NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. - The Penn State New Kensington men's basketball team defeated Penn State Shenango at home on Thursday following a fierce and physical contest.
Thursday night's game in the Athletic Center marked the second-highest scoring match of the season for the men as all prospects point to a strong and energetic playoff run. The recurring theme of the night was who was capable of capitalizing on their breakaways. As usual, Evan Clarke (Aston, Pa. / Garnet Valley) was first on the board for New Kensington followed by Aubrey Feaster II (Buffalo, N.Y. / William B. Travis), and Benjamin Cunningham (Woodbridge, Va. / Christ Chapel Academy). New Kensington's great passing adaptability allowed them to hold Shenango down long enough for their offensive schemes to develop completely . . . and then there were the fouls.
A series of clock stoppages slowed the game significantly after repeated fouls by both teams. Be that as it may, New Kensington outplayed their opponent in their foul shot opportunities, contributing to a free throw percentage of 64.3 at the half. Also after 20 minutes, the men managed 48.6 % of shots from the field. The defense stayed strong and took advantage of the gradual start, obtaining 21 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Scoring leaders included Feaster II with 10 points, Cunningham with nine, and Clarke with eight. New Kensington led 46-35
The down-court drive became more intense as the night went on. Shenango did most of the scoring early in the second half and New Kensington responded in kind, pulling the game to 78-61 with under 10 minutes left. New Kensington soon ran away with the game after a substantial performance by Kojic, Sammy Carey (Springdale, Pa. / Springdale), and Shyheim Flanagan (St. Martinville, La. / Westside), who added to the final tally of 107-89.
There was scoring all across the board by the end of the night with Clarke pulling in 17 points, Feaster II and Flanagan with 16 apiece, and the incredible Kojic with 15. In a game where it was hard to imagine the possibility of more fouls, the men never backed down from the fight and subscribed to the physicality at all times.
The men have also developed a new and distinctive mentality moving into the final four games of the season. It is easy for teams to over-reflect on their previous performances and run through the elements of the game that could have been done differently. The men say that in the past, they had these same issues. It is understandable how contemplating an earlier game while trying to prepare for an upcoming one can overcrowd the mind and make it hard to focus.
According to this team, that is a thing of the past. Moreover, not everything about winning has to do with physical drills, conditioning, and stamina. There is one aspect of a game that can often be overlooked and for the men, this turned out to be the most important feature of the team. The men's refined mental preparation and acceptance have turned the team's season around for the better. Not only this, but the hard work in the physical realm has also persisted.
In the hours before practice, two redshirt freshmen regularly show up to exercise their skill and ability on the court. Shyheim Flanagan and Aubrey Feaster II generate an average of 30 minutes per game. Only a portion of the sport of basketball involves the endurance to play at this length multiple times a week. The other, while fairly obvious, is a skill and natural talent.
It has become a cliche in sports today to claim that "hard work beats talent", however, it is most certainly a reliable message to pass on to young athletes. Observers of the Penn State New Kensington men's basketball team may have noticed the team's continued improvement in recent weeks. If we judge sports by their famous training truisms, then this team has the ultimate blend.
While not every cliche about sports is accurate, the terms "winning" and "champion" are echoed in every locker room regularly. "We can go back to the Wilkes-Barre game, it's the same thing as Mont Alto," said Flanagan at a February 7 practice. "They were number two in the country. I think Mont Alto is now but I mean just keep fighting. No one expected us to be here so now that we are here it's like, now what are we going to do? We can just keep building because no one expected New Ken to be where we are now. So I feel like it's a great thing for the school that we're getting closer and closer to these number one teams in the country."
It has been mentioned in the past that this team resonates with a championship club. Incidentally, most clubs are not noticed until they have arrived at the top. For now, it is that journey that matters most. "We're 10-12 and we have four games left, four very winnable games," said Feaster II at a February 7 practice. "We'll be 14-12 probably."
The men will play Penn State Greater Allegheny at home for the second time on Saturday, February 12, at 3:00 p.m.
Written by Matt Heavner, PSNK Athletics Communications Intern
