Parkland Knocks Freedom from Ranks of Unbeaten
1-20-12 @ Freedom (Bethlehem, PA)
Game 2011-12 #109 Parkland (Allentown, PA) 47 Freedom (Bethlehem, PA) 45
This was a playoff quality game contested in a playoff atmosphere. Although the game was telecast by a local cable television operation, Freedom's big gym was almost full. The Lehigh Valley is a place where it is common for lots of adults to attend high school basketball games, as was the case here. Parkland entered the game with a 12-1 record, and Freedom was a perfect 13-0 at the start of the contest.
Freedom is one of the most difficult venues for a visiting high school team that I've ever seen. There are about twelve rows of bleachers behind one of the hoops, and that is where the Freedom student section is located. Wearing olive and yellow camouflage tee shirts bearing the legend "Riot Squad", leaping around, and waving flags and other objects, the Freedom student section provided an amazingly negative shooting backdrop for Parkland in the second half of this game. Even the Freedom cheerleaders wore "Riot Squad" camouflage tee shirts, in pink and black, though. As the game unfolded, the crowd grew louder and louder.
Both teams played man-to-man defenses throughout the game. From early in the first quarter until late in the stanza, Parkland went on an 18-3 run, consisting of a three by 6' 3" junior Austin Beiderman, a score inside by 6' 2" senior Rob Dvoracek, a free throw by Dvoracek, a layup by Beiderman set up by a steal by 6' 3" sophomore Nick Rindock, a closely guarded jumper by Beiderman, a three point play on a driving scoop shot by 5' 10" senior Zach Muhr, a steal and breakaway layup by Rindock, and a three by Muhr. That made it 20-8, Parkland. Parkland was getting open shots outside in the first half more on the basis of ball movement than anything else. Both of these teams put up shots quickly, and both ran at every opportunity. Parkland had the edge in the first half on the basis of better shooting and poor offensive rebounding by Freedom. One of the things that struck me about Parkland's offense is that they take outside shots even when they don't have anyone in position to contest for a rebound.
The quick pace of the first half continued after the break. There were relatively few whistles in this game. There were big changes in the second half, though. Freedom changed defensive assignments, and Parkland's perimeter players were guarded much more closely after halftime. Also, after the break, Parkland had to shoot against the backdrop of the screaming, distracting Freedom student section. I've never seen a high school gym where objects such as flags and posters were permitted to be waved while the game was in progress, unnerving the visiting team. Parkland was 1 for 11 from the field in the third quarter, while Freedom was slightly more accurate; they were 1 for 10.
Freedom trailed by three points, 32-29, as the final quarter began, and 6' 2" senior Joe Lococo cut the deficit to one point on a drive to open the scoring in the final frame. Justin Zajko, a 6' sophomore, responded for Parkland with a putback, and the visitors added a three by Rindock on a fast break to go up, 37-31. Freedom came right back with a pivot move by 6' 3" junior Nyreef Jackson and a falling down three by Lococo, which cut Parkland's lead to 37-36. With 3:43 left, Freedom retook the lead, 38-37, for the first time since the score was 5-2, on a couple of free throws by Jackson. Freedom's run continued with a hook by 6' 4" junior Derike Chiclana, putting the home side ahead, 40-37. With 2:12 left, a Parkland player went to the stripe for two shots, but the Freedom student section was in a loud, visually distracting frenzy, and the visiting player missed on both attempts. Less than :30 later, Parkland tied the game at 40 on a three point play on a drive by Zajko. Following an unforced Freedom turnover, the home side's Lococo stole the ball, was fouled, and made two free throws with 1:04 left in the game. That made it 42-40, Freedom. Freedom went up by the score of 44-40 when 5' 10" senior Tajmire Flood stole the ball, and, after three missed shots by his teammates, Flood scored on a putback. With :34 left in the game, Parkland's Zajko continued his heroics with a three point play on a drive, cutting Freedom's lead to 44-43. A second later, Jackson hit a free throw, and it was 45-43, Freedom. With :08 left, and using a screen, Beiderman gave Parkland the win with a three from the top of the key, following a timeout which obviously set up that play. That shot made it 46-45, Parkland. With :04 left, a Freedom player went to the line for a one-and-one as a result of incidental contact that should not have been called a foul. The front end did not go in the hoop, and Parkland got the carom. Freedom had a last chance shot at the buzzer, but it fell short.
For the winners, Zajko scored 14 points, and Beiderman netted 13. For Freedom, Jackson had 14 points, and Lococo scored 13. Both teams sank five threes in the game. Parkland was 6 for 14 from the foul line, and Freedom was 10 of 15 from the stripe.
Parkland 20 10 2 15-47
Freedom 14 10 5 16-45
Game 2011-12 #109 Parkland (Allentown, PA) 47 Freedom (Bethlehem, PA) 45
This was a playoff quality game contested in a playoff atmosphere. Although the game was telecast by a local cable television operation, Freedom's big gym was almost full. The Lehigh Valley is a place where it is common for lots of adults to attend high school basketball games, as was the case here. Parkland entered the game with a 12-1 record, and Freedom was a perfect 13-0 at the start of the contest.
Freedom is one of the most difficult venues for a visiting high school team that I've ever seen. There are about twelve rows of bleachers behind one of the hoops, and that is where the Freedom student section is located. Wearing olive and yellow camouflage tee shirts bearing the legend "Riot Squad", leaping around, and waving flags and other objects, the Freedom student section provided an amazingly negative shooting backdrop for Parkland in the second half of this game. Even the Freedom cheerleaders wore "Riot Squad" camouflage tee shirts, in pink and black, though. As the game unfolded, the crowd grew louder and louder.
Both teams played man-to-man defenses throughout the game. From early in the first quarter until late in the stanza, Parkland went on an 18-3 run, consisting of a three by 6' 3" junior Austin Beiderman, a score inside by 6' 2" senior Rob Dvoracek, a free throw by Dvoracek, a layup by Beiderman set up by a steal by 6' 3" sophomore Nick Rindock, a closely guarded jumper by Beiderman, a three point play on a driving scoop shot by 5' 10" senior Zach Muhr, a steal and breakaway layup by Rindock, and a three by Muhr. That made it 20-8, Parkland. Parkland was getting open shots outside in the first half more on the basis of ball movement than anything else. Both of these teams put up shots quickly, and both ran at every opportunity. Parkland had the edge in the first half on the basis of better shooting and poor offensive rebounding by Freedom. One of the things that struck me about Parkland's offense is that they take outside shots even when they don't have anyone in position to contest for a rebound.
The quick pace of the first half continued after the break. There were relatively few whistles in this game. There were big changes in the second half, though. Freedom changed defensive assignments, and Parkland's perimeter players were guarded much more closely after halftime. Also, after the break, Parkland had to shoot against the backdrop of the screaming, distracting Freedom student section. I've never seen a high school gym where objects such as flags and posters were permitted to be waved while the game was in progress, unnerving the visiting team. Parkland was 1 for 11 from the field in the third quarter, while Freedom was slightly more accurate; they were 1 for 10.
Freedom trailed by three points, 32-29, as the final quarter began, and 6' 2" senior Joe Lococo cut the deficit to one point on a drive to open the scoring in the final frame. Justin Zajko, a 6' sophomore, responded for Parkland with a putback, and the visitors added a three by Rindock on a fast break to go up, 37-31. Freedom came right back with a pivot move by 6' 3" junior Nyreef Jackson and a falling down three by Lococo, which cut Parkland's lead to 37-36. With 3:43 left, Freedom retook the lead, 38-37, for the first time since the score was 5-2, on a couple of free throws by Jackson. Freedom's run continued with a hook by 6' 4" junior Derike Chiclana, putting the home side ahead, 40-37. With 2:12 left, a Parkland player went to the stripe for two shots, but the Freedom student section was in a loud, visually distracting frenzy, and the visiting player missed on both attempts. Less than :30 later, Parkland tied the game at 40 on a three point play on a drive by Zajko. Following an unforced Freedom turnover, the home side's Lococo stole the ball, was fouled, and made two free throws with 1:04 left in the game. That made it 42-40, Freedom. Freedom went up by the score of 44-40 when 5' 10" senior Tajmire Flood stole the ball, and, after three missed shots by his teammates, Flood scored on a putback. With :34 left in the game, Parkland's Zajko continued his heroics with a three point play on a drive, cutting Freedom's lead to 44-43. A second later, Jackson hit a free throw, and it was 45-43, Freedom. With :08 left, and using a screen, Beiderman gave Parkland the win with a three from the top of the key, following a timeout which obviously set up that play. That shot made it 46-45, Parkland. With :04 left, a Freedom player went to the line for a one-and-one as a result of incidental contact that should not have been called a foul. The front end did not go in the hoop, and Parkland got the carom. Freedom had a last chance shot at the buzzer, but it fell short.
For the winners, Zajko scored 14 points, and Beiderman netted 13. For Freedom, Jackson had 14 points, and Lococo scored 13. Both teams sank five threes in the game. Parkland was 6 for 14 from the foul line, and Freedom was 10 of 15 from the stripe.
Parkland 20 10 2 15-47
Freedom 14 10 5 16-45
Dave, excellent write up on a great game. Thanks for coming to the valley to watch some good hoops. As a supporter of lehigh valley hoops, i like to see our teams do well outside of districts. How do you think these teams match up compared to some of the powerhouse teams you have seen in philly. Obviously Chester seems to be a notch above everybody else in 4a, but who else do you like ?
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