Dec 28, 2016 By Bill Hughes for The 3 min read

FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP — Southmoreland continued its hot start to the season with a 66-47 win over Belle Vernon Area in the semifinals of the CFS Classic at Charleroi High School.

“I was happy with the defensive effort and this is probably the first time in four years that we consistently played man,” said Southmoreland coach Frank Muccino. “We did a decent job against their pressure for the most part.

“I don’t mind us running, but we have to be disciplined and play our game.”

BVA coach Kyle DeGregorio shared his thoughts moments after the game.

“They are going to score 65 to 70 points a game and if you can’t get to 70, you can’t beat them,” he said. “They have three guys who are really important to what they do in Zac (Leighty), Tommy (Pisula), and Brandon (Stone).

“They all perform different roles and we tried to force the other kids to have to shoot the ball to beat us, and (Mike Moresea) did, to his credit.”

Brandon Stone, a 6-foot-10 junior, paced four double-digit scorers for Southmoreland with 24 points, 19 rebounds and six blocks with Tom Pisula (16), Tanner Schwartz (14), and Mike Moresea (10) joining Stone.

The game was close early as the teams continuously exchanged baskets.

Southmoreland (7-1) led 20-17 after one quarter, but back-to-back three-pointers by BVA’s JJ Hartman gave Belle Vernon a 25-24 four minutes into the second quarter.

However, the lead would be the Leopards’ last as Southmoreland would go on a 14-2 run to close the half and take a 38-27 lead into halftime.

Neither team looked good offensively in the third quarter, as Southmoreland had a 9-6 lead in the quarter to take a 47-33 lead into the fourth quarter.

After a free throw by Belle Vernon’s Joe Sabolek to start the quarter, Southmoreland went on a 17-4 run to put the game away.

When Muccino subbed out his starters with 2:40 to play, the Scotties led 66-38 before the Leopards scored the last nine points.

Sabolek led BVA (3-3) with 15 points and eight rebounds.

“We had a couple of runs that were the difference,” Muccino said. “They weren’t comfortable driving with (Stone’s) length in the paint.”

DeGregorio said both teams will make the playoffs.

“I told the guys before the game and after that we are a playoff team,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to coach any other group of kids.

“But we will get bonus time and we played a team tonight who will get bonus time too and tonight was like a playoff game.”

Southmoreland plays Clairton, a 68-31 winner over Yough in the nightcap, in the championship game tonight at 8:30.

BVA plays Yough in the consolation game at 7 while Ringgold faces Charleroi in the opening game at 5:30.

Ringgold (4-5) defeated Elizabeth Forward (3-5), 60-53, in the opening game of the night.

Senior Dakota Browning paced Ringgold with a game-high 27 points with Anthony Pampena (13) and Jake Mayer (11) also hitting double figures while Will Greijack led EF with 26 points.

“It was a back and forth game and a key was that we limited out turnovers,” said Ringgold coach Phil Pergola. “We had nine turnovers in the first half but only three in the second half.”