SLIPPERY ROCK - Who says the supporting cast can't have some fun, too?

While Ryan King posted his usual numbers, the role players on the Grove City High boys basketball team put up some pretty good numbers as well.

Justin McNamara scored six huge points in the third quarter and Andy Geibel scored seven in the fourth quarter, including the biggest two of the game, as the Eagles beat General McLane 58-57 in the District 10 Class AAA semifinal at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House Monday night.

Trailing by one with less than 20 seconds left, Jordan Fee drove the lane and dished to his left to Geibel, who kissed the ball off the glass and into the hoop to give Grove City the lead for good.

"It was a great drive and dish on Jordan's part," said Grove City coach Don Fee. "It was a big play - something we didn't do earlier in the year."

The Eagles (19-6) did it repeatedly against the Lancers (22-4) Monday, coming up with big play after big play to overcome a sluggish start and to get to the District 10 title game.

And Grove City's deep and productive bench helped to get it there.

The Eagles' reserves scored 21 points while the Lancers' reserves scored just eight. Geibel finished with nine points and McNamara eight.

Grove City used a diamond-and-one defense on General McLane leading scorer Bob Stauffer. On offense, the Eagles pounded the ball inside to take advantage of their superior height and brawn.

"We struggled in the post," said General McLane coach Andy Schultz. "They took advantage of the physical differences. It's no secret we are not a good rebounding team."

The Eagles' Dustin Van Hook, a starter but another in the role-player mold, hounded Stauffer from baseline to baseline and visibly frustrated the Lancers star, who came into the game averaging nearly 17 points per game.

Stauffer missed his first six shots and finished with five points on 1-of-9 shooting.

"I think Dustin Van Hook … wore Stauffer out," Fee said. "For him to only get nine shots is an accomplishment. I think we really sent a message to him that we were not going to let him score."

Fee, though, couldn't stay with the diamond-and-one defense for long because Ben Swank picked up the slack for General McLane. He scored 10 points in the first quarter and helped the Lancers build a 21-12 lead early in the second period.

But Grove City adjusted and went on a 12-2 run to take the lead with two minutes remaining in the half. Neither team led by more than six the rest of the contest.

That set up a dramatic ending that had a little bit of everything.

After Geibel put Grove City up 56-55 with 12 seconds left and was fouled, he missed the free throw, which, after bouncing around in a sea of humanity, went out of bounds underneath the basket.

After some hesitation, Grove City was awarded possession and the Eagles went up 58-55 seconds later after two free throws by King, who finished with 16 points.

General McLane had a golden opportunity when Chris Orr received an inbound pass several feet beyond the 3-point arc and was surrounded by Grove City players intent on fouling him to prevent a game-tying 3-point shot attempt.

But as they engulfed him, Orr went up to shoot, drawing a foul and three free throws.

He made the first one, but missed the second one. He tried to intentionally miss the third attempt, but it went in anyway.

"Chris did everything we told him to do," Schultz said. "We said if you catch the ball, just go up with it and try to draw the foul. It worked.

"I told him to miss the third one, but he banked it in," said Schultz, shrugging.

With less than a second remaining, Jordan Fee was sent to the line, missing his first shot. He missed his second shot intentionally.

"We didn't want them to have a dead ball and be able to throw it down the court," Don Fee said.

Now, Grove City will get a third shot at Franklin, this time for the district title on a day and site to be determined. Franklin beat Erie Strong Vincent 55-50 in overtime in the other semifinal game Monday.

The Eagles lost twice to Franklin already this season.

GENERAL McLANE 57

Jordan Belosh 3-5 0-0 7, Leo Jeska 5-7 1-3 11, Chris Orr 3-4 2-4 8, Ben Swank 9-13 2-2 22, Bob Stauffer 1-9 2-2 5, Drew Astorino 2-6 0-0 4, Shawn Walker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-45 7-11 57

GROVE CITY 58

Ben Husband 3-8 4-4 10, Ryan King 6-13 4-5 16, John Fee 0-2 0-0 0, Jordan Fee 3-7 0-2 6, Dustin Van Hook 2-4 1-4 5, Justin McNamara 4-5 0-0 8, Dan Keil 1-1 0-0 2, Andy Geibel 4-5 1-2 9, Tony Aloisio 0-1 2-2 2. Totals: 23-46 12-19 58

3-point goals:

Belosh, Swank 2, Stauffer

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