Freeport boys come through with crucial section win against Burrell

By: Michael Love
Friday, January 31, 2025 | 10:06 PM

With its playoff hopes on the line, Freeport responded in a crucial Section 1-4A game Friday at rival Burrell.

But it was far from a runaway down the stretch for the Yellowjackets.

Freeport led by as many as 14 in the third quarter before Burrell cut the lead to two in the fourth.

The Yellowjackets, however, made the plays they needed to in crunch time and came away with a 57-51 victory.

“It is such a great feeling,” said junior guard Carson Kane, who finished with a team-best 16 points.

“Everyone did their job tonight. The team played well. We executed everything we wanted to in the game plan. We’ve had our ups and downs all season, but tonight, we showed who we can be. That is a big part for us going forward.”

Freeport made it two in a row in the section after Tuesday’s 74-63 home victory over Valley.

“Since Tuesday, we had the mindset that we’re already playing playoff basketball because we couldn’t afford a loss or we would be done,” Yellowjackets coach Rich Macura said.

“We had to get Valley, and we had to get Burrell. We have one more to make our goal. That’s what is great about high school basketball. When you get in that gym, the opportunity is there to show up and get the job done when there are playoff implications.”

Freeport upped its overall record to 6-12 and moved to 3-7 in section play. Highlands fell to 3-7 in the section with its 69-50 loss to North Catholic on Friday.

Highlands and Freeport meet Tuesday at Freeport Middle School with a playoff berth on the line.

The Yellowjackets finish up section play against Knoch next Friday, and the Golden Rams take on Valley.

Burrell fell to 3-8 in the section and 6-13 overall. The Bucs must win at Valley on Tuesday to stay alive.

“We kind of talked about how we’re taking a step back, and what do we need to do to improve at this point in the year,” Bucs coach Mike Fantuzzo said.

“I told the guys to ponder that. We have to refocus ourselves and come out ready to play Valley on Tuesday.”

It was a far different outcome from the first meeting between the teams Jan. 7. That night, the Bucs, fueled by 16 made 3-pointers, defeated the Yellowjackets, 78-46.

Burrell finished Friday’s game 8 for 28 from long range.

“We didn’t shoot the ball well, plain and simple, and the name of the game is putting the ball in the hoop,” Fantuzzo said.

Before the game, Burrell honored senior players Tucker Bitar and Parker Pruitt.

Bitar finished with a game-high 21 points. Eleven of the 21 came in a frenetic fourth quarter that saw the Bucs close to gap to 48-46 with 2:11 left on a 3-pointer from Pruitt.

“We didn’t quit down double digits, and I am proud of them for that,” Fantuzzo said.

“But we have to play that same way when we have momentum and we’re hitting shots as when we’re struggling to make shots. We have to pick it up defensively and look for ways to score.”

Pruitt hit a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and three overall to finish with nine points.

He fouled out just 12 seconds after making the outside shot that cut it to one possession.

Gavin Tola, who also hit for double figures in scoring with 13, responded for Freeport with a 3-pointer of his own to push the Yellowjackets’ advantage back to five at 51-46 with 1:21 to go.

“Basketball is a game of runs, and we expected Burrell to not quit,” Macura said.

“We expected Tucker Bitar, a senior on their senior night, to step up and make plays for them. We helped ourselves by executing on defense. We stepped up and executed our game plan from practice. We helped out. Then, on offense, we finished. We rebounded and then went on to the next play.”

Freeport came out strong at both ends of the court to lead by nine at the end of the first quarter.

Burrell led 4-2, but the Yellowjackets used an 11-0 run, highlighted by a trio of 2-point buckets from Tola, to lead 13-4 after the first eight minutes.

Freeport extended its lead to 11 as Dempsey Cowan grabbed an offensive rebound and converted a layup less than a minute into the second.

DJ Cosentino and Bitar answered for the Bucs with back-to-back treys to cut the deficit to five.

The teams played back and forth over the final 6:30 of the half, and Freeport led 22-16 at the break.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Burrell, Freeport