Blue Jays downed by Albright, 93-80

From the E-town College Website:

Men's basketball downed by Albright, 93-80

ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL
Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Albright 93, Elizabethtown 80

Click here for the box score

READING, Pa. --- Brothers Phil and Derek Hall combined for 39 points and Albright College shot 60.4 percent from the field in a 93-80 victory over Elizabethtown College in Commonwealth Conference men's basketball action at Bollman Center on Wednesday night.

Phil Hall went 10-for-15 from the field and scored a game-high 24 points while Derek Hall hit all five of his field-goal attempts and added 15 points for the Lions (11-5 overall, 2-1 Commonwealth), who led 46-32 at halftime and withstood a 12-0 second-half run by the Blue Jays (8-7 overall, 2-1 Commonwealth).

Four players scored in double figures for Elizabethtown, with Mike Church (Peach Bottom, PA/Solanco) leading the way with 15 points and seven rebounds and Josh Houseal (Landisville, PA/Hempfield) adding a career-high 14 points.

Albright took a 46-32 lead to halftime on the strength of 6-for-13 shooting from three-point range. Phil Hall led the Lions with 11 points followed by Derek Hall with 10, while Houseal led the Blue Jays with 11 points in the opening half.

The Lions led 66-49 with 12:35 to go, but the Blue Jays scored 12 straight points to cut the deficit to 66-61 following two free throws by Church with 10:13 to go. However, a putback by Phil Hall and a three-point play by Matt Bazsika pushed Albright ahead 71-61 with 9:33 left and Elizabethtown would get no closer than nine the rest of the way.

Joining Church and Houseal in double figures for Elizabethtown were Keith Fogel (Mifflinburg, PA/Mifflinburg) with 12 points and Joe Flanagan (Lancaster, PA/Lancaster Mennonite) with 11 points. Phil Schaffer (Marmora, NJ/Ocean City) added seven points and six assists for the Blue Jays, who committed just six turnovers as a team.

Zac Shaeffer tallied 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Lions, while Bazsika added nine points and four boards. Albright finished with a commanding 42-26 edge in rebounds over Elizabethtown, as Andre Murphy matched Shaeffer for the team high in boards with seven.

From the Albright College Website:

Hall Brothers Guide Albright Men’s Basketball to Conference Win

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

READING, PA - The offensive hot streak of senior center Phil Hall (Northampton, PA/Northampton) continued Wednesday evening as the host Lions (11-5/2-1 CC) handed the visiting Blue Jays (8-7/2-1 CC) their first conference loss of the season defeating them by the final score of 93-80 in the Bollman Center.

Hall who recorded his eighth consecutive game with 10 points or more was joined by his younger brother Derek Hall (Northampton, PA/Northampton) as the two combined for 39 points respectively. Big brother Phil totaled 24 points on the evening, while Derek recorded a career best 15 points in the conference win. Of the two Derek had quite the showing from the field shooting a perfect 5-for-5 which included a 2-for-2 performance from three point range. At the free throw line the six-foot-10 inch freshman made three of his four attempts.

Sophomore Zac Shaeffer (Lancaster, PA/Lempeter-Strasburg) also continued his hot streak as well totaling 16 points on the night shooting 50% (4-for-8) from the floor and 100% (5-for-5) from the give me line. Shaeffer along with Andre Murphy (Philadelphia, PA/Caver High School) led the contest in rebounding as two each earned seven boards a piece.

For the visiting Blue Jays four of their starting five finished in double-digits with Mike Church leading the way with 15 points while also managing the game high seven rebounds as well. Next in line was Josh Houseal with 14 points, followed by Keith Fogel with 12, and Joe Flanagan with 11.

As a team, the Lions not only dominated their opponents from the field shooting over 60%, but they also proved to be the top rebounding team as well pulling down 16 more boards then the Blue Jays (42-26).

Albright trailed E-town only once in the entire contest and that was in the first five minutes.

Following that minor let down, the Red and White regained their composure and took control of the scoreboard.

