UPT rallies to top BC3

By Derek Pyda Eagle Staff Writer

December 04, 2010 Last Updated: December 04, 2010 12:24 PM College

Jordan Taylor of Butler County Community College puts up a shot in front of Pitt-Titusville's John Bobak Friday in the Pioneers' 80-77 loss.

BUTLER TWP — The Butler County Community College men's basketball team's second win of the season seemed within reach.

But Aaron Barton and Joe Baucom got in the way.

The center and guard, respectively, for the University of Pittsburgh-Titusville combined to score 54 points, 30 of them in the second half, in an 80-77 victory Friday night at the BC3 Field House.

In the women's game, Pitt-Titusville prevailed 52-47.

The Pioneers men's team (1-4) led 47-39 at halftime, but Baucom drained a pair of 3-pointers to give the Panthers a 75-71 lead with 2:35 left in the game.

BC3 took the lead briefly on a conventional three-point play from Jordan Taylor, but Barton's field goal on a pass from Union High graduate Scott Booth put Pitt-Titusville (2-8) up for good at 77-76.

“We simply had no answer for their big guy inside (Barton),” said Pioneers assistant coach Mike Mattis. “They just kept feeding him the ball. And (Baucom) hit some clutch 3-pointers for them.”

Booth also played well, scoring 13 points, including nine in the second half.

“Scott is doing a good job of handling the pressure and not turning the ball over,” said Pitt-Titusville coach Eric O'Polka. “His confidence is up.”

BC3 hurt itself with 12 turnovers in the second half, but the team did receive 20 points from Taylor, 19 from Stephen Carter, 17 from Antawane Davis and 10 from Butler High product Blake Anderson.

“Overall, I thought we played well,” said Mattis. “I was pleased with the balanced scoring.”

Anderson drained a 3-pointer from 60 feet as the first half expired.

Women Pitt-Titusville 52, BC3 47

The Pioneers simply couldn't get over the hump Friday night.

BC3 fought back from a 13-point deficit in the first half and a 10-point margin in the second half only to bow to the visiting Panthers (8-3) by five points.

Butler High graduate Casey Fleeger tallied all 16 of her points in the second half, including two 3-pointers that cut the Panthers' lead to 45-41 with 6:54 remaining.

The Pioneers (1-2) made it 47-44 with Emily Wise's trifecta moments later, but the team then endured a five-minute scoring drought.

Fleeger's final 3-pointer pulled BC3 to within 48-47 with 1:15 left, but the team failed to score again.

Tierra Wallace iced the game for Pitt-Titusville (8-3) with clutch free throws.

“In the final minutes, they executed their offense and were able to make big free throws,” said BC3 assistant coach Joe Spino.

Wallace scored a game-high 18 points and Geena Sneeringer had 14 for Pitt-Titusville.

“We have several players we can count on when we need a basket,” said Panthers coach Kyle Krepps.

Wise made four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points.

Spino admired his team's effort, despite the fact it played catch-up nearly the entire game.

“We just didn't have our legs tonight,” he said. “But Wise and Fleeger both shot the ball well.”

Moniteau High graduate Maura McCaslin started at point guard for Pitt-Titusville and scored six points.

Note: BC3 men's and women's head coach Dick Hartung was not able to coach Friday night due to a family commitment.

Men's BoxscorePITT-TITUSVILLE 80Dan Johnson 1 2-2 4, John Bobak 3 0-0 6, Aaron Barton 13 4-8 30, Scott Booth 4 5-6 13, Joe Baucom 10 0-2 24, Kyle Gilbert 1 0-0 3, Michael Fish 0 0-0 0. Totals: 32 11-18 80.BUTLER CCC 77Jordan Taylor 7 3-5 20, Blake Anderson 4 0-0 10, Antawane Davis 7 0-0 17, Ben Peterson 1 0-2 2, Corey Miller 2 0-0 4, Stephen Carter 8 3-4 19, Demarkus Jackson 1 0-0 2, Kaylon Smith 0 3-4 3. Totals: 30 9-15 77.Halftime score: BC3 47-393-point goals: UPT 5 (Baucom 4, Gilbert); BC3 8 (Davis 3, Taylor 3, Anderson 2).Monday: Jamestown (N.Y.) Community College at BC3Women's BoxscorePITT-TITUSVILLE 52Ronique Taffe 2 0-0 5, Maura McCaslin 1 3-4 6, Geena Sneeringer 4 5-12 14, Allison Scurry 3 1-3 7, Michelle Harger 1 0-0 2, Tierra Wallace 6 3-6 18, Briana Hayes 0 0-1 0. Totals: 17 12-26 52.BUTLER CCC 47Casey Fleeger 5 3-5 16, Katresa Savisky 3 1-2 8, Ashley Campbell 1 0-2 2, Emily Wise 5 0-1 14, Rachel Doutt 0 3-4 3, Sarah Beals 1 0-0 2, Erica Schultheis 1 0-0 2. Totals: 16 7-14 47.Halftime score: UPT 26-213-point goals: Pitt-Titusville 6 (Wallace 3, Sneeringer, McCaslin, Taffe); BC3 8 (Wise 4, Fleeger 3, Savisky).Tuesday: Mercyhurst-North East at BC3

Members of the Butler County Community College basketball team celebrate with Blake Anderson, front left, after he hit a halfcourt shot before the first-half buzzer Friday against Pitt-Titusville. The Pioneers eventually lost an 80-77 decision to the Panthers.