Antietam holds off Tulpehocken, remains on top in Berks IV

The showdown for first place in Division IV of the Berks Conference between Antietam and Tulpehocken turned into a duel between the Mounts’ Josh McKoy and the Trojans’ David Bednarczyk.

Each finished with 29 points but McKoy and the Mounts had more left at the end, holding on for a 50-48 win Thursday at Stony Creek.

The win gives the Mounts (4-0, 9-1) a two-game cushion over the second-place Trojans (2-2, 7-2).

Bednarczyk hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points in the first quarter as the Trojans moved out in front 18-7.

McKoy began to heat up in the second period, scoring 10 points as the Mounts closed to within 28-21 at the half.

Antietam used a big third quarter to take the lead, outscoring Tulpehocken 16-8.

The Mounts were up 37-36 heading into the fourth quarter but couldn’t pull away because of their continuing troubles at the foul line. They made just 2-of-6 free throws in the final quarter and 7-of-20 for the game. They are shooting 52 percent for the season.

The 29 points is a career high for McKoy, a 6-2 sophomore. He had 18 points earlier this season against Daniel Boone and has scored 14 or more points in five straight games.

Bednarczyk, a 6-1 junior, has had several big scoring games this season. He had a career-high 38 points against Hamburg and had 25 against both Oley Valley and Annville-Cleona.

Antietam’s leading scorer, Hector Tiburcio, was in foul trouble and finished with a season-low three points, none in the second half.

He had scored 13 or more in every game this season and was averaging 18.7 points. He is the only active 1,000-point scorer in the Berks Conference.

Jovan Hollis and Alejandro Montero each scored seven points for Antietam.

Bryce Mellen scored 11 for Tulpehocken.