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Not This Time

Sherman Pulls Away From Clymer In Class D

Sherman’s Chris Robson takes the ball to the hoop in front of Clymer’s Josh VanEarden (11) and Dustin Neckers (21) during Monday’s Section VI Class D semifinal at Jamestown Community College’s Physical Education Complex. P-J photo by Scott Reagle

Because of injuries, Sherman boys basketball coach Cory Emory switched his primary defense out of necessity in the last two games.

To suggest the decision has worked out since then would be an understatement, and as a result, the Wildcats have extended their season at least one more game.

“It’s more about the mental than the physical,” Emory said after No. 4 Sherman downed No. 1 Clymer, 56-36, in the Section VI Class D semifinal Monday night at the Physical Education Complex at Jamestown Community College. “Just believing and having a defensive mindset. Everybody likes to play offense, but we’ve found out the last two games that we’re starting to put together complete defensive efforts.”

Senior Chris Robson finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block; and junior Jared Gleason added 16 points, 10 boards and four steals to lead the Wildcats (18-4) into the sectional title game at 5:15 p.m. Friday against the winner of tonight’s Franklinville-Ellicottville game.

“We finally learned how to play a little bit of defense the last couple games,” Emory said.

Sherman’s Jared Gleason is fouled by Clymer’s Dylan Davis. P-J photo by Scott Reagle

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In the sectional quarterfinals last Friday, Sherman limited Forestville to 22 points. Last night before a packed house, the Wildcats — losers of both regular-season meetings with their rival — held the Pirates (15-6) to just 30 percent shooting from the floor (14 of 46) and forced 23 turnovers. Many of those miscues came in the decisive fourth quarter when Clymer went 4 1/2 minutes without scoring a field goal.

Not surprisingly, it was Robson who led Sherman’s 20-0 run. It began in the waning seconds of the third quarter when he fed Gleason for a layup that gave the Wildcats a 33-27 advantage heading into the final period.

But Robson was just getting started.

After Gleason’s traditional 3-point play pushed Sherman’s lead to 36-27 with 7:37 remaining, Robson hit a pair of free throws and then drilled back-to-back 3-pointers from well beyond the arc, extending the lead to 44-27 with 5:46 left. Senior Mike Delcamp followed with a layup, junior Tanner Ramsey hit a free throw, and then Gleason hit a pull-up jumper and Robson scored on a drive.

Clymer’s Justin Svetz (12) puts up a shot that Sherman’s Jared Gleason attempts to block during Monday’s Section VI Class D semifinal at Jamestown Community College’s Physical Education Complex. P-J photo by Scott Reagle

Armed with a 51-27 lead, the Wildcats berth in the sectional final game was secure.

“(Robson) came out and banged a couple (3-pointers) in the fourth early to make it a comfortable lead, and (Clymer) had to take chances and then we got some easy ones,” Emory said. “Our other guys stepped up tonight and played very well, too. All of a sudden when that happens and we have other pieces able to score the ball, and we’re pretty strong on defense and on the boards, it makes it a little bit easier for me.”

Senior Justin Svetz led Clymer with 12 points and six rebounds; junior Dustin Neckers chipped in with 10 points and seven boards; and senior Josh VanEarden and senior Dylan Davis both had six rebounds.

“(Sherman) put a lot of pressure on us,” Pirates coach Dan White said. “We just didn’t make the right passes all game long and we just didn’t take care of the ball. … It was not any different pressure than we saw in the other two games against them. They executed very well and we didn’t.”

Clymer trailed by 10 points, 24-14, at intermission, but behind nine third-quarter points by Svetz, the Pirates closed to within 31-27 with just over 20 seconds remaining in the period.

“Then the wheels came off and we struggled,” White said.

While the season ends for the Pirates, Sherman advances to the championship game on Friday against either Ellicottville or Franklinville.

“Obviously, probably everybody felt Sherman and Clymer were the underdogs compared to Franklinville and Ellicottville,” Emory said. “But, hey, you never know.”

SHERMAN (56)

Gleason 7 2 16, Nickerson 0 0 0, Robson 8 2 23, Carpenter 2 0 4, Beatman 0 0 0, Kahle 0 0 0, Ramsey 2 3 7, Meeder 1 0 2, Bates 0 0 0, Burick 1 0 2, Kopta 0 0 0, Delcamp 1 0 2, Totals 22 7 56.

CLYMER (36)

CNeckers 1 0 3, VanEarden 3 0 7, Svetz 5 2 12, Sullivan 0 0 0, Overton 0 2 2, DNeckers 4 2 10, Wade1 0 2, Davis 0 0 0, Willink 0 0 0, Totals 14 6 36.

3-point goals– Robson 5, CNeckers, VanEarden.

Sherman 13 11 9 23 — 56

Clymer 10 4 13 9 — 36

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