CLARION — Although their loyal fans will be thirsty for more
heroics, it’s all over for the Bradford High Owls’ senior
six-pack.
The sextet of Matthew White, Michael White, Ryan Mackey, Evan
Kline, Pug Fuhrman and Jimmy Grove enjoyed one shining moment after
another in their own version of March Madness, but Tuesday’s 63-42
loss to West Mifflin in the second round of the PIAA Class AAA boys
basketball playoffs can be blamed on two glaring discrepancies —
rebounding and field goal percentage.
West Mifflin’s C.J. Hester registered 26 rebounds as the taller,
aptly-named Titans grabbed 17 offensive boards in outrebounding the
Owls 50-21 on the night.
“We gave up too many rebounds,” said Dave Fuhrman, Bradford’s
20th-year (340-171) head coach. “There’s no substitute for size and
athleticism. I can’t put another 25 or 30 pounds on our guys and
stretch them out another five or six inches.”
The fourth seed from District 7 (16-8) also outshot the Owls
from the field 49 percent (25-for-51) to 27 percent
(14-for-52).
“We couldn’t score,” coach Fuhrman admitted. “We got some good
looks, but we didn’t shoot it well.”
Following four lead changes and two ties, Bradford’s 12-11 lead
at the end of the quarter seemed somewhat precarious as the
District 9 champs had relinquished nine offensive rebounds in the
period.
“They (Titans) were killing us on the boards,” coach Fuhrman
recalled. “They got a lot of rebounds even when we had inside
position. They went right over the top of us because they were
bigger and stronger.”
The Owls extended their advantage to 17-11 on a bucket by
Matthew White and a three-pointer from the top of the key by Pug
Fuhrman just 31 seconds into the second stanza.
After the Titans had tied the affair at 17-all with three
baskets in the paint, Bradford took its last lead of the contest
when a Mackey-assisted layup by Matthew White made it 19-17 with
5:11 left in the half.
Situated next to Kennywood amusement park, West Mifflin High’s
rollercoaster ride was all downhill from there as the Titans went
on a 7-0 run to open a 24-19 margin at the 3:02 juncture.
“They (Titans) were getting it inside pretty easily,” coach
Fuhrman lamented. “You have a horse like Cobbs (Leondra) who sits
down on the blocks and we were late on our post doubles.”
Bradford momentarily cut its deficit to 24-23 on two free throws
by Cody Faucher with 2:04 showing, but the Titans once again
utilized their inside prowess for a 32-23 bulge with eight seconds
remaining.
Pug Fuhrman then converted a pair from the charity stripe with
half of a second left, but a 70-foot prayer by Mifflin’s Lonzell
Coles was answered for a 35-25 lead at the intermission.
“We were right with them (Titans) in the middle of the second
quarter,” coach Fuhrman noted. “We went through a scoring drought
and we were stuck on 19 for the longest time. Then their kid
(Coles) throws in the three-quarter court bank shot to take it from
single digits to 10 points.”
Following the break, West Mifflin’s advantage mushroomed to
43-26, and then a trifecta from the left wing by Charles
Thompson-Lawson gave the Titans a 50-31 cushion after three.
Any aspirations of a Bradford comeback quickly dissipated with
consecutive bombs by Robert Dillard and Thompson-Lawson to commence
the final quarter.
“We did a better job in the second half on the boards,” coach
Fuhrman stated. “But we still couldn’t shoot it because of their
(Titans’) athleticism. In the second half we had to play more man,
and we were chasing a little bit and they hit some spot-up threes.
They are a good team and there are four teams from their league
still playing tonight.”
Then with 1:28 left, coach Fuhrman gave his upperclassmen their
final curtain call to a standing ovation from the Bradford
partisans.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever had a group improve so much since
their junior high days,” coach Fuhrman said of his seniors. “They
are the guys who stayed with it and worked at it, and it was great
to see them rewarded with a great season. What made it more special
is to have my son (Pug) playing for me.. Sometimes I lose sight of
that and get on him a little bit, but I’m a dad too.”
After ripping through District 9 like a Category Five hurricane,
the Owls finally saw their 18-game winning streak and one of the
finest seasons in school history come to a halt.
“I’m so proud of this team,” coach Fuhrman concluded. “If you
would have told me before the season we would be 22-3, go
undefeated (12-0) in the league, win a district championship and
win a state playoff game — I’ll take that right now.”
