Eagles Shipwreck Flying Dutchmen, Win 2018 Doc Greene Tournament

2018 Doc Greene Tournament Champions
The 2018 Doc Greene Tournament Champions.

HUNTINGDON, Pa.-The Juniata men's basketball team pulled away in the second half to win, 90-71, over Lebanon Valley in the 27thAnnual Doc Greene Championship Game Saturday afternoon in Memorial Gymnasium.  

The Flying Dutchmen scored the opening four points of the game before Brandon Martinazzi (Cresson, Pa. / Bishop Carroll) stole the ball and laid it in. He found Paul Martello (York, Pa. / York Catholic)for a layup which knotted the score at 4-4. The two reversed rolls as Martello found Martinazzi for a layup and Jake Holsopple (Duncansville, Pa. / Hollidaysburg) converted two foul shots to cut the deficit to one, 9-8. 

The teams went back and forth as neither one could build much of a lead over the next 10 minutes. A three for Lebanon Valley made it 30-25 with six and half minutes to go. On the other end, Cameron Keck (Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro) pumped faked to get his defender to leave his feet, took two dribbles before swishing a pullup jumper. The Flying Dutchmen built the lead up to nine, 36-27 over the next two minutes.

Noah Neville (Westminster, Md. / North Carroll) splashed a three from the right corner off a pass from Martinazzi. After another stop, the Eagles pushed ahead and Martinazzi found Holsopple underneath for a layup which pulled Juniata within one, 36-35. Lebanon Valley scored from the elbow to push the lead back to three. Martinazzi came back the other end and drove left through a sea of blue jerseys before laying it in while being shoved to the ground. He nailed the free throw to tie things at 38-38. Lebanon Valley scored the final bucket of the half as they led, 40-38 at the half. 

Martello made two threes and Marcus Hall (York, Pa./Trinity) scored on a layup on a fast break started by a steal by Martello. Hall scored again on a short hook before Martinazzi scored inside, off a pass from Hall. With two seconds on the shot clock, Holsopple caught an inbounds pass on the left wing and drilled a three to make it 53-46. 

Juniata furthered their lead with a 25-15 surge over the next 10 minutes, with two Holsopple free throws making it 78-61. A layup by Nicholas Albert (Herndon, Va. / Westfield High) pushed the lead to 19. The Flying Dutchmen managed to get back within 12, but two free throws from Holsopple and a three from Martello helped the Eagles end the threat. 

Juniata had a season-high 25 assists as they scored a season-high 90 points. Martinazzi was named tournament MVP and Holsopple was named to the all-tournament team while he tallied a career-high nine assists. Hall  added a career-high 15 points. 

The Eagles return to action Thursday the 20thagainst Randolph in the Juniata College Holliday Tournament Sponsored by Comfort Inn. Tipoff is at 7:00.