DaCanal shot wins AML TItle for Elk County Boys

ST. MARYS, Pa. – Nate DaCanal’s putback off his own missed shot with 1.6 seconds to play lifted Elk County Catholic to its first AML title since 2011 with a 47-46 win over Ridgway at St. Marys High School Saturday night.

Ridgway had two chances in the final 1.6 after officials put time back on the clock following DaCanal’s basket but couldn’t connect on either one.

Moments before DaCanal’s game winner, Ridgway’s Ben MacDonald appeared as if he was going to be the hero when he gave the Elkers a 46-45 lead on a basket with 7.6 seconds left.

Elk, though, after a timeout, went the length of the floor and ended up with two shots, as DaCanal’s first was off the mark but he got his own rebound and put it back in for the lead.

The Crusaders were able to win the title despite being down 11-0 at the end of the first quarter.

A 14-0 run by ECC at the start of the second quarter erased that deficit and helped give the Crusaders a 20-19 halftime lead.

Then, after a back-and-forth third quarter, Ridgway took a 33-32 lead into the final eight minutes.

The Elkers then grew the lead to 39-33 1:25 into the fourth quarter, but ECC fought back and tied the score at 43 on a Kyle Huff 3-pointer with 1:30 to play.

A MacDonald free throw with less than a minute left gave the Elkers the lead back before DaCanl put ECC in front, 45-44, with a basket with 27 seconds to play.

Ridgway then ran a play for MacDonald, who put the Elkers back in front with his short jumper.

Box score provided by The DuBois Courier Express/Tri-County Sunday

ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 47, RIDGWAY 46

Score by Quarters

Elk CC 0 20 12 15 – 47

Ridgway 11 8 14 13 – 46

Elk County Catholic – 47

Nate DaCanal 7 0-3 16, Benji Hoffman 1 0-0 2, Mitchell Struble 3 2-4 10, Ian Herzing 2 0-0 6, Ryan Seelye 1 0-0 2, Kyle Huff 2 0-0 5, Jeff Wehler 2 0-1 4, Alex Dattoli 0 0-0 0, Mitchell Smith 1 0-0 2, Dan Singer 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 2-8 47.

Ridgway – 46

Cory Oknefski 2 0-1 4, Jeremy Breier 6 4-4 17, Ben MacDonald 2 6-9 11, Cody Delhunty 0 0-0 0, Josh Lineberger 3 0-0 6, Neil MacDonald 1 0-0 2, John Mitchell 2 1-1 5, Andy Breier 1 0-0 2. Totals: 17 11-15 46.

Three-pointers: Elk County Catholic 7 (DaCanal 2, Struble 2, Herzing 2, Huff), Ridgway 1 (J. Breier)