Austin Finarelli came off the bench to make significant contributions to both Elizabethtown University men’s basketball victories during the first 15 days of his college career.
The NEPA Elite Coyle 17U and Dallas High School alum had 11 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals in 25 minutes Nov. 17 during an 81-65 victory over Cabrini. Finarelli, a 6-foot freshman guard, then had 8 points, 7 rebounds and 5 steals in 24 minutes during a 62-60 win over Lebanon Valley.
Finarelli was held scoreless in 24 minutes during his first two games, but broke out of that in the Cabrini game.
After going 0-for-8 from the floor and 0-for-3 on 3-pointers in the first two games, Finarelli has shot 10-for-21 (47.6 percent) from the floor, 3-for-8 (37.5) on 3-pointers and 5-for-6 (83.3 percent) from the line in his last three games.
Finarelli leads the team with eight steals and is tied for second in rebounds at 5.2 per game while averaging 5.6 points.
At Dallas last season, Finarelli was a second-team Class 4A all-state selection after leading the Mountaineers to the state semifinals. He was NEPABasketball.com’s Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 Player of the Year.
The Blue Jays (2-3) return to action Tuesday night at home against Valley Forge.