Boys Basketball - Yough vs Southmoreland

December 14, 2022

Southmoreland Outlasts Yough 44-36 to Remain Unbeaten

On paper, the Southmoreland at Yough boys basketball game on Tuesday, December 13, had all the makings of a high-scoring brawl. Southmoreland was averaging over 75 points per game in opening the season 3-0. Yough also started this season with 3 wins before dropping their most recent two games, but they showed the potential to fill the hoop on any given night. Add in that reclassification occurred since Yough beat the Scotties in two conference games last season, and this non-conference game would be the only meeting of the year between the two border schools. It looked like the perfect setup for both teams to light up the scoreboard.

But the game is played on the hardwood, not on paper, and the results left prognosticators feeling fooled. When the game was played and the final horn sounded, Southmoreland outlasted Yough 44-36 in front of a loud crowd in the Yough High School gymnasium.

As the first quarter opened, it looked like fans would be treated to a close contest. The Scotties, on the strength of Ty Keffer's 10-point effort, opened a 15-12 lead over the host Cougars.

But as Southmoreland continued scoring at the same pace in the second quarter, Yough suddenly went cold. The Cougars managed only 4 points, while giving up 15 to the Scotties, and Southmoreland took a commanding 30-16 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Yough battled back in the second half to make it interesting. The Cougars outscored the Scotties 11-10 in the third, and Yough's Terek Crosby brought the fans to their feet with a steal and a rim-rattling two-hand dunk. But too many missed opportunities down the stretch sealed the Cougars' fate.

Yough bested Southmoreland 9-4 in the final quarter, but never overcame their first half deficit, despite holding Keffer to only 2 points in the second half. Austin Matthews had 6 points in the fourth for Yough, with a Crosby 3-pointer being the only other points for the Cougars. Southmoreland went 2-of-5 from the free throw line in the fourth, but they had enough of a cushion to seal the 44-36 win.

Southmoreland was led by Ty Keffer with 14 points and Kelvin Lin with 10. Terek Crosby and Austin Matthews both had 14 for Yough.

Southmoreland (4-0) will host their other border rival and former conference foe, Mount Pleasant, in their only non-conference meeting of the year on 12/16. Yough (3-3) will open their Class 3A Section 4 schedule at home against Brownsville on 12/16.