Parkland High School boys basketball team defeats previously unbeaten Freedom High School

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

The last thing the unbeaten Freedom High School's boys basketball team wanted to do was leave Austin Beidelman open.

The junior guard drained a 3-pointer with seven seconds remaining Friday night and Parkland High School's boys basketball team hung on for a gut-wrenching 47-45 Lehigh Valley Conference victory before an absolute madhouse of a crowd in Freedom's gym.

"Wow," Parkland coach Andy Stephens said, "that was probably as loud a gym -- especially for a regular season game -- as you're ever going to see."

Freedom (13-1, 7-1), ranked first in the Express-Times region and ninth in the state by the Harrisburg Patriot-News, is off to the best start in its 45-year history.

"What a great high school basketball game," Patriots coach Joe Stellato said. "That was a lot of fun. I'm proud the way our kids fought back."

The Trojans (13-1, 7-1) knocked off their second ranked foe in four days. Parkland dealt Emmaus, ranked fourth in the state, a 50-43 loss on Tuesday.

"We want to show people how good we really are," said Beidelman, who scored 13 points.

Freedom rallied from an 11-point deficit and held a 44-40 lead on a putback by reserve Tajmire Flood with 42 seconds remaining.

Parkland trailed 45-43 when Beidelman got free beyond the key off a double screen from Astin Jones and Nick Rindock. Zach Muhr spotted Beidelman, who swished a 3-pointer to give the Trojans a 46-45 lead.

"Everybody had confidence in me," Beidelman said. "I wanted to take that shot. I knew I'd get open and I just wanted to stick it. This is a tough place to play, but I wanted the ball in my hands."

"Actually, that's not even a play we normally run," Stephens said. "We tried to get Rob (Dvoracek) open across the middle. It's probably good they paid attention to him because Austin was open up top."

Joe Lococo, who scored 13 points for Freedom, was fouled on a drive but missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with four seconds left.

"He's a great foul shooter, over 75 percent," Stellato said. "Hey, it happens. He'll grow, and we'll grow and get better."

Dvoracek, who had 12 rebounds, cleared the board, was fouled and hit the first of two from the line with 2.8 seconds left.

After a timeout, Flood threw a length-of-the-court inbounds pass that Dvoracek tipped out of bounds with 1.8 seconds remaining. The Patriots inbounded to Nyreef Jackson in the corner, but Jackson's potential game-winning 3 bounced off the front rim at the buzzer.

"Our kids have tears in their eyes," Stellato said. "That's how much it meant to them. Four or five kids were crying, and that's a good thing."

Trailing 44-40, Justin Zajko converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 34 seconds left. Zajko led Parkland with 14 points.

"We told them not to foul and give them an 'and one,'" Stellato said. "We slipped up. What can you do?"

Two seconds later, Jackson, who had 14 points, made 1 of 2 from the line to make it 45-43. Beidelman took over from there.

"One thing we put on the board was 'let's get a signature win on the road,'" Stephens said. "What a great team victory."

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/01/parkland_high_school_boys_bask.html