Colonials stay focused as they take on Moon today
Albert Gallatin’s boys basketball team had blazed a path like no other Colonials squad. The Class of 2007 already had the best three-year (50-24) and four-year (64-34) records in school history, won AG’s first section title (2005), earned an unprecedented four consecutive appearances in the postseason all at the Quad-A level, and featured a 1,000-point scorer headed for NCAA Division-I Buffalo in Jawaan Alston.
Still, there was a feeling of unfinished business within the group. These Colonials didn’t have a playoff win, going 0-3 the past three years.
That hurdle was finally overcome in a big way on Tuesday night at Ringgold High School.
Albert Gallatin seized control from the start with a 10-0 opening burst and never trailed in rolling to a 74-59 WPIAL Quad-A first-round victory over eighth-seeded North Allegheny.
That put the Colonials in today’s noon quarterfinal game against No. 1 Moon at Canon-McMillan Senior High School.
“I think that win really validates them,” Colonials coach Dan Andria said. “They had done so much, but there was something missing there. They really didn’t want to go out without a playoff victory. They were determined to get one Tuesday. On the bus ride down, there wasn’t even a sound. They were really focused. Jawaan wanted it bad, you could tell just by looking at him.
“Winning that game meant a lot to him and the whole team.”
The ninth-seeded Colonials put four players in double digits. Alston scored a game-high 24 points and was followed by Nate Turner with 16, Ricky Knox with 12 and Jake Magerko with 10.
Albert Gallatin made a believer out of North Allegheny coach Dave DeGregorio.
“They can score in a lot of different ways,” DeGregorio said. “It makes them hard to defend. Alston scores for them, but he passes the ball out of the post well, too. We’d run two guys at him and he’d find the open man.
“They’re a big team that plays even bigger than they are on paper. Alston is 6-8, but his wingspan makes him seem 6-10. Turner (6-4) is big and physical. They did a job on the boards against us.”
Albert Gallatin’s only other playoff victory came in 1997 during Andria’s first stint as coach there. That squad was led by senior starters Jason Kopec, Mike Bosnic, Brian Lewis and Javon Davis. Other key players were seniors Heath Berkshire and Scott VanSickle, junior Mark Uphold and freshman Dan Bosnic.
That 1997 team achieved one goal that the current crew has yet to reach, and that’s qualify for the PIAA tournament. It only took one win a decade ago. This year the Colonials must either beat Moon or have the Tigers reach the WPIAL final to get into the state playoffs.
It seems they aren’t satisfied with just winning one playoff game.
“When it was apparent we were going to win on Tuesday, Jawaan came over to me and said, ‘No celebrating. We need three more,'” Andria said. “The kids are focused on what’s ahead of them. Now that they got that first win under their belt, they can just go out and play. Anything can happen now.”
DeGregorio agreed.
“I think this year Quad-A is wide open,” said DeGregorio, who gives Bethel Park a slight edge because of its smothering defense. “But Albert Gallatin is good enough to win it all. Every team left in it right now can beat anybody else.”
The Colonials’ starting lineup likely will consist of seniors Alston, Turner, the 6-1 Knox and 6-2 Marc Marshall, along with 6-4 junior Aaron Cromwell. Key players off the bench are Magerko, a 5-8 senior who also starts at times, and 5-10 junior Anthony Stevenson.
Turner, who has battled a variety of injuries the past two seasons, played what Andria called his best game of the season against North Allegheny.
“I think Nate feels healthy now,” Andria said. “I think he has something to prove, to either himself or some other people. The other night he just did some phenomenal things. He has to play well for us to have any chance.”
Moon will present a tremendous challenge for the Colonials.
“That team is chasing a little bit of history,” Andria pointed out. “I think I saw there’s only one school that’s won four straight WPIAL championships. They won three in a row in triple-A before moving up this year, so they’re going for four.
“These guys have some size and their big guys are athletic. They’ve got the 6-4 guard, (Brian) Walsh, who (Pitt coach) Jamie Dixon and (Duquesne coach Ron) Everhart came to see play. Our teams are sort of similar in that what makes them hard to defend is they all can handle the ball, and I think we’re a lot like that.”
It’s no secret what is needed for success at this time of the year, according to Andria.
“When you’re in the playoffs you’ve got to play defense, make shots and take care of the basketball,” Andria said. “Whatever team does that better will have the best chance to win.”
Following is a breakdown of today’s game:
Albert Gallatin vs. Moon
Scenario: Class AAAA boys, quarterfinal game.
Nicknames: Albert Gallatin Colonials; Moon Tigers.
Coaches: Albert Gallatin, Dan Andria; Moon, Jeff Ackermann.
Site and time: Canon-McMillan Senior High School, noon.
Seeds: Albert Gallatin is No. 9; Moon is No. 1.
First Round: Albert Gallatin defeated No. 8 North Allegheny, 74-59, on Tuesday at Ringgold High School. Moon defeated No. 16 Seneca Valley, 60-53, on Tuesday at North Allegheny High School.
Records: Albert Gallatin is 19-6; Moon is 22-3.
Section: Albert Gallatin was 10-4 and finished second in Section 1; Moon was 11-1 and finished first in Section 4.
Non-section records: Albert Gallatin was 8-2; Moon was 11-2.
Streaks: Albert Gallatin has won 14 of its last 16 with both losses to Norwin. Moon has won 12 straight after consecutive losses to Altoona and Bethel Park.
Scoring averages: Albert Gallatin, offense 62.0, defense 52.2; Moon, offense 62.6, defense 50.5.
Common opponents: Peters Township. Albert Gallatin defeated the Indians 64-59 at the Washington County Hoopfest on Dec. 16. Moon defeated the Indians twice, 68-55 at home on Jan. 9 and 70-47 at Peters Township on Feb. 7.
Next up: Winner advances to semifinals to play either No. 4 Norwin or No. 5 Pine-Richland, who play at Plum High School today at 1:30 p.m.
States: Winner qualifies for the PIAA playoffs. Loser can also qualify if the winner advances to WPIAL final.