4A Championship Game at Hershey 3/2/02

McCaskey 55 Reading 41

Taking nothing for granted this year, the Tornado took apart the Reading Knights in the 4A championship game at Hershey. Dustin Salisbery started out strong (good article re motivation in the Intel by Gordie Jones might have helped a bit:) by blocking shots and running the floor. McCaskey's defense was , as always, outstanding. Reading shot 3-17 in the first quarter - not that McCaskey shot that much better but they did make more shots, missed some fouls and led 13-6 after one. The tornado went on a 6-0 run to start the second and might have won the game right there. The quarter ended with Perry Patterson hitting 2 free throws to put him into the 1000 point scorers club. Tornado 29 Reading 16.

Would the second half provide much drama? Would Reading make a charge just as Chambersburg did last year? Would McCaskey make its foul shots? The third quarter was slow in scoring. Both teams pressed defensively, although Reading could not score enough to put any type of pressure on the Tornado. The Knights got it to 10 once in the quarter but....41-24 heading into the final stanza. With PP gathering the boards (15) and running the show, there was no doubt in any ones mind who was the better team. McCaskey ripped off a 12-0 spurt- Dustin Salisbery accounting for 8 points during this stretch. The game was over...Some foul shots and zone and delay ...and a new champ!

Key plays were made by most of the McCaskey players- 6'8" Akkem Washington was a defensive force, Cameron Whittington had some timely buickets, and Jonathan Cameron ran the point well and played excellent def.

Off the wall...McCaskey played in their third straight District 3 championship game. Perry Patterson started on all of those teams. ..A plaque honoring Wilt Chamberlains 100 point game was presented at half time.

Congratulations to the McCaskey Tornado!