Derrick Biney's career-high night included the go-ahead three-point play with 1:07 left, and CD East edged rival Central Dauphin 48-45 in a Mid-Penn Commonwealth televised boys' basketball game Friday night at East High.
Biney scored the last of his 22 points on a hoop and harm, breaking a 45-45 deadlock. The junior guard's previous career-high was 14 points.
His output was needed, as East's top scorer this season, Dwight Whitlock, was held to a season-low nine points to snap his string of nine straight games with at least 20 points.
The defenses shined in this sister-school rivalry, and East (9-6, 7-2) was able to keep pace with Commonwealth's co-leaders Harrisburg and Cumberland Valley with the victory. The Rams (10-7, 5-4), who were without head coach Jay Crosier, fell two back in the loss column. Crosier was in Ireland for a family matter.
Manny Gonzalez scored 13 and Jake Notestine 12 to lead CD, which led by as many as seven points, 39-32, early in the fourth quarter.
PIVOTAL SEQUENCE
After two free throws by A.J. Perez gave the Rams that 39-32 edge, East would outscore them 16-6 the rest of the way.
A three-point play on a put-back by Biney, who also led East with seven rebounds, cut the deficit to 39-36, and he later sank a 3-ball to cut the deficit to 43-41 with 3:02 remaining.
Whitlock's steal and dish to Austin Johnston tied it.
Perez was then fouled with 2:28 left but was called for a technical foul after the play. Perez missed his two free throws, and Biney made both of his to give East its first lead, 45-43.
However, Notestine found Joe Wilk for a layup with 1:22 left -- CD's only field goal of the fourth quarter to knot things up.
Biney answered by taking the ball on the wing and driving to the hole, sinking the bucket and making the free throw with 1:07 left.
Both teams missed free throws in the final minute, and Central Dauphin had one final chance with 2 seconds left. But the long in-bounds pass from underneath its own bucket was stolen by Frank Wilson to end it.
STAT FRENZY
Neither team did itself any favors at the free-throw line. CD was just 8-for-17 from the stripe; East was 12-for-25. ... Both teams made 16 field goals (16-for-40 for CD; 16-for-46 for East). ... East, despite being outsized, won the rebounding battle by a 36-30 count. Sixteen of those were on the offensive end. After Biney's seven boards, Chase Edmonds had six, Whitlock five and Johnston four. ...
Perez (nine) and Wilk (seven) led the Rams in rebounding, Wilk adding three blocked shots. ... Notestine dished out a game-high five assists for CD. ... Biney's three assists led East. ... The largest lead for East was six points, 29-23, after opening the second half with a Quintin Smith jumper.
More on this game, including a video interview with Biney, quotes from both head coaches, and a Player of the Game poll coming later in another post on PennLive.