Jake Dallas, York Catholic shoot down Oley Valley
2024 Berks basketball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
YORK — Junior guard Jake Dallas hit all the big shots Tuesday, including a pair of key free throws with 35 seconds left, as fourth-seeded York Catholic eliminated fifth-seeded Oley Valley 53-50 in a District 3 Class 3A quarterfinal.
The Lynx (12-11) led 20-19 at the half before Dallas, the YCIAA scoring leader, went on a shooting spree, knocking down three 3-pointers in the third quarter and a fourth in the fourth quarter. He finished with a game-high 22 points, 17 in the second half. York Catholic led 38-34 entering the final quarter.
Dallas’ two free throws gave the Fighting Irish (12-11) a 52-48 lead. He went 4-for-4 from the line in the fourth quarter and 6-of-7 overall. He is shooting 80 percent from the line for the season and is second in the league in both free throw attempts and makes.
York Catholic made 10-of-13 free throws; Oley made just 12-of-21.
Senior Johnny Turchi scored 15 points to lead the Lynx; twin brother David had nine. Junior Tristan McFarland scored 11.
Oley Valley scoring leader Ben DeBalko was limited to a pair of baskets, both 3-pointers, and seven points. The junior, an all-division pick in Berks IV, entered the game leading the Berks Conference with 61 3-pointers.
York Catholic advances to play top-seeded Trinity Friday in a semifinal at 7. The Shamrocks earned an opening-round bye.
The winner Friday will clinch a state tournament berth; the loser will head to a state-qualifier needing one more victory.
The Lynx won thier district opener as the No. 3 seed last season, beating fourth-seeded Brandywine Heights at Oley. DeBalko and David Turchi each scored 14 points.
They were beaten in the semifinals by second-seeded Trinity 78-51 before losing to top-seeded Columbia in a game for the final remaining PIAA Tournament berth.
The Lynx have never won more than one game in any district playoff, and have never qualified for the state tournament.
This was their fourth straight district appearance, the first three under head coach Matt Barrell. Barrell resigned following 10 seasons just weeks before the start of practice. Former Twin Valley coach Chad Walter, an Oley grad, replaced him.
The Lynx got off to a rough start this season, dropping five of their first six games. They turned things around once they got into league play and went into the regular season finale with a chance to win the Berks Conference Division IV title. That went to Antietam, which prevailed 49-47 in overtime.
