Rams win district championship

March 4, 2013

The Johnsonburg Rams gather after winning the District 9 Class A boys basketball championship with a win over Ridgway Saturday night.

CLARION – Another Johnsonburg second-half comeback equaled a district championship 30 years in the making.
Johnsonburg boys basketball won their first district championship since 1983 with a 37-29 victory over Ridgway in the Class A title game held at Clarion University.
"These kids worked hard all year, that (a district title) was one of their goals," Johnsonburg coach Bill Shuey said. "At halftime they said 'We're not going to be denied.' They came out and did what they had to do to win. In the last couple games, we've been a second-half team."
After facing a 25-22 deficit entering the fourth quarter, Johnsonburg came through with another fourth-quarter playoff rally to pull victory from the jaws of defeat. Kyle Sheldon opened the quarter with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 25-all on the first possession of the fourth quarter.
After a Tony Leithner free throw pulled the Elkers ahead by one, Sheldon hit his second straight trey to put the Rams ahead 28-26 with 6:05 left.