Seniors give Warwick a spark off the bench to avoid boys basketball upset against Lancaster Catholic | Boys’ basketball

All five of them went to the scorer’s table at the same time. They were more than subs. They were a message.

Warwick coach Chris Christensen wanted to tell his starters their effort wasn’t good enough. What better way than to remove everyone from the game?

Jahkai Dixon, Connor Meck, Ryan Rusnock, Drew Musser and Gavin Sturgis walked onto the floor less than five minutes into the first quarter.

“We were just trying to get a spark,” Christensen said. “It’s one thing not to have your legs or not be making shots. It’s another to not be doing the things that don’t necessarily take ability.”

Warwick overcame Lancaster Catholic 58-52 in the MyJersey Designs Holiday Tournament at Lititz Saturday night.

Two of those reserves, Dixon and Meck, played a key role in the outcome.

Meck drilled his first shot, a 3-pointer, on his way to 10 points. Dixon was a floor leader for stretches and scored seven points.

“Everybody brought energy,” Dixon said. “You never know when you’re gonna get in, so you’ve just gotta stay ready.”

Warwick will take on Dallastown in the boys basketball championship game Tuesday at 8 p.m. Dallastown defeated Penn Manor 59-47 in the first game Saturday.

These 32 minutes were agonizing for Warwick in the way that only a near-upset can feel. Catholic led by eight points in the first half and was tied at 50 with 2:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.

There were moments, like when Brody Clausen scored seven points in 54 seconds to make it 16-15, when it felt as if Warwick was about to seize control. The Warriors never did.

Give the Crusaders credit. Despite going through a coaching change when Joe Klazas stepped down and was replaced by assistant Cole Portz on Dec. 15, Catholic (2-7) put a scare into an opponent that hopes to contend for the Lancaster-Lebanon League title.

If Rowan DeMarco’s layup with 62 seconds left didn’t somehow rim out, Catholic would’ve been even heading into the final minute.

No one in purple and gold could understand how DeMarco’s shot didn’t fall. It seemed to touch every inch of metal and no net.

“We were just talking about that in the locker room,” Catholic senior Tyler Humphrey said. “It would’ve been a completely different situation if that went in.”

Warwick always seems to have players like Dixon and Meck filling out the roster. Seniors who have been part of successful teams and are willing to accept any role that leads to more wins. Two years ago, the names were Mason Burr and Cody Ryan.

The thread that binds the seasons together is unselfishness. The Warriors want to continue their recent tradition.

“We’ve got a bunch of great players on this team,” Meck said. “I understand that maybe not every night is gonna be my night. But you’ve got to be ready every night.”

Sound familiar? That’s basically what Dixon said.

In the fourth quarter, when the reality of a potential stunning loss was inching closer, Warwick’s starters reasserted themselves.

Ya’Majesty Washington scored eight of his 15 points and Austin Clemens added six of his 14 over the final 4:30. That was enough for the Warriors to escape.

If not for the major minutes logged by Dixon and Meck, maybe they wouldn’t have.

“You’ve got to go out there and be a sparkplug,” Meck said. “Just gotta try to flip the script. Obviously, the game’s not going the right way if our starters need to come off the court.”

Warwick (6-3) has battled through some adversity early in the season. The Warriors dropped their first two league games with Washington out of the lineup.

That’s why the outlook in Lititz seems a bit gloomier than the team’s overall record might indicate.

“It’s not our standard here,” Dixon said. “Our standard is to be at the top of the section. That’s what we’re about. That’s what we need to do.”

All of Warwick’s preseason goals remain within reach. It can qualify for the L-L playoffs and still chase down Conestoga Valley for first place in Section Two.

Losses to Manheim Township, CV and Solanco have made the first month feel uneven. But 6-3 isn’t a bad place to be.

“Some nights we look unreal,” Christensen said. “Some nights, like tonight, I don’t think we were great. I still think we’re figuring some things out.”

Warwick figured one thing out against Catholic: It helps to have some seniors in reserve.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.