Undersized Gratz hustles past Ryan in seeding game

It pays to go to practice.

Simon Gratz senior forward Harvy Lath has been a consistent attendee, according to his coaches.

Before Thursday's District 12 4A seeding game against Archbishop Ryan, however, a few teammates missed Wednesday's session.

As a result, Lath, who nearly quit the team earlier this season, seized a starting role and helped the Bulldogs hold off the Raiders, 60-55, at Lincoln.

"It was very important because we were undersized and we had to rebound," said Lath, who finished with seven rebounds, a blocked shot and three points. "Me and our junior Rashon [Johnson] had to come up with rebounds."

"I just set my mind to it," Lath added. "I just had to get them. If nobody else could, I had to."

Ryan (16-10), which has been eliminated, left many rebounds to be had.

The Raiders shot 5 of 29 (17 percent) from the three-point line. They also had 18 offensive rebounds.

Lath, however, grabbed two important defensive rebounds with the Bulldogs, who earned a No. 3 seed with the win, clinging to a late 54-49 fourth-quarter lead.

"Harvy has been one of the most consistent players," said first-year Gratz coach Lynard Stewart. "He's been on time all the time. He's one of those players who will text you like, 'Coach, what can I do better?' "

Buried behind a team loaded with forwards, Lath, who transferred from Randolph as a junior, contemplated quitting because of limited opportunities to play.

"I said, 'Harvy, that's not you,' " Stewart said. " 'You're not that kind of player. Just keep pushing.' And he stayed and got those crucial rebounds today. That's the Harvy we've been looking for the majority of the year."

The Gratz offense was handled capably by Johnny Eden (18 points) and Jamal Goode, who scored all 14 of his points in the second half.

Ryan, which led, 22-21, at halftime, was led by Austin Slawter's 20 points. Freddie Killian added six points and 14 rebounds (nine offensive). Izaiah Brockington had 11 points.

Gratz outscored the Raiders, 22-12, in the pivotal third quarter.

The Bulldogs will play in the first round of the PIAA tournament March 6. Lath will be ready.

"Yeah," he said, smiling. "Practice pays off."

Simon Gratz 13 8 22 17 - 60

Archbishop Ryan 8 14 12 21 - 55

G: Jamal Goode 14, Tyriek Meridith 12, Johnny Eden 18, Rashon Johnson 7, Kevin Tillgman 7, Harvy Lath 3, Isiah Wallace 2.

R: Austin Slawter 20, Freddie Killian 6, Austin Chabot 5, Izaiah Brockington 11, Matiss Kulackovskis 9, Amin Bryant 2, Chris Kuhar 2.

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@AceCarterINQ