PERRYOPOLIS - Some games are just a little more intense than others.
Although Wednesday night's non-section boys basketball game between Frazier and Geibel had no playoff implications or impact on the standings, the game was just as hot and heated as ever as the two rivals went nose-to-nose before the visiting Gators came away with a 67-55 win.
"Every win is a good win, but this one is always good because of the rivalry," Geibel coach Ken Misiak said. "It's the type of atmosphere you want to be in."
The teams were pretty evenly matched in the first half. Geibel's Jordan White knocked down five of his 25 points in the first quarter while Zack Leonard chipped in four of his 12. Meanwhile, Frazier's Riley Tidholm scored four of his 11 as did Mark Matras. And after one, the Gators held a precarious 16-15 edge.
In the second quarter, the Gators were able to extend their lead just a tad as Chris Cox buried six of his 11 points while White and Leonard each added four more. But Frazier stayed within striking distance as Scott Knight knocked down four foul shots and Tidholm added an additional five.
And at the half, the Gators were in front 35-27.
In the second half, the Commodores came unraveled offensively as they couldn't get hardly any shots to fall.
After Matras pulled the team to within 35-32 with five straight points to start the frame, things went downhill for the Commodores. Frazier lost its scoring touch, and Geibel's Jordan White found his.
In the third, White scored nine points, including a three-pointer. He rolled one in to make it 46-36 before Leonard hit a jumper to put Geibel up by a dozen. The Gators eventually finished with a 10-0 run that put them up 50-36.
"I told Jordan to be more patient and the shots will fall," Misiak said. "Leonard did a real good job off the bench and we did a good job on the boards. I think once we got a double figure lead, it sort of took the adrenaline out of them."
Geibel also did an excellent job of guarding 1,000-point scorer Adam Souply. The Frazier star was held to just nine points on the night.
"We wanted to know where Souply was at all times," Misiak said. "Defensively, I was pleased."
The Commodores continued to struggle as they headed into the fourth quarter trailing 53-38.
"I'm real disappointed with our effort and intensity in this game," Frazier coach P.J. Malloy said. "They pressured us, but it was nothing we haven't seen before. We turned the ball over.
"The third quarter has been our heel all year," Malloy continued. "We go cold on our shots and our defense just stands around."
Frazier did try to mount a charge in the fourth as Buck Erdely drained a pair of treys to give the Commodores a breath of life down the stretch.
"We need to play with that type of intensity for four quarters and we haven't been able to do it," Malloy said.
But the Commodores got into a situation where they were forced to foul. And Geibel hit the foul shots that they needed in order to seal the win.
"Give Geibel credit," Malloy said. "They came in here and took it to us."
The Gators (11-4) won't have any time to rest as they host Beth-Center this evening. The Commodores (5-16) will break until Friday when they travel to Duquesne.
