Dylan Ferraro always knows the score during the Deer Lakes boys basketball games. The senior forward believes they are always trailing by 10.
The Lancers scored eight consecutive points to open the fourth quarter on their way to collecting a 61-45 Section 1-4A win over Freeport on Friday night at home. The win was an important one for the Lancers (8-8, 2-4) to stay in the WPIAL Class 4A playoff chase.
“Our mentality is we’re down 10,” Ferraro said. “If we are up 30, if we are down 30, we are down 10. We are ready to come and give them hell.”
When the game opened, it appeared both teams might struggle to get to 10 points. The first 3 minutes, 57 seconds of game action were scoreless, until Ferraro made a 3-pointer to break the ice.
Deer Lakes coach Albie Fletcher said he wasn’t worried. During the first meeting between the teams, the Lancers were burned attempting to pressure the Yellowjackets in the first half. Freeport jumped out to a big lead and held on to win the first meeting 71-67.
“I was extremely comfortable, which is unlike me to say that,” Fletcher said. “But I thought the first game up there we forced way too much. They were packed in, and we didn’t take good shots. We emphasized being patient on the offensive end and locking in on the defensive end.”
Ferraro, who finished with a game-high 18 points, also made a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter to put the Lancers ahead 38-35 and kick off an important stretch.
It halted Freeport’s momentum. The Yellowjackets (5-8, 3-4) nearly took the lead at the end of the third quarter. Braylen Riddell made a 3-pointer, but it was waived off after it was ruled the shot came after the buzzer.
Freeport coach Richard Macura II said it was a tough stretch to end the third quarter for the Yellowjackets.
“There was a culmination of plays where it looked like they may have kicked the ball, there was a long pass where there may have been some contact,” Macura said. “The change in the half with us not getting that 3-pointer that looked pretty good. We have to play through those things.”
Collin Rodgers, who finished with 17 points, followed Ferraro’s trey with a layup. Luca Mangieri closed out the stretch with a 3-pointer.
“There was a great sense of urgency coming out for the fourth quarter,” Fletcher said. “The guys have been saying this week when we go into a game we are down 10.”
Freeport struggled to get offensive rebounds off misses. In the first quarter, the Yellowjackets scored only five points and fell behind by six.
Gavin Tola led Freeport with 10 points.
“It was a slow start for both of us,” Macura said. “I expected they may not press as much as last game because we took advantage.”
Deer Lakes took time to figure out how to pull away. The Lancers had a narrow edge, 22-21, at halftime.
Breydan McCoy also finished with 12 points for the Lancers.
“It was trying to find the right shot and right personnel,” Ferraro said. “I haven’t been shooting that great all season. The coach told us to shoot it this game, and I felt confident.”