Mar 4, 2007 By Dave Stofcheck 5 min read

PITTSBURGH – Albert Gallatin’s magical WPIAL run ran out of gas Saturday night, as the Colonials fell one victory short of a championship. Alex Wojdowski scored 21 points, and teammate Tim Picard hit 7 of 10 fourth-quarter free throws as Bethel Park defeated Albert Gallatin, 68-63, in the WPIAL Quad-A title game at Duquesne University’s A.J. Palumbo Center.

Albert Gallatin lost for just the third time in its past 19 games, and was trying to become the first Colonials’ team since the 1987 consolidation to capture a WPIAL title.

“It’s disappointing,” said Albert Gallatin senior Jawaan Alston. “When you make it this far, you want to win the championship. But we really came together as a team in the second half of the season and we made a great run in the playoffs.

“We’re looking forward to the state playoffs.”

Albert Gallatin (21-7) will play its first PIAA game Saturday, against Mount Lebanon, the fifth team out of District 7. The game’s site and time have yet to be determined.

Against Bethel Park, Alston topped all scorers with 25 points. The 6-foot-8 forward/center also blocked eight shots and pulled down seven rebounds.

The Colonials were seeded No. 9 to start this single elimination tournament, but grabbed a spot in the title game after victories over North Allegheny, top-seeded Moon and Pine-Richland.

“This senior class was very, very special,” said Albert Gallatin coach Dan Andria. “They really thought they hadn’t fulfilled their potential until this year. This group has taken Albert Gallatin to places it’s never been before.

“I told them today on the way to the game that I have noticed people wearing their Albert Gallatin hats and T-shirts with a little more pride. All over Fayette County you could see signs supporting us. And look at all the people who came out to watch the title game. There were people of all ages. There were old people who practically had to crawl to make it up into the stands.”

Against Bethel Park, Albert Gallatin led 20-17 after one quarter, and 37-33 at halftime.

But the Black Hawks (25-3) began mounting a comeback, and after a 15-10 third-quarter edge, led 48-47 to start the final period.

Albert Gallatin led, 45-39, before the Black Hawks closed the third quarter with a 9-2 run, and took a one-point lead when Michael Papp nailed a three-pointer with three seconds remaining.

Albert Gallatin’s Marc Marshall also reached double digits with 12 points, but had just two in the second half.

Nate Turner chipped in 10 points and four rebounds, but fouled out with 2:11 to play, and Aaron Cromwell also netted 10 points.

Turner’s three-point play with 5:33 remaining gave Albert Gallatin a 57-55 lead. But five straight Bethel Park points gave the Black Hawks a 60-57 edge.

Trailing 62-59, Turner drained a three-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game with 2:40 remaining.

Picard hit a pair of free throws to give Bethel Park a two-point edge, before Alston cut the deficit to one point by hitting the first of two free throws.

After Picard was fouled and made his first foul shot, Albert Gallatin called a timeout. Picard then missed his second free throw, and Cromwell grabbed the rebound. But Bethel Park reserve guard Joe Vehac stole the ball from behind, and Albert Gallatin was forced to foul Picard again.

This time, Picard hit both shots and the Black Hawks led 67-63 with 1:06 to go.

Picard hit one more free throw after an Albert Gallatin foul for the game’s final margin.

“We did everything we could against them,” Andria said. “We changed defenses, but we got into foul trouble. Bethel Park is a veteran team and they’ve been playing together for a long time.”

Albert Gallatin finished the game with two of its five starters on the bench after Ricky Knox fouled out with 1:06 remaining.

The game went back and forth during the first four minutes, but the Colonials closed the first quarter on an 8-1 run to lead 15-9.

After Wojdowski scored on a putback to pull the Black Hawks to within 22-21, the Colonials went on a 14-6 run. Marshall started the spurt with a three-pointer, his second of the game, and after a Turner runner, Cromwell knocked down his second trey of the game to make it 30-21 with 5:07 left in the first half.

Trailing by 11, Bethel Park closed the gap to three points with an 8-0 run that began with three minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Andrew Vukela scored five straight points, and Papp’s three-point play made it 36-33.

Alston then hit one of two free throws to set the halftime margin.

Albert Gallatin forced eight first-half turnovers, but just five in the second half.

Picard was held scoreless in the first half, but started to catch fire with five points, including a three-pointer, during the third period. He finished with 18 points after scoring 13 over the final eight minutes.

“He’s their best player,” Andria said. “And he showed why tonight, especially down the stretch.”

Vukela (12) and Papp (10) also reached double figures.