Gators open section play with win over West Greene
CONNELLSVILLE TWP. — Geibel Catholic opened Section 3-A play Friday night by defeating visiting West Greene, 62-52.
James Ewing had a big night for the Gators (1-0, 3-1) with a game-high 24 points and 11 assists. Teammate Kyle Toth found his shooting stroke, finishing with 16 that included four 3-pointers.
The Pioneers (0-1, 1-3) had three players reach double figures with Craig Weaver working inside for 17 and Kolton Rush and Bray Jackson finishing with 11 apiece.
Ewing got the Gators off to a fast start, scoring Geibel’s first seven points in the opening period to help the home team edge out to a 13-9 lead.
“The team is growing and building confidence,” Geibel’s Bill Hughes said. “West Greene is a good basketball team. This was a tough game either team could have won. We were able to make a few more plays here and there.”
Foul trouble hurt the Gators in the second quarter when center Bailey Miller went to the bench with his third foul. Weaver went to work for West Greene, pounding the smaller Gators for nine points in the second period.
West Greene opened the second quarter with six straight points, getting two baskets from Rush and one from Weaver to take a 15-13 lead. Ewing’s 3-pointer gave the Gators a 16-15 lead. The Pioneers regained the lead, 17-16, on a basket from Beau Jackson. Toth hit a three for Geibel to give them a 19-17 lead. Ewing followed with a score giving the Gators a 21-17 lead.
Following a score from Weaver, Toth drilled another three, making the score, 24-19. Weaver scored again for West Greene. Geibel responded with five quick points on a three from Matt Mammarella and a basket from Miller. Geibel closed out the period with a 7-1 run taking a 31-22 lead at the half.
“We missed way too many shots tonight, that’s a fact,” West Greene’s Jim Romanus said. “The last couple of games we’ve hit a couple of 3’s and scored in the paint, but we’re missing the 10-to-15-foot jumpers. I’m proud of our effort, but we’ve got to cut down our turnovers. We made mistakes at inopportune times tonight.”
Ewing continued to stay hot for the Gators with six points in the third period with Toth adding five that included a trey. They also got a three from Brent Plisko. The three ball came into play for the Pioneers with Bray Jackson, hitting two, and Rush, adding one, as the teams played to a 16-all tie in the third with the Gators taking a 47-38 lead into the final period. Both teams continued to play even with Weaver collecting seven for the Pioneers.
Geibel got a little more balanced scoring with four from Miller and three apiece from Plisko, Ewing and Mammarella to take the win.
“Getting section play started off on the right foot is huge,” Hughes said. “The guys did a good job of picking each other up tonight.”
Section 3-A
West Greene 9-13-16-14 — 52
Geibel Catholic 13-18-16-15 — 62
West Greene: Craig Weaver 17, Kolton Rush 11, Bray Jackson 11. Geibel Catholic: James Ewing 24, Kyle Toth 16. Records: West Greene (0-1, 1-3), Geibel Catholic (1-0, 3-1).