Tulpehocken falls just short of reaching district title game

One week after hosting their first District 3 Tournament game the Tulpehocken Trojans will get another home game. It’s not what they wanted, of course.

They were hoping to play at Giant Center, in the Class 3A championship game, but fell just short Thursday in a 61-58 loss at second-seeded York Catholic.

The third-seeded Trojans (18-6) had a balanced scoring attack, putting four players in double figures, but they couldn’t fine a way to stop York Catholic’s dynamic Luke Forjan, who scored a game-high 31 points.

David Bednarczyk hit four 3-pointers and led Tulpehocken with 19 points. Nolan Sweitzer scored a career-high 15 and Aidan Miller 10.

Forjan, a 5-11 junior guard and one of the Yor-Adams League’s top players, scored 11 fourth-quarter points to help the Fighting Irish pull it out. Before that they had trouble shaking loose.

The Trojans led 11-9 after one period and were within 38-37 heading into the final quarter. Forjan hit 7-of-10 free throws in the final quarter to send his team on to the championship game March 5 at Giant Center against top-seeded Columbia, a 43-41 winner over No. 5 Lancaster Catholic.

The Trojans will play Lancaster Catholic Monday at 7 for third place. The winner advances to the PIAA Tournament; the loser is eliminated.

Forjan scored 36 points earlier this season in a win over York Suburban and 33 in a loss to Berks Catholic.