MILLERSTOWN - Playoffs are when great players shine and legends are made.
In Greenwood boys' playoff opener, Adam Harrison delivered a legendary performance, scoring a career-high 30 points as he led the Wildcats past Lancaster County Christian 54-18 as the Tri-Valley League Champs began defense of their District 3 Gold.
The District 3 Class A quarterfinal win guarantees that Greenwood will have a spot in the state tournament.
Despite the final score, the Lions came out of gate firing on all cylinders and built a 6-0 lead while the capacity crowd was still settling in.
Unfazed, the Wildcats clawed their way back into the game. A pair of buckets by Josh Ferguson and a 3-ball from Tyler Fegley got the Wildcats within striking distance, but a pair of long distance calls by Jensen King kept Lancaster County Christian on top. A basket at the horn by Harrison finally allowed Greenwood to pull even at 12 apiece.
The Lions had played a near perfect quarter of basketball, committing no turnovers or fouls, and yet they could achieve no better than a tie. And it was about to get much worse for the visitors.
A Harrison three early in the second gave the 'Cats their first lead, but a free-throw and bucket by Jesse King knotted things back up at 15-15.
From that point on Greenwood outscored the Lions 39-3 including 29-1 after intermission.
The Wildcats shot a sizzling 55 percent (22 for 40) from the floor including five of seven in the second quarter.
"The shots started falling" said Greenwood coach Kent Houser, who is in quest of his fifth district crown. "Kids stepped up and made plays. Harrison made a bunch of big plays for us."
Indeed he did - Harrison hit four trifectas and added a conventional three-point play.
Harrison proved valuable in all aspects of the game as he led the team in rebounds with nine while blocking three Lion shots.
Josh Ferguson delivered 10 points and collected four caroms. Tyler Fegley chipped in with five point and four boards. Ryan Kerstetter proved valuable on defense gathering four steals.
Lancaster County Chritian poorly in the second half. Nothing went right as the Lions turned the ball over 11 times in the final 16 minutes and missed all 12 of their shot attempts.
"This game was about our defense," Houser explained. "They beat us down the floor a few times early in the game, but in the second half we totally took away their transition game and prevented them from getting offensive rebounds."
Only a foul shot by Blake Petersheim with 1:09 remaining in the fourth prevented the Wildcats from pitching a shutout in the second half.
Nate Herzog delivered a game-high 11 rebounds for the Lions and shared the team-lead in points with Jensen King as they both tallied six.
Greenwood will play Harrisburg Christian, a 69-62 winner over Covenant Christian, in a semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. Monday at East Pennsboro High School.
