/Danville H.S.) continues to lead the team in scoring (15.9 ppg) while adding on to her school season record for three-pointers (now 29 of 91, 1.7 per game, 31.9%) — ranking third in the conference in scoring and fifth in three-pointers per game as of last week. Harrington also was just three points shy of beating her career scoring high Saturday at Widener, netting 26. She leads the starters in free throw percentage at 78.7 (70 of 89), tying for third in rebounds (4.8 per game).
Six-foot junior power forward Mandy Horner (7.2 ppg) (Spring Mills/Penns Valley Area H.S.) is tied with Harrington in rebounding (4.8 per game), and had one of her best games since returning from a first semester foot injury on Saturday — going 5 for 7 from the field for 10 points, while grabbing five rebounds.
Senior two-guard and tri-captain Lisa Stack (8.2 ppg) (Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West H.S.) continues to add to the school’s career three-point record with each trey she hits, now at 49 of 142 (34.5%) — including 17 of 49 (34.7%) this season.
Junior point guard Susan Trella (3.6 ppg) (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) rounds out the starters and continues to play good defense while seeking her second-straight 100-assist season, presently with a team best 84 (4.9 per game).
