Trojans, Scotties in unlikely WPIAL semifinal
When the WPIAL Class A boys basketball field was set, it’s safe to say few expected a California vs. Union match-up in the semifinals. However, it will be the eighth-seeded Trojans (19-5) and the 12th-seeded Scotties (14-10) clashing tonight at Chartiers Valley High School for a chance to play in this weekend’s championship game at A.J. Palumbo Center.
California, which won the Section 2 title, defeated ninth-seeded Cornell in the first round, 57-47, on Tuesday, then took out two-time defending champion and top-seeded Monessen, 42-41, in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Coach Steve Luko’s Trojans lost a thriller to the Greyhounds in last year’s quarterfinals, 59-55, then fell again to them during the 2002-03 regular season, 68-56, although they played the latter game with two starters out of the lineup.
Union, which tied for third in Section 1, stunned fifth-seeded St. Joseph’s in the first round, 66-60, then upended fourth-seeded Monaca, 52-47, in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Monaca tied Sewickley Academy for the Section 1 crown, two games ahead of Union and Rochester, but split with coach Mark Stanley’s Scotties during the regular season.
The highest seed left in the field is No. 2 Clairton, which will play sixth-seeded Duquesne in the other semifinal at South Fayette High School tonight. Both games tip off at 8 p.m.
Union has already defeated the Bears once this season, having won at Clairton, 64-50, on Jan. 14.
Luko isn’t about to take the Scotties lightly, even though they entered the postseason with a 12-10 record.
“Talking to some other people about them, they say their record is very deceiving,” Luko said. “We can’t just look at that. They beat two good teams to get here. We’re one step away from the finals. We’ve got to come out and play ball.”
Luko doesn’t sense any overconfidence in his team.
“In our last two practices, the kids weren’t too excited … they’re not too high and they’re not too low,” Luko said. “They’re taking everything in stride, which is good.”
Union will test California’s backcourt, according to Luko.
“One of our scouts saw them play and said their strength is in their guards,” Luko said. “They play good defense and they mix up their defenses.”
Neither California nor Union, which is located in New Castle, has ever won a WPIAL boys basketball championship, but one of those two will get a chance to end its drought. Both have already qualified for the state tournament.
The Trojans field a veteran line-up that features four seniors in guards Ryan Robinson and Shane Tonkavitch, and forwards Rick Cope and Thom Russell. Filling out the starting five is junior center Dan DeMoss.
Cope and Tonkavitch have always dreamed about making a serious playoff run, and now those dreams have come true.
“Some of us have been playing together since eighth grade, and the whole time we were always talking about what we’re doing right now,” said Cope, the team’s leading scorer during the regular season with a 17.7 average.
Tonkavitch proved to be an accurate prognosticator three years ago.
“Rick and I started as freshmen for coach Don Martin,” Tonkavitch said. “I told Coach Martin back then that I guaranteed we would get to the states. It’s been coming for four years, and now it’s here. We did it.
There’s still more to do, though, and the Trojans realize that.
“No point in stopping now,” Robinson said after Saturday’s win.
While defenses have concentrated on stopping Cope, Tonkavitch, Robinson and DeMoss have picked up the scoring slack.
California used tight defense and one key run to spark it in each of its first two playoff victories.
Against Cornell, the Trojans reeled off three straight 3-pointers – two by Tonkavitch and one by Robinson – to turn a three-point deficit into a six-point lead in the third period. It was a lead they would never relinquish. Tonkavitch led the way with 18 points. Robinson followed with 13, DeMoss added 12 and Cope chipped in with 11.
California fell behind Monessen, 13-7, early in the second period, then used a 13-2 run the rest of the half to take a 21-15 lead. The Trojans would never trail again. Robinson and Tonkavitch scored 12 apiece, DeMoss followed with 10 and Cope had eight.
Craig Hannon has led the way for Union in both of its wins.
Against St. Joseph’s, Hannon poured in 37 points as the Scotties overcame a 42-37 deficit by out-scoring the Spartans 29-18 in the fourth period. Jeff Nero and Mike Mukaaya contributed 13 points apiece.
Union jumped out to a 14-4 lead after one period against Monaca and led 28-13 at halftime. The Indians sliced 10 points off that lead in the third period, but the Scotties hung on for the five-point win. Hannon and Nero tallied 17 and 13 points, respectively.
Tonkavitch is confident the Trojans will have plenty of support in the bleachers.
“Our fans have been great,” Tonkavitch said. “I’d like to thank our fans. I love our fans. They’ve always been behind us.”