High School Sports

Bristol tops JFK to advance

BRISTOLVILLE -- Gage Elza's offensive production wasn't what he normally has for the Bristol Panthers. John F. Kennedy's intense defensive hounding had something to do with that result.

But the Bristol senior guard helped solidify the Panthers' 50-44 victory Friday over the Eagles in a Division IV sectional bracket final in front of a capacity crowd at Bristol High School. The second-seeded Panthers face the winner of tonight's Andrews Osborne vs. Mathews game in Tuesday's district semifinal.

Elza went 5-of-6 from the foul line as Kennedy (7-16) was forced to foul Bristol players in the final two minutes to get back in this game, something the Panther senior didn't do earlier this season.

"After the one game beginning of the year I went 1-for-6 or something," said Elza, who finished with 12 points. "I spent a lot of time working on my free throws this year because I thought I'd be at the free-throw line a lot."

Bristol (19-4) started the fourth quarter with a 7-2 run to take a 41-35 lead on Matt Stephens' 3-pointer. He finished with 12 points.

Kennedy senior Gianni Eaton drove and tried to will the Eagles to a comeback as the Bristol lead was cut to 41-37 with 2:42 remaining. Eaton, who had a game-high 23 points, made his fifth and final 3 with 56.4 seconds left as JFK trailed, 46-41.

"Gianni kept everybody under control today," JFK coach Mark Komlanc said. "I was proud of how he handled himself in regards to a couple of calls here or there."

Kennedy's Josiah Hayes made a last-second lay-up to end the third quarter as Bristol led 34-33. It was the Eagles who led 23-22 at halftime, but that's the last time JFK held an advantage.

Bristol overcame 16 first-half turnovers and a subpar first eight minutes of play as the Panthers went on a 12-2 run capped by Elza's drive with 1:35 left in the third quarter. Bristol only committed six miscues in the second half.

Bristol coach Craig Giesy admitted his team didn't not play well, but was happy the Panthers found a way to turn things around in the final 16 minutes.

"There are games that playing like that in the first quarter would've put us down the rest of the game," Giesy said. "I thought we did a good job communicating, figuring things out, staying in the moment, even though we weren't playing great tonight."

The Kennedy players soaked in the atmosphere in Bristolville, knowing their team was a decisive underdog against a team ranked sixth in the state in Division IV. The Eagles rolled out to a 15-3 lead on Marcus Aulizia's 3-pointer with 2:34 remaining.

"I told them we're playing with house money," Komlanc said. "Coach Giesy does a wonderful job. They won because of the buy-in and grit. Most teams would've folded."

Cameron Hollobaugh definitely did not fold in this game as the JFK sophomore had eight points, but ended up fighting through his own pain.

Komlanc said Hollobaugh hurt his wrist on a loose ball, but did not say anything. Hollobaugh was so instrumental in everything this Eagles team has done all season.

"I wish I could've got him a break, but we can't afford to take him out of the game because he's so valuable with everything he does," Komlanc said. "I told him make sure he remembers this feeling. Even though everybody ends this way with the exception of four teams in the state, it sucks. It sucks for the seniors."

Neither team wanted to give way on 50-50 balls, which made it so intense for the three officials on the floor - all profusely sweating inside that humid confines of the Bristol gym.

"Talk about great atmosphere and two teams with guys flying all over the place," Komlanc said. "I'd play this game every single day. It's unbelievable."

Bristol is back in the atmosphere of Grand Valley High School on Tuesday for another district semifinal. There's no way the Panthers should start that game like it did Friday against JFK.

"That's not the first time we've been down," Elza said. "We're used to coming back in the game, even though, obviously, we would not like to do that. I thought my teammates did a good job keeping collected and keeping the win."