Connellsville was tough in the face of adversity
MONROEVILLE – Nick Bosnic was always composed as a basketball player, whether he was leading Laurel Highlands to an undefeated regular season or starting for Duquesne University. Coaching can be quite a different matter with all the pressure it involves.
Bosnic has already showed in just his second year at the helm of the Connellsville boys squad that he has the same kind of make-up in leading a team from the bench.
The Falcons suffered an avalanche of adversity in its 59-50 loss to Penn Hills in their WPIAL Class AAAA semifinal game at Gateway High School on Wednesday night.
Bosnic and his team never panicked, however, and still managed to hang in the game and push the Indians to the wire.
Even Penn Hills Jim Rocco was impressed.
“We survived,” Rocco said after the game. “That team is so well coached. Nick does an unbelievable job with them. I can’t say enough about what he’s done with what he has there at Connellsville.
“They came in with a good game plan and gave us fits.”
It was a wonder the Falcons even had enough players to finish the game after the way it began.
Connellsville was hit with three fouls in the first 55 seconds and had five to Penn Hills’ zero at the 5:15 mark of the first period. Sandwiched in between was a questionable over-and-back call on guard Shane Kovack.
Despite all that, the Falcons managed to end the period with a 13-11 lead.
The early fouls would effect Connellsville the rest of the way, however.
“We’re not very deep, and that forced us to put guys with little experience in bad situations,” Bosnic said.
Penn Hills pulled out to a 30-21 halftime lead, and pushed the gap up to 16 twice in the third period, 37-21 and 46-30 with 1:29 left.
Still, Bosnic and the Falcons hung tough and battled on with a gritty effort.
With the always dangerous James Hairston leading the way the Falcons clawed their way back into the game.
“We just didn’t let them break our backs,” Bosnic said. “It seems like we kept hitting key shots to keep us in the game. That’s what these kids have done all year.”
Many of those key baskets came in the fourth period, such as a lay-up by Justin Marsinko, a 3-pointer by Kevin Bell, a pair of treys by Hairston and four important points by Chad Burton.
Hairston last 3-pointer made it 55-50, but the Indians finally pulled themselves out of trouble in the final minute of play.
Penn Hills, on the other hand, wasn’t nearly as composed in victory as the Falcons were in defeat.
The Indians were hit with a technical foul for taunting after a foul was called against Connellsville. Byron Knight banged a botched dunk attempt high off the rim. The Indians tried a fancy alley-oop pass to try and set up another dunk, but the ball sailed out of bounds.
The only time the Falcons didn’t stay composed was when Matthew Stone naturally shoved back after Penn Hills’ Ryne Liggins pushed him after a hard foul by Stone. Both were hit with technical fouls, but it was Stone’s fifth, coming at 3:27 in the third period.
Bosnic was upset that fans didn’t get to see his team’s true form due to all the foul trouble. But what fans saw was a mentally tough team that refused to give in despite the circumstances.
Bosnic refused to take credit for his team’s composure, though.
“It’s nothing I did or the coaches did,” said Bosnic, who is backed by assistants Jason Hutchinson and Dean Crawford. “These kids are tough kids. They believe in what we’re doing. In any situation, they keep on coming. They handle it. They are mature.”
Which seems to be a perfect reflection of their coach.