Somerset claims 2nd straight Pine Grill Roundball Classic title over North Star

SOMERSET -- Tournament host Somerset needed a spark to overcome a 31-27 halftime deficit against North Star in the 11th Pine Grill Roundball Classic championship game on Saturday.

The Golden Eagles got just that in the form of senior Eli Mumau and junior Caleb Platt. The duo combined for 34 points in the second half to propel Somerset past North Star 74-64 for the second straight year to claim back-to-back tournament titles.

"This is a completely different style than we're used to playing, but when you've got guys that are willing to go to the rack time after time after time again, we've got to utilize that," said Somerset coach Scott Close. "Hats off to North Star. Their guards did a phenomenal job and shot the lights out. We knew we were in trouble because of how well they shoot."

Mumau produced a team-high 27 points to go along with 11 rebounds. He was a force in the paint and utilized his size advantage to put the game out of reach. The senior was also selected tournament MVP.

"I'm happiest for Eli," Close said. "He busted his tail all offseason. He is one of three captains, but he's the one who has really rallied all of the troops together."

Mumau netted 11 of his 27 points in the final frame, going 5 of 7 from the free throw line to break open what was just a two-point Somerset lead, 50-48 after three quarters.

"This is really cool," Mumau said of the team's second straight Pine Grill title. "This team has worked really hard, and we are going to use this win as momentum to get some victories in the Laurel Highlands this year.

"I ran the court and my guys set me up really well (Saturday). I appreciate them a lot. We outrebounded them and that's why we won the game."

North Star had Somerset reeling a bit early on behind Brady Weimer's 17 first-half points. He finished the night with a game-high 28 points, including seven 3-pointers.

The Cougars (1-1) held a 20-13 lead after one.

Somerset (2-0) closed the gap in the second quarter behind a balanced offensive attack. Every starter scored at least two points in the second frame. But the Golden Eagles still trailed by four at the break.

The third quarter turned into a track meet. Somerset took its first lead since the first quarter on a bucket by Mumau to give the Golden Eagles a 35-34 advantage. Somerset used a 10-3 spurt to begin the third, taking its largest lead of the game, 37-34.

However, North Star responded with a 10-0 run of its own to take a 44-37 lead. But Somerset answered, scoring the next 11 points, including six from Platt, who finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds, to hold a 48-44 advantage.

North Star's shooting went cold from the outside in the fourth. The Cougars made 16 3-pointers in the game, including five by sophomore Andy Retassie, who tallied 15 points in the game. However, it was one-and-done trips in the fourth, allowing Somerset to pull away for the victory.

"Hats off to Luke Housley, Dom Heiple and Caleb Platt. They were the ones who were playing man on their guards and following them all over the place," Close said. "They did a really good job on the defensive end."

Aiden VanLenten chipped in 15 points and 13 rebounds for Somerset. The Golden Eagles are going to need this type of production from its starters every night in the LHAC.

Somerset managed only one win after the Pine Grill Roundball Classic a year ago. Close believes his club will fare better this season.

"Everybody has a year of experience under their belt," Close said. "They know what to expect. Last year, they didn't understand just how tough the Laurel Highlands was. Now they know that and are geared towards that."

Meanwhile, North Star will have to regroup in a hurry with Berlin Brothersvalley and Portage on the schedule next for the Cougars.

"The 3-ball was falling in the first half and that was keeping us afloat, but we just couldn't get to the rim," North Star coach Randy Schrock said. "If you can't get some easy ones in the paint every once in a while, that makes for a long day.

"We aren't going to let this drag us down. We're going to try and get better. It is a work in progress. We still have some young kids in that lineup. They are only going to get better. We are going to build on the good points, but we know we have to rebound and defend better."

Notes: Everett bested Shanksville-Stonycreek 67-50 in the consolation game. Christian Musser of Shanksville along with Weimer and CJ Biery of North Star, and Platt and VanLenten of Somerset were selected to the all-tournament team along with the MVP, Mumau.

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SOMERSET -- For the second straight year, North Star and Somerset will meet in the title game of the Pine Grill Roundball Classic.

Somerset, which will seek its fifth tourney championship, routed Shanksville-Stonycreek 68-42 in the nightcap of the 11th installment of the tournament while North Star throttled Everett 60-32 in the opener on Friday.

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"I keep telling the guys, 'We are looking for perfection and somewhere along the line, we are going to try and catch greatness,'" said Somerset coach Scott Close. "They worked hard. They did a nice job. We just need to keep getting better each game."

Aiden VanLenten paced the defending tournament champion Golden Eagles with a triple-double, including a game-high 19 points to go along with 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Eli Mumau contributed 14 points in the paint while Luke Housley chipped in 13 for Somerset.

Somerset trailed 6-4 early but went on a 10-0 run to take a 14-6 advantage and never looked back.

The Golden Eagles outscored the Vikings 7-0 to close the second quarter and took a 33-20 lead into the locker room.

Somerset expanded on that lead in the third and pulled away in the fourth, outscoring Shanksville 25-14 in the final frame to head back to the championship for the second straight time.

"I am always expecting perfection," Close said. "We have a sophomore point guard (Dominic Heiple), who didn't play varsity last year. I am putting a lot on his shoulders. Caleb (Platt) played varsity last year but was not a starter. I am putting a lot of pressure on him, and then I'm pushing hard the three guys (VanLenten, Housley and Mumau) that have played for three years."

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VanLenten, one of the senior leaders on the team, knows he and the Golden Eagles will be challenged against the Cougars.

"North Star played a good game last year. They are a tough team and can shoot," VanLenten said. "(CJ) Biery made a lot of threes last year. We have to dominate the boards, being a bigger team. We have to counter them with our size. Their guards are quicker, but we have to get the ball down low into the paint and keep driving on them."

It will be contrasting styles in the title tilt. North Star likes to play a run-and-gun style of offense with its speedy guards while Somerset is more methodical in its offensive sets.

"We have to make sure we can defend the three," Close said. "That's what they are looking to do. They have some good ball players and good shooters with experience. We're hoping their press doesn't bother us and we can get the ball up the floor.

"They are running a style of offense we used to run all of the time. We've got a different style that is better suited for the people we have. When it's all said and done, I think we are going to have a nicely matched game and it is going to be a good high school basketball game."

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Logan McCall led Shanksville with 15 points while Christian Musser added 11.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Biery paced the Cougars in a dominating win over the Warriors with a game-high 15 points in the opener. Andy Restassie tallied 12 points on four 3-pointers while Brady Weimer added 10 points for North Star.

"We knew coming in that we could score," said Biery. "The main focus is defense. I have been looking forward to a rematch (against Somerset) since last year. I am excited and I think we can play them well."

The Cougars raced out to an 8-0 lead before the Warriors scored the next six points. However, North Star closed the first on a 9-0 run and led 17-6 after one.

North Star boat raced Everett in the second quarter and held a commanding 44-16 lead at the break. The Cougars cruised from there.

"Good start. We didn't overlook this game, but we do have a little bit of a chip on our shoulders from the (championship) game last year where we were up by 17 and lost it," said North Star coach Randy Schrock. "We talked about it a lot, getting the opportunity to get back to the championship game."

North Star led Somerset by 17 points at halftime of the 2021 title game. The Golden Eagles outscored the Cougars 17-0 in the third quarter and sent the game into overtime on a desperation 3-point heave by VanLenten at the buzzer.

Somerset held North Star scoreless in the extra frame and won 57-52.

Coach Schrock is looking forward to another chance to compete for a title against the Golden Eagles.

"It will be exciting," he said of the matchup. "This is such a well-run tournament. It is such a prestigious local tournament. We really enjoy being here. We continue to come back because we like it so much and we'll continue to come back as long as they'll have us."

Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on Twitter @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook and @dailyamericanmedia on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Mumau, Somerset too much for North Star in Pine Grill title tilt