In just the first 10 minutes alone, the Lions had built themselves a solid lead over the Blue Jays, which they continued to add to throughout the first 20 minutes of play. Just before the half ended, Shaeffer was able to score a last second three point basket which just elevated Albright’s momentum even more.

However that momentum would begin to fade as the second half progressed. Despite having a 17 point lead with 12:35 to play, the Blue Jays in a matter of three minutes would cut that lead down to five following a 12-0 run. With it looking as if though E-town was about to make a push to earn their second lead of the night, Albright led by Phil Hall battled back once again regaining their double-digit lead as the Red and White posted 8-0 run of their own.

The Lions quick offensive turn around was crucial in stopping any chance of a Blue Jays comeback. Albright continued hold a substantial lead over their opponent throughout the final moments of the contest. With Wednesday’s victory, Albright is now in a three way tie for first place in the Commonwealth Conference. Joining the Lions atop the conference are Elizabethtown and Lycoming College (8-5/2-1 CC).

Albright will face Lycoming College next Saturday in Williamsport, PA. However the Lions will first travel to Grantham, PA to take on the Falcons of Messiah College on Tuesday with game time set for 8 p.m.

Elizabethtown College 80, Albright College 93
Box Score

From The Reading Eagle:

Size matters: Jays can't stop Lions' Hall brothers

By Rich Scarcella
Reading Eagle

Rick Ferry has enjoyed a successful career as coach of the Albright men's basketball team.

So, with 6-11 senior Phil Hall and 6-10 freshman Derek Hall on the roster, Ferry's smart enough to keep his offensive philosophy simple.

"No one (in the Commonwealth Conference) has size like the Hall brothers," Ferry said. "We have to continue to find ways to utilize that (advantage). We're seeing zones and double-teams, unique double-teams.

"We're not going to force it inside, but we have to find ways to get it to them."

Phil and Derek Hall towered over Elizabethtown, combining for 39 points and 12 rebounds in the Lions' convincing 93-80 victory Wednesday night at Bollman Center.

Without a defender taller than 6-5, the Blue Jays (2-1, 8-7) had no answer for Phil, who scored 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting, or Derek, who had a career-high 15 points on 5-of-5 shooting.

Albright (2-1, 11-5) moved into a three-way tie for first place by fending off a second-half charge by Elizabethtown, which trimmed a 17-point lead to 66-61 with a 12-0 run. Ferry called a timeout, hoping to disrupt the Jays and calm the Lions.

"I told them to relax and settle down," he said. "Take it one possession at a time. 'They made their run. Now it's time for us to play basketball.' "

After the break, the Hall brothers and 6-6 Matt Bazsika scored 16 of Albright's next 21 points as the Lions opened an 87-73 lead with 4:21 left and put it away.

"Whenever we take our time, the ball ends up going down low," Ferry said. "It's implied when you have two 7-footers on the floor."

Phil Hall arrived at Albright four years ago from Northampton as a quirky 6-9 left-hander who fancied himself as a shooting guard. He made himself into a 6-11, 265-pound brute by watching and guarding strong post players such as Trevor Deeter and Albert Medoro in practice the last four seasons.

Hall leads the Lions with 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds a game.

"The coaches made me work on post moves every day for the last four years," he said. "It had to click at some point."

Derek, his brother, came to Albright this season as a more skilled player than Phil was at the same age. He also likes to shoot from the perimeter, draining both of his 3-pointers against the Jays.

"It's great having him here," Phil said. "I like it. He gets to learn for a year under me. It can only benefit him."

It's certainly benefiting the Lions, who received 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists from Zac Shaeffer. Central Catholic grad Matt Ashcroft had seven points off the bench. They have Saturday off before going on the road twice next week for games at Messiah and Lycoming.

Neither team has the size Albright has with the Hall brothers.

"Knowing no one can match up with me puts my confidence through the roof," Phil Hall said. "I know I have a mismatch every time."

Mike Church scored 15 points for Elizabethtown and Josh Houseal had 14. Tulpehocken product Brady Haughney, a sophomore, had two points and four rebounds in a season-high 17 minutes.

•Contact Rich Scarcella at 610-371-5070 or rscarcella@readingeagle.com.