Shanksville pulls the upset over rival Shade.

               Shanksville and Shade met Tuesday night in  a WestPac South battle for first place. The game had been billed as one of the most anticipated matchups in the early season, and it did not disappoint. There was a packed house at the tiny Shade gym, but the patrons certainly got their money's worth for this one.  The game featured a back and forth affair all night long, with the lead never exceeding more than seven points for either side.       

            Shanksville raced out to an early lead in the first quarter, but Shade was able to weather the storm. The Panthers were settling for three's in the early portion of the game, but found some rhythm by attacking the basket and letting senior forward, Wade Walker facilitate the offense. The first quarter finished with a Shade 10-9 lead. The second quarter is when things started to pick up on the intensity scale. Shanksville's leading scorer, Carter Slade, went out with two foulds and Shade took full advantage. Wade Walker and younger brother, Nash Walker opened up the second with back to back three pointers.  It appeared as though Shade has all the momentum, but the Shanksville bench came up in a big way. The energy brought on by senior Nathen Gardner helped change the tides. He came up with two big buckets and some big hustle plays to ignite the Vikings' effort. Combine Gardner's efforts with Slade coming back into the game, Shanksville was able to mount a 28-26 lead at the half.
 
  
            The third quarter opened with the momentum staying with Shanksville as they had a 7-2 run to start the quarter. With the score standing at 35-28, Shade started their own run led by sophomore guard Jeremy Pyles. The sophomore reserve made two three pointers in the quarter, and Nash Walker added another. The teams traded buckets once again, and the third quarter finished with Shade leading 39-38. The fourth quarter seemed as though there was a lid on both baskets. Shansville made one field goal in the first seven minutes of the frame, and relied on some defense and some gifts from Shade. Shade also had their troubles shooting the basketball in final set, as they only made one basket themselves. Shade's Nash Walker and Jeremy Pyles each missed front ends of one and one's, keeping the game in striking distance for Shanksville. After a Wade Walker went one of two from the free throw line with jsut over a minute remaining, it set the score 46-43 in favor of the home team, Ryan Platt of Shanksville then drove down the lane and hit a tough lauup, and was fouled with a minute a left in the contest. Platt was able to convert the three point play to tie the game. A mix up, and some pressure applied by Shanksville forced a Shade turnover giving the ball to the Vikings with under a minute remaining. Shanksville ran the clock down and a deflection gave the ball to the Vikings underneath their own basket with one second remaining. This confusion starts here, Shanksville threw the ball in play to nobody, and the ball went untouched, the problem is that the clock ran out without anyone touching the ball. The officials put one second back, and gave Shanksville the same scenario, and the Vikings did not let it go to waste. Carter Slade hit a jump shot from the left wing as time expired to give Shanksville the 48-46 win.


          The win moves Shanksville to 10-1 (9-0 in WestPac) and drops Shade to 11-1 (7-1). Carter Slade paced the Vikings with 20 points, and Ryan Platt and Jordan Wilt each supplied 9. Shade was led by Wade Walker's 17 points, but he held to just three points in the second half. Nash Walker chipped in with ten, and Jeremy Ryles scored 9, all on three pointers. Shade was ranked number 9 in the state by the Harrisburg Patriot News heading into the week. The two teams will meet again on February 12 at Shanksville.