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Gabe Schrader converted a three-point play in the closing seconds to send Fredonia past Harbor Creek (Pa.) 52-49 at SUNY Fredonia's Dods Hall on Saturday afternoon.
The Hillbillies (3-1) trailed 49-46 with under a minute remaining before Schrader hit a 3-pointer to tie the game.
After a defensive stop, Keegan Whitfield pushed the ball up the floor before finding Schrader open for a contested layup. Schrader's free throw made it 52-49 and Fredonia fouled a couple of seconds after the ensuing inbounds pass. The Huskies inbounded again, but were unable to get off a tying 3-point attempt.
"It was a good win. They were 4-0 going into that game playing a tough northwest Pennsylvania schedule," Fredonia head coach Nick Bertrando said Sunday evening. "They are a solid team. (Jaden) Rocco is a really, really nice point guard and (Nick) Krahe is a force inside."
Krahe, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound junior who is being recruited as a lineman in football, entered Saturday's game averaging 17 points per game. The Hillbillies held him to 12.
"Nick (Whitfield) only took nine shots, he was more of a facilitator, but he had to play the Krahe kid all day," Bertrando said. "Nick (Whitfield, Nick Creeley and Jay Hawk took turns covering the big kid."
Ethan Fry led the Hillbillies with 22 points while Nick Whitfield had 11 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four blocked shots. Schrader finished with 10 points.
Rocco led Harbor Creek with 17 points.
Fredonia will host Gowanda on Thursday and wear "retro" early 2000s uniforms. An alumni game will follow Friday. The Hillbillies will then return to action Dec. 28 and Dec. 29 at the Clarence Tournament.
"By the end of the year, we want to be playing at Buffalo State. (Saturday at SUNY Fredonia) was just an opportunity to play on a college-sized court in front of a nice crowd on a Saturday afternoon," Bertrando said. "We want to play some neutral-site games to test ourselves and prepare for where we want to be by the end of the year."
HARBOR CREEK (49)
Rocco 6 4 17, Ennis 5 0 12, Krahe 5 2 12, Rzodkiewicz 1 0 3, Kruszewski 1 0 3, Bresee 1 0 2, Chwatek 0 0 0. Totals 19 6 49.
FREDONIA (52)
KWhitfield 1 0 2, Fry 8 2 22, Creeley 0 0 0, NWhitfield 5 1 11, Schrader 3 3 10, Hawk 1 0 3, White 2 0 4. Totals 20 6 52.
3-point goals--Rocco, Ennis 2, Rzodkiewicz, Kruszewski, Fry 4, Schrader, Hawk.
Harbor Creek 10 15 15 9 -- 49
Fredonia 10 13 9 20 -- 52
WESTFIELD WINS TOURNAMENT
FRANKLINVILLE -- Cole Holland scored 17 points and Carson Swanson added 14 as Westfield wrapped up the Rick Hughes Memorial Tournament title Saturday with a 58-33 victory over host Franklinville.
The Wolverines trailed after the first quarter, but outscored the Panthers 18-8 in the second quarter to take a 25-16 halftime lead.
Darien Swanson chipped in 12 rebounds, 10 assists and six steals for the winners.
Blake Frank led Franklinville with 22 points, but only three Panthers found the scoring column.
WESTFIELD (58)
Weingart 4 0 8, Barresi 2 1 7, Tuah 0 0 0, Holland 6 4 17, DSwanson 3 0 6, CSwanson 6 0 14, HRotunda 0 0 0, Schuster 0 0 0, CRotunda 1 0 2, Whitesell 0 0 0. Totals 22 5 58.
FRANKLINVILLE (33)
Bielecki 0 0 0, Green 0 0 0, Frank 7 4 22, Terwilliger 3 0 7, Shenk 0 0 0, Stewart 0 0 0, Trietley 1 0 2. Totals 11 4 33.
3-point goals--Barresi, Holland, CSwanson 2, Frank 4.
Westfield 7 18 18 15 -- 58
Franklinville 8 8 10 7 -- 33