High school basketball coaches often say the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half is the most crucial time of the game.
Usually, that’s when a winner will be determined.
That is what happened Friday at Derry in a WPIAL Class 4A first-round boys game.
No. 13 Deer Lakes used an 8-0 run, thanks to four Derry turnovers, and took control of a close game, rallying for a 57-46 victory against the No. 4 Trojans.
The victory advanced Deer Lakes (11-12) to the quarterfinals Wednesday against No. 5 Hopewell, which defeated Greensburg Salem, at a site and time to be determined.
Derry, which won its first section title in 57 years, finished the season 16-7.
Deer Lakes, which won WPIAL Class 3A titles in 2023 and 2024, is familiar with winning playoff games.
“You have to play sound defense and make it difficult for teams to run their offense,” Deer Lakes coach Albie Fletcher said. “That is what we did to Derry. Our kids played really well.
“Our tough section and nonsection schedule prepared us for this game.”
Derry coach Tom Esposito said he felt Deer Lakes’ physicality was the difference. Deer Lakes defeated Derry, 53-49, earlier this season. After that loss, the Trojans went on a nine-game winning streak.
“They were more physical this time,” Esposito said. “They made it difficult. Their pressure forced us to turn the ball over and miss some easy shots.”
Deer Lakes 6-foot-3 junior Evan Moore had a big game on both ends of the court. He scored 22 points and forced Derry 6-7 junior Stanley Rajkovich to work hard for his 23 points.
“Evan does not get the respect he deserves,” Fletcher said. “He is one of the best players in the WPIAL. He averages more than 20 points per game.”
Esposito said not getting to the foul line hurt the Trojans.
“Deer Lakes got to the foul line 25 times, and we got there seven,” Esposito said. “In playoff games, you have to protect the ball and get to the foul line.”
Moore scored nine points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer, in the first quarter as the Lancers built a 17-12 lead.
The lead stretched to 22-14 before the Trojans went on a 13-2 run to grab a 27-24 lead.
Then disaster struck for Derry. The Trojans were holding the ball for the final shot of the half when Collin Rodgers swiped a pass and hit a layup to cut the lead to 27-26.
The Lancers started the third quarter with three consecutive steals and layups to push their lead to 32-27.
Derry never got closer than four points as Deer Lakes maintained a six- to eight-point advantage.
Rodgers finished with 17 points, hitting 9 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter. Dylan Ferraro had 11 points, including a 3-pointer and a three-point play in the third quarter when Derry cut the lead to 40-36.
Brayden Robinson scored 13 for Derry.
“This is disappointing,” Esposito said. “We never thought it would end like this. But they will always remember this season when we got to hang a section banner in the gymnasium.”