State College boys’ basketball topples Burrell

Rebound, outlet pass, go to the rim.

Rinse, lather, repeat.

It was almost that easy for State College boys’ basketball on Tuesday night. Despite falling in an early hole, the Little Lions got out in transition, built a sizable lead, and later slowed things down, working inside then out.

It was efficient, and sometimes looked effortless, as the Little Lions earned a 66-58 win over Burrell in the Kiwanis Holiday Basketball Classic. State College will play Math, Civics and Sciences Charter School at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Drew Friberg led the Little Lions with 27 points, followed closely by Tommy Sekunda’s 23. While they combined for most of State College’s points, the team’s ball distribution was on point throughout the contest, especially in the opening two quarters.

“In the first half we shot really, really well, and it started with the ability to get a rebound, an outlet pass, and get out on the break,” State College coach Joe Walker said.

Burrell did jump out to a 5-0 lead behind a basket from Lucas Cable and a deep 3-pointer by Max Garda. But it was Burrell’s further reliance on 3-pointers that proved to be its downfall.

Burrell failed to score for the rest of the first quarter, missing a total of six attempts from behind the arc. That created long rebounds and opportunities for State College to get out on the break.

State College’s first basket came in transition, and it was hard to miss — a crisp, left-handed slam by Cooper Gulley.

“He’s always dunking in practice,” Friberg said of Gulley. “He throws it down.”

Gulley’s slam electrified the Little Lions’ bench and, really, their offense. From that point, State College closed the first quarter on a 15-0 run.

“It’s kind of a contagious thing,” Walker said. “Like hey if we all run the floor, we’re all going to get those easy buckets.”

After constructing some cushion, State College slowed things down in the second quarter, taking advantage of mismatches Friberg and Sekunda created.

Friberg, listed at 6-foot-6, brought the ball down the court often, and was covered by a guard. The sophomore would take the smaller defender with him into the paint, and use his size to generate looks at the rim.

When Friberg started on the block, he brought the forward out and beat him with his quickness.

At 6-foot-5, Sekunda did the same.

The two combined for 19 of State College’s 24 second-quarter points. Sekunda knocked down 3-pointers, while Friberg converted three field goals and a trio of free throws.

State College took a 16-point lead into halftime — an advantage they wouldn’t surrender.

Burrell came close to knotting things up, though. With a little more than three minutes left in regulation, Burrell cut the Little Lions’ lead to six. The Bucs were in a position where they had to foul. But they fouled the wrong Little Lions.

Sekunda and Friberg took seven of the Little Lions’ nine fourth-quarter free throws. They sank six of them.

“It really helps at the end of the game, being able to hit those free throws,” Sekunda said. “It frustrates the other team.”

And on Tuesday, it helped State College ice a much-needed win. The triumph improves the Little Lions’ record to 3-5.

Walker hopes Friberg, Sekunda, and the Little Lions’ transition offense show up in fine form yet again as State College goes for back-to-back wins on Wednesday.

Notes: Math, Civics and Sciences Charter School (4-7) defeated Upper Darby 48-42 on Tuesday night. ... He has missed most of the season so far recovering from a hamstring injury, but State College forward Brandon Clark played hefty minutes against Burrell. Coming off the bench, the 6-foot-4 sophomore did well defensively and on the glass. ... Little Lions freshman point guard Keaton Ellis broke his thumb in State College’s season opener on Dec. 4, and is still weeks away from seeing the court. Walker said Ellis, who had eight points in his varsity debut against La Salle College, will be in a cast for at least a couple more weeks.

This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 10:07 PM with the headline "State College boys’ basketball topples Burrell